The Swappers:
Phil Weitzman, an attorney, and Henie Lustgarten, a health-care consultant, have five home exchanges under their belts, all of them in England (though they’re open to swapping anywhere).
Their place:
A three-story, two-bedroom, two-bath townhouse (with an office) in Boerum Hill.
Caveats:
No beach vacations, and Internet access is a must.
Option A:
Cornwall, England
A five-bedroom former schoolhouse in the rural hamlet of Tresmeer (population: 216), surrounded by sprawling countryside.
Option B:
Buenos Aires
A Wi-Fi-and-cable-TV-equipped two-bedroom, one-bath with a terrace in the neighborhood of San Telmo, a historic barrio in Buenos Aires filled with art galleries and tango halls. The nearby Plaza Dorrego hosts a popular antiques market on Sundays.
Option C:
Sydney
A two-bedroom, two-bath in a high-rise building near the harborfront section of Sydney. The doormanned complex has a gym, sauna, and two swimming pools.
Their Pick:
Buenos Aires
Because, explains Weitzman, “It’s in a quiet yet vibrant neighborhood.”
Listings via homebase-hols.com.
The Swappers:
Blogger and consultant Pam Kirkbride; her husband, Michael Kirkbride, who works in finance; and their two children, Olivia, 9, and Sydney, 5, have participated in two exchanges, one domestic, the other in Paris.
Their place:
A two-bedroom, two-bath in a financial-district condo with a rooftop cabana and fitness center.
Caveats:
It should have a washer and dryer and kid-friendly extras like books and toys.
Option A:
Washington, D.C.
A four-bedroom, three-bath 1850s row house within walking distance of the National Air and Space Museum and the Museum of Natural History. Bikes and scooters are included.
Option B:
Amsterdam
A five-bedroom, four-story house, built in 1912, in the city’s quieter Oud Zuid area. It’s near Vondelpark—Amsterdam’s answer to Central Park, with sprawling playgrounds and bike and inline-skate rentals—and has a trampoline-equipped garden.
Option C:
Dominical, Costa Rica
A two-bedroom, three-bath villa with a private pool and balcony in a popular fishing town. The home is pure pura vida, featuring a wraparound balcony with a thatched palm-tree roof and ocean views. It comes with laundry facilities and, since the family that owns it has three children, loads of kid-friendly diversions.
Their Pick:
Dominical
“An international beach setting would be a fantastic change for us,” says Pam. “The girls are avid swimmers, so the pool is a big draw.”
Listings via homeexchange.com.
The Swappers:
Lauren Feighan, a university administrator, loves to travel and has long considered—but never participated in—a home exchange.
Their place:
A one-bedroom, one-bath, fourth-floor walk-up on the Lower East Side.
Caveats:
A private outdoor space is preferred but not a deal-breaker.
Option A:
Colle di Tora, Italy
A rustic, converted one-bedroom stone barn on Lake Turano in a tiny medieval town, about an hour’s drive from Rome. Boasts two terraces, plus a garden with lemon trees.
Option B:
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
A two-bedroom apartment with a balcony in the heart of the city, within striking distance of street markets, malls, restaurants, and nightlife. Every room, save for the kitchen, has a ceiling fan, and a housekeeper comes weekdays to tidy up.
Option C:
Paris
A renovated two-bedroom apartment in a seventeenth-century building, with beamed ceilings, a full kitchen (Bosch oven, dishwasher), and a washer-dryer. It’s in the fashionable Marais neighborhood, near the Bastille and Place des Vosges.
Her pick:
Phnom Penh
“I hear amazing things about Cambodia,” says Feighan. “You’re whisked away just looking at pictures of it.”
Listings via homebase-hols.com and lovehomeswap.com.