How to use your Egeria Membership

There are three main ways to use your Egeria Membership:

  • Simultaneous Home Exchange
  • Hospitality Exchange (or 'nonsimultaneous home exchange')
  • Orthodox Bed and Breakfast (B&B)

These are detailed below.

A) Simultaneous Home Exchange

Simultaneous home exchange is when two parties agree to exchange homes at the same time -- "You stay at my place, I'll stay at yours." This arrangement can include a short overlap so you can meet each other, or you can simply trade homes. It's up to you. Benefits of this style of travel are:

  • More space for both parties, as they have the 'run of the house'.
  • More privacy in the space
  • More adventure, as you are left to your own devices

There is no absolute about which method is better -- it's a matter of what works for your personality and what is practical for everyone.

  • Take time to view the listings. Consider places you may not have considered before; there are some gems out there! Keep checking back as new listings will be added regularly.
  • Contact the member only when you are reasonably sure you would be interested making a travel arrangement. Most people are busy and time is valuable.
  • Just because your city or country is not listed as a desired destination does NOT mean that you shouldn't make an offer. Sometimes people just haven't considered going to your country, but would love to go if they are told about it!
  • If you are considering a number of different options, please tell the other member. It's better to be completely transparent than to disappoint them if you make another plan.
  • Be honest about your home and region.  If there are drawbacks, say so. This will lessen your anxiety and prevent embarrassment or disappointment. You will find that people will still be interested in visiting, even if you don't live in a palace!
  • Make sure your information is always up to date, and be sure to include photos.
  • Consider a number of different destinations. Home exchange works best if you keep an open mind. Remember, your accommodation will probably be free. . .if you can't exchange to Paris this year, chances are you can in the near future! In the meantime, this place in Helsinki looks interesting. . .
  • When you have made a good match and want to exchange with someone, make sure you communicate often and thoroughly. Speak on the phone and exchange a written agreement before you buy tickets. When you and the other party do buy your tickets, send each other the flight details for added reassurance.
  • Consider whether you would like to overlap your stays so that you can meet each other.

B) Hospitality Exchange

With this style of exchange, also called "nonsimultaneous home exchange", the parties agree to host one another at different times. For example, we travel to stay with a family in Hawaii, and at a later date they come and stay with us in London. An obvious consideration here is one of space -- both parties need enough room to host each other.  Benefits of this style are                              

  • you can meet each other
  • you have a built-in travel guide -- and translator!
  • the timing can be more flexible, because both sides do not need to be away from home at exactly the same time.

Many people who try hospitality exchange love the new friends and local contacts they make. These friendships can last a lifetime!

  • remember that this is meant to be a hospitality exchange. Please make sure you have a decent space to offer -- even a very modest one -- before you begin a conversation with a member about hospitality exchange. At the very least you should have a spare room with a door that closes -- don't ask to occupy John and Mary's guest suite if you only have a couch for them! That is, unless the imbalance is completely okay with the John and Mary. (And if you live in Manhattan or Ile de la Cite you can probably get away with it just fine. . .)
  • if you are looking for a place to stay as an Orthodox traveller but do not want to host anyone, search the listings for "Orthodox B&B". There will most likely be a charge for this accommodation, but it will be below the cost of a usual B&B, and you'll be among friends!
  • try not to leave the dates too open-ended when it comes to reciprocating the hospitality. It's probably best to establish the dates of both trips before anyone goes anywhere. That way the first ones to host will not feel that they are imposing when it is their turn to visit.
  • make sure the lengths of the visits are clearly defined and basically equal. You may want to stay with Dmitri for three months, but if he is only staying with you for a week he will feel imposed on. Again, though, everything is subject to whatever the two parties decide.

C) Orthodox Bed and Breakfast (B&B)

This style of travel differs from the first two in that there is no dwelling exchange per se. One member is the traveller and the other is host. The one travelling makes a donation or pays a fee to the host in return for hospitality.

In many cultures, especially in Orthodox countries,  hospitality is a sacred duty. If a member feels they want to offer hospitality without receiving payment, they may ask the visitor to make a donation to the local parish church, priest or monastery rather than be paid directly. In this way, the Egeria membership can become a way to raise money for the Church or for other causes the member supports. Of course, the host may even waive the fee if he/she desires.

Benefits of Orthodox B&B are:

  • the hosts can make new Orthodox friends, participate in cultural exchange and even raise money without having to travel themselves
  • Orthodox travellers can find Orthodox hosts around the world and stay among friends -- even if they don't have space to offer at their home.
  • Search the listings looking for the B&B symbol, or do a keyword search using "B&B" to find which members are offering B&B option. (***Kaleeg do we have keyword search? I can't remember***)
  • When you contact a member about B&B, make sure you mention payment early in the correspondence so that they know you understand that you will be paying something to stay with them. This reassures your host that you understand, and they may choose to waive the payment later. Remember that with B&B the assumption is that the guest pays something unless it is stated otherwise.
  • Payment arrangements are made between the members themselves. Egeria Home Exchange will not act as go-between for B&B hosts and guests. If there is any kind of miscommunication or problem, the members will have to sort it out between themselves. It is always a good idea to have your agreement put into writing, in advance, to avoid any such misunderstanding.
  • If your host decides not to accept any payment, please show your appreciation by giving a gift to the family, and make a donation to their parish or monastery. If they have children, remember that small gifts for the children please both the little ones and the parents! And of course you might give gifts even if you are paying to stay there, as it is unlikely to have cost you much compared with what you would pay for a hotel.
  • If you are a B&B guest, please show independence in making your own transport and meal arrangements. Give your hosts privacy and do not impose on them any more than you must. Unless they make it VERY clear that they want to help you with car rides, extra meals, etc, do not assume this is part of the deal.
  • If you are a B&B host, please allow your guest as much privacy as possible. People from North America and the UK are particularly private and are unlikely to want to spend long hours in conversation over meals. Do not be offended if they want to be out the door quickly -- it doesn't mean they don't like you!