My verdict on house swap? It was a big success

After all the panic, the cleaning, the organising and the last-minute “did we forget something?” moments, we finally arrived in Galway.

And then something unexpected happened.

We relaxed.

The funny thing about a house swap is that you spend so much time preparing your own home for someone else that you almost forget you are actually going away yourself.

For two days, my husband and I had been on a cleaning mission and our house was ready. We were not. By the time we left, the house looked like a show home and we looked like we had been dragged through the cleaning aisle of a supermarket.

And then, suddenly, we were in someone else’s home. A bottle of wine was waiting for us with a note saying: “Welcome to Galway, hope you enjoy your stay.” It was a simple gesture, but it meant so much.

That is the difference with a house swap. It is not just somewhere to sleep. It feels like someone has opened their front door and invited you into their life.

I had arranged for my parents to drop in fresh eggs and a jar of my homemade raspberry jam for Ciara for when they arrived at our house. They left us wine. We left them jam and eggs. A small exchange, but somehow it made the whole thing feel much bigger.

Even the dog became part of the conversation. We had arranged for ours to go to kennels, but when we mentioned it, Ciara said: “Oh my goodness, we could have looked after her while we were staying in your house.”

That one comment really summed up the kindness behind the whole experience.

This wasn’t just swapping houses. It was swapping a little piece of our lives.

The next morning, we woke up in Galway with big plans. We had lists of places to go, things to see and adventures to have. And then we looked at each other and said: “Actually… what if we just enjoy today?” So we did.

We walked to Salthill. The sea air, the sound of the waves and the feeling of being somewhere completely different was exactly what we needed. We grabbed a coffee by the beach and simply enjoyed the view.

On the walk back, we passed Pearse Stadium where teams were out doing their morning training. There was such energy around the place. People exercising, families walking, the promenade busy with life. It felt like we had stepped into a different rhythm.

We headed home, had an early brunch and then walked into Galway city. What a feeling. The buzz, the tourists, the street performers, the markets, the colour and the atmosphere, it was everything you imagine Galway to be.

It was one of those days where you don’t need a big itinerary because the ordinary moments become the memories.

We went to the beach. The kids jumped off the pier. We went fishing. We got takeaway.

It was simple. It was relaxed.

And throughout the day, there was this lovely connection continuing between the two families.

Ciara was checking in with me asking about where was best to get fish and chips.

I was checking in with her about beaches and the best piers to jump off!

We weren’t just exchanging houses anymore. We were sharing our knowledge of the places we love.

That is what surprised me most about this whole experience. I thought house swapping would be mainly about saving money on accommodation and getting to explore somewhere new.

Of course, that is a huge bonus.

But the real gift has been the connection.

Finding a new area.

Meeting neighbours.

Having my dad pop over with eggs and homemade jam.

Receiving a bottle of wine with a welcome note.

Sharing recommendations.

Feeling, even for a few days, like we belonged somewhere else.

The strangest thing is that when we left Galway, it didn’t feel like we were leaving a holiday house. It felt like we were leaving somewhere familiar. Somewhere that had started to feel like a second home.

And maybe that is the magic of a house swap.

You don’t just borrow someone’s house.

You borrow a little piece of their world.

House swap lessons learned

Don’t overthink the cleaning — a welcoming home matters more than perfection Start preparing early, because every “small job” somehow becomes a major project

Leave a few helpful notes, but remember people are more adaptable than you think The little gestures matter — a bottle of wine, fresh eggs or homemade jam can make all the difference

Ask locals for recommendations — they know the places tourists might miss

If I had to sum up the whole experience in one sentence, it would be this:a house swap starts with keys, but ends with kindness.

And that, more than anything, made Galway feel less like a holiday and more like a home.