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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
John Bett

Family swap houses with strangers to travel the world on the cheap

A family are living their best life by travelling around the world - and they're saving money by doing so as they're swapping their house with strangers to keep the cost down.

Sharon Holland, 42, and her husband Jer, 48, only have to pay for their flights meaning they save hundreds of pounds on their holidays each year.

Both work as school Deputy Principals which allows them to take their children, Cian, 23, Miah, 13, and Faye, 11, abroad up to four times per year.

Sharon, from Cork, Ireland, has exchanged her home with a stranger 40 times in the last 13 years and says she's never looked back.

Sharon said she's now completely hooked (@now_and_then_home/ MERCURY PRESS)

What do you think about the travelling technique? Let us know in the comments...

She said: "I couldn't imagine travelling any other way now. Swapping our Irish Georgian farmhouse for another property abroad is amazing.

"There's home-style houses, modern city apartments and beautiful architectural period houses too.

"Every holiday is different and staying in someone else's property enhances the experience as it takes us off the trail.

"We are able to meet more locals and understand the culture more than we would if we were to stay at a hotel resort."

One of the incredibly views that Sharon has enjoyed by swapping her home (@now_and_then_home/ MERCURY PRESS)
Sharon Holland, 42, chilling in the pool with her daughter, Faye (@now_and_then_home/ MERCURY PRESS)

Sharon has visited various cities in America, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, The U.K and their home country of Ireland.

The couple's occupation allows them to jet off during school holidays for long periods of time.

On average, they pay £1,250 per annum for flights.

Sharon adds: "We are exceptionally lucky with our shared holidays.

"We bring our laptops during the summer weeks as we are both responsible for timetabling and school planning but this can be done at a distance.

"We tend to spend four to six weeks abroad in the summer."

The couple pay £135 [$175 USD] per year for a subscription with Home Exchange.

She adds: "We initially signed up to the website in 2009 as it made travelling more affordable.

"We have been hooked ever since."

The family have visited a historic villa for an overnight escape in Umbria (@now_and_then_home/ MERCURY PRESS)

The international house swaps have allowed Sharon to create special memories with her loved ones all over the globe.

She celebrated her 40th birthday in Budapest, Hungary, St.Patricks day in Amsterdam and experienced July 4 in New York City, US.

She adds: "As a family, we love to travel - Irelands climate isn't one of it's strong points so we like to go abroad.

"However, we have been to Derry, Dublin, Kilkenny, Galway and Belfast.

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"But our favourite place is Italy, we have been lucky enough to visit there six times.

"Over the years, every experience has been fabulous - from taking in the architecture to the food.

"We have made some wonderful happy memories for less."

Sharon encourages everyone from families, couples to single individuals to consider swapping their home.

To see more, follow the family on Instagram @now_and_then_home

Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at yourmirror@mirror.co.uk

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