Member Story Q&A: Saskia
Get an inside look at Saskia's HomeExchange Collection experience in our latest Member Q&A. Discover her tips, stories, and more!

In the HomeExchange Collection community, every story is unique. In this new series, we’ll be sharing Q&A style responses from HomeExchange Collection members, offering you a closer look at their experiences, tips, and insights. If you're considering joining HomeExchange or HomeExchange Collection, these stories might just inspire you to take the plunge and start your own exchange journey!
Saskia has been a member since 2017 and has completed 67 exchanges (and counting!)
Tell us a bit about yourself and where you live.

We are a Dutch family living in France, close to Paris, with adult children who live in France, Holland, and sometimes elsewhere in Europe. We love traveling as long as we can do it in a sustainable way.
What was the best part of staying in someone else's home compared to traditional accommodations?
Having a beautiful house with enough room, a fully equipped kitchen, comfortable beds, and a lot of local adventures provided by the owners to take home.
Share a memorable story from your exchanges. What made it special?
We have our traditions... The girls always walk around the house, exclaiming, "Mom! You got us a house that's too small... again!" Of course, the more spacious it is, the more "complaints"...
I have a lot of stories, but we have a house in Germany where I stayed with my daughter when she was looking for a room for her university year. The house owner saw our need and accepted the exchange, even though they had already gone on vacation. She spontaneously offered to help find a room for our daughter. We have been there several times now, met the owners, and became friends. We can go there regularly, as they have an apartment in their exchange house where they can stay. The last time we went, we brought friends who are also home exchangers... What a special experience, and all this because people want to share what they have!
How was your experience connecting with your guest or host?
We always do this—I call it "local time." I give the best local tips for places that tourists don’t know, and I’m available during the exchange to help with things like restaurant reservations. Our best exchange experience was when the owners gave us the address of their favorite local restaurant, and we were welcomed as friends!
How do you prep your home for guests?

It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be adapted to the needs of the guests. I always ask if there’s anything specific they’d like to find.
Also read: Mastering Luxury Hosting: How to Elevate Guest Experiences in Your High-End Home
What made you decide to join HomeExchange Collection?
I was asked to be as Founding Member of HomeExchange Collection!
Any advice for someone considering joining HomeExchange or HomeExchange Collection?
I appreciate that I always get answers, help and advice very quickly with HomeExchange Collection