The summer is a popular time for families to go on that dream vacation and experience the beautiful tropic climate of the Caribbean, the scenic landscape of the French countryside, or the energy-charged streets of San Francisco. However, with hotel prices rising, as well as food and car rental costs, these vacations are unaffordable for the general population. But now there is a way to avoid those costs and still have the vacation of your dreams, all in the comfort of a home -- just not yours.

It's known as "house swapping" or "home exchanging" and is a rapidly growing trend for vacationing families looking for a cheap alternative to pricy hotels. 

How Does It Work?

House swapping is a simple process nowadays. An interested family first signs up for a service that lists homes available for exchange. Then they decide where they want to travel and find a home to swap with in the area. Finally, come to an agreement with the owner of the home on a suitable exchange date and any other conflicts.

Most online services list homes with very detailed information so you can make the perfect choice. Among the things you can typically find on a listing are photos, descriptions of the house, descriptions of the town and nearby areas, amenities, and dates available for exchange.

There is no rule that one family has to exchange their home at the same time as the other family. Many families decide to put up their secondary homes for exchange, or promise a future exchange in return for a vacation right now. Some families will also agree to exchange cars, negating the cost of a car rental. 

After that it's like life as usual. You would use the home as if it were yours, and the family staying in your home would do the same. The difference is that you would be able to explore a foreign city or tourist attraction while in the comfort of a home.

How Safe Is It?

Everyone knows that they shouldn't let strangers into their home. But with house swapping that's not really a problem. You would typically have extensive communication with the other family and a developed trust before the exchange ever took place. There's also a built-in incentive not to damage or steal anything knowing you would want your home to be left the same way, in essence the "Golden Rule" of home exchanging.

There are a number of online services out there to choose from to find your perfect swap. Below are three of the most prominent and their respective differences.

HomeLink International

• HomeLink prides itself as the original house swapping service with roots dating back to 1953. Today, it boasts over 13,000 swappers from 72 countries all over the world. It has regional offices in many countries, so that if there is a problem with the exchange a swapper can contact someone. HomeLink also offers exchange cancellation insurance in the event a swapper has to cancel at the last minute. HomeLink then arranges another exchange in the same area, or allows the traveler to go ahead with the trip and compensates them for their expenses. A 1-year membership with HomeLink is $115 and a 2-year membership is $181.

HomeExchange

• HomeExchange considers itself to be the world's largest home exchange club with the slogan: "Make yourself at home ... anywhere in the world." This service features a detailed online database of homes available for exchange, complete with photos, the number of bathrooms and bedrooms, nearby attractions, and any other amenities. HomeExchange also offers a guarantee to its members that if your home is not asked to be exchanged after a full year of being listed, then you get your second year free. There are three main membership paths with HomeExchange. A Bronze membership costs $50 and allows you to unlimitedly contact members for exchange. The most popular, a Silver membership, is $99.95 and allows you to list your home on the site. The Gold membership is $500 and gives members access to luxury listings and other high-end properties. HomeExchange also offers a free trial membership.

HomeforSwap.com

• This exchange service features homes from over 80 countries and appeal as "an eco friendly alternative to hotels that can make your dream come true - at a fraction of the cost." In addition to homes, homeforswap.com also offers apartments and studios for exchange so even non-homeowners can participate. Unlike the previous two services, this one allows you to list multiple homes at no added cost. Homeforswap.com also has a customer service hotline for members. A 1-year unlimited membership is $75, a 2-year is $125, and a 3-year is $168.

Any of these house swapping services can greatly reduce travel costs for the money-conscientious families with a desire to explore the world. But if traveling alone is more your thing, then check out "couchsurfing."