HomeExchange.com Celebrates 20th Anniversary With Dream Vacation to Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate their 20th anniversary, HomeExchange.com, the leading home exchange service that offers a unique, affordable and authentic way to travel, today launched the Live Like a Local (www.HomeExchange.com/livelikealocal) photo contest. The contest gives consumers a chance to win a dream vacation to Los Angeles and experience a 'home exchange' by staying  in a member's beautiful residence all while exploring the Angel City's iconic variety of food, scenery, nightlife, Hollywood and culture.

Starting today and running through April 16, HomeExchange.com members and non-members 18 and over can enter the contest by submitting a photo of a "must-visit" place in their own city or town. From the city's most scenic landmark, a hike, beach, on a park bench in the middle of spring where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom to even the quirkiest of local activities such as a rodeo and a Civil War re-enactment, HomeExchange.com wants a photo illustration to help show why it's great to be a "local" in that city.

For travelers worldwide, homes are increasingly becoming a more viable option than hotels, which are costly and not necessarily environmentally friendly. In 2011, vacation rentals were a popular choice with 47 percent considering staying in a home – a significant increase compared to 39 percent one year ago. HomeExchange.com takes the vacation rentals concept one step further, making accommodations 'free' and offers a unique way to experience an area as a local, not a tourist. HomeExchange.com has 40,000 members that have made 400,000 home swaps across 142 countries. In the past 20 years, exchanging homes free of charge has grown from a small concept into a global community.

"When I set out to create a way for people to travel the world, experience local cultures and do so in an affordable manner, I never dreamed that 20 years later we'd pioneer an entire industry around home exchanges," said Ed Kushins, founder and chief executive officer, HomeExchange.com. "HomeExchange.com has a passionate online community of home exchangers. The Live Like a Local photo contest is meant to provide our members and prospective members a chance to share their love for their community through photos and local tips, while encouraging fellow travelers to visit their hometown."

The contest offers a chance to win a 7-day, 6-night all-expense paid trip to Los Angeles for two. The grand prize winner will receive a comfortable stay in a beautiful Southern Californian home, airfare, transportation along with experiences such as surf lessons and a wine tour. HomeExchange.com has also partnered with several sponsors to offer activities unique to Los Angeles: two tickets to Cirque du Soleil's new show Iris; private chef Melissa Costella of Karma Chow will cook all natural cuisine and farm-fresh fruit and vegetables from The FruitGuys supplied for the week.

Photos must be submitted to www.HomeExchange.com/livelikealocal by April 16 at 9 am PDT. On April 17, 10 finalists will be announced by HomeExchange.com and the public will have 7 days to vote for their favorite photo. For more information on HomeExchange.com and the Live Like a Local contest, please visit www.homeexchange.com.

About HomeExchange.com

HomeExchange.com is the leading vacation accommodation alternative that offers a unique, affordable and authentic way to travel where two families agree to swap homes. HomeExchange.com currently has 40,000 listings in 142 countries around the world, most in desirable and preferred locations. HomeExchange.com makes it tremendously easy to plan and enjoy a vacation. With just a few clicks on the computer, one can search, select and contact a home swap listing in almost any country, city or area of interest. Experienced exchangers have found that other than the cost of getting there, a home exchange vacation almost anywhere in the world doesn't cost much more than staying at your own home and you get to live like a local, not a tourist. HomeExchange.com is located on the World Wide Web at www.HomeExchange.com.

SOURCE HomeExchange.com