Daniel Prince (46) and his wife Clair (46) live in Singapore due to work requirements. However, since 2014, they have no fixed residence. They pursue a nomadic lifestyle, working while traveling. However, the life of this family of 6 is not at all miserable. They live "nomadic" in the most attractive real estate in Thailand, the US, Canada, Australia and even Europe.
New style of tourism
Daniel's family is well off financially, even during the pandemic. Raising four children is no problem for them.
"He worked 24/7 to keep the table full. Yet we never saw him," Clair said.
She admitted she wanted a more fun life. Travelling the world was a prospect that crossed Clair's mind. In 1996, the couple moved to Singapore due to Daniel's job in foreign exchange. They spent their time before having children travelling around Asia.
"We can't travel the world with such a big family. We can only travel on holidays at high costs. Two hotel rooms cost £150 a night, plus lunch and dinner. Each day of travel will cost us £500. That's not a good price," she said.
Family of 6 traveling around the world.
Not to mention, if they travel, they may have to leave their children with someone else to look after. Childcare costs are not cheap. And then, they found a solution that can solve this problem: house swapping. This solution sounds quite "crazy" and like in the movie The Holiday. However, the result of the house swapping has made Daniel's family satisfied. They can travel everywhere, stay in luxurious places without worrying too much about money.
“It sounded interesting and we were wondering if we should do it,” Clair said.
After months of deliberation, they decided to try swapping houses in 2014. The couple sold their house in Singapore and kept only their vacation home in Koh Samui, Thailand. They then used the Thai house to trade with others.
Dream life
Their lives changed dramatically. They swapped their home in Thailand with a British owner. They used the trip to visit friends and family. They then swapped homes in Croatia, Dubai, Thailand and Cambodia before arriving in Australia for Christmas 2014.
“The experience was amazing. Why doesn't everyone do it?” Clair asked.
The couple have a steady income of around £1,000 a month, which they earn from letting other people stay in their homes. The annual fee on the website listing properties for swapping costs just £120.
You can earn points (a form of virtual currency) by exchanging homes. For example, if another homeowner comes to stay at your home and there is no return, the other person will have to pay you in points. You can then use these points as you wish. In addition, the homeowners will not receive any additional money.
"The whole house is peaceful and comfortable. We can live on a reasonable budget. Some days we will do nothing and spend time exploring and picnicking," she said.
They did not have to pay for accommodation because they moved with someone else.
Of all the places they stayed, the family enjoyed the most was Croatia. They described Croatia as a beautiful country with a friendly community in the village where they stayed. They also had many fond memories during their trip such as horse riding along the beaches of New Zealand, sailing in the port of Marbella and going to the Sydney Opera House on Christmas Eve.
By swapping homes and travelling, the couple say they have saved around £100,000. The house swapping agency's website also highlights the "massive savings" members have made through free travel. For a seven-night stay, members can save an average of more than £1,000.
The reason is that most of the travel expenses come from renting hotels and accommodation. If you don't need to do this, you will save a significant amount of money to spend on other things.
Mary Lou, a member of the community, revealed: "My family has been moving house for nearly nine years. We've been to the Bahamas, Antigua, San Francisco, Seattle, Bali, Menorca, Paris and dozens of other beautiful places in the UK... We've saved thousands of pounds and had some amazing holidays. Now the thought of where to book a holiday feels a little daunting."
