戀愛假期 The Holiday 精講之二

第一頁：片段欣賞

第二頁：巧學口語

第三頁：小小翻譯家

第四頁：文化一瞥

 

 

 

 

 

換屋度假 House Swapping

 

House swapping is the practice that refers to the swapping of homes on a temporary or more permanent basis. Although its origins stem from low-cost vacation accommodation and are believed to date back to 1953, there has been an increase in house swapping due to the slow-down in the United States real estate market. Less frequently, it may be used as a method of avoiding violence in war-torn areas.

House swapping is believed to have developed in the 1950s, but rose to prominence in the 1970s as more people got involved and considered it to be a viable vacation option. Some estimates indicate that 15-20% of travelers are participating in some form of house swapping. Summer is traditionally the peak season for house swapping, due to families traveling during summer vacations and house swapping allows families to try out a location for a short period of time while saving money over the traditional vacation costs and allowing them to take vacations that they may otherwise be unable to afford. It's estimated that families can save approximately $5,000 by swapping their homes instead of booking hotels and rental cars, although the perception and listing of the home may not always match reality, and some may be uncomfortable with others using their home. Not all travelers are interested in house swapping solely to save money, but they also see it as a means of meeting locals, seeing relatively un-touristed regions and experiencing local culture. The internet has made the process of finding a swap significantly easier with a number of websites devoted to house swapping. (Source: Wikipedia)