At THIRDHOME, we believe that variety is the spice of life and bringing new vacation home exchange destinations available to our members is always a top priority. Recently, we have added a new exclusive real estate brokerage partner, Panorama Real Estate (An International Associate of Savills), that will be welcoming more members from Spain into the club. In addition, a new Affiliate property (Sotogrande Resort) will be added as an exchange option with availability coming soon. What types of activities can you do in Spain? For starters, read Wade Shealy’s (Founder and CEO of THIRDHOME) first-hand account of the motorcycle journey he went on in the Málaga region of Spain from Marbella to Ronda.

 

 

“I rented, for $200 USD, a new Indian Motorcycle in Marbella for the day.  I road up to Ronda, a quaint historic mountain village. The trip up was about an hour but an amazing ride twisting back and forth as I climbed into the mountains overlooking the Mediterranean sea and the Rock of Gibraltar in the distance. The town was historic and the most notable site is the “new” bridge. They call it new even though it was built in the 1700’s. The architect of the bridge was admiring his work when done and accidentally fell to his death off the bridge.

From Ronda you feel like you are on the top of Spain with Portugal just to the northwest and Africa to your south. From Ronda, I stayed on winding back roads over to Gaucin and turned down to Casares. All of the towns along this route were picturesque Southern Spain villages, authentic in every way. The entire trip, I could not take my eyes off  the Rock of Gibraltar in the background with the Tangier coast of Africa poking its head just above the sea line.”

 

 

That is only the start to what you can do when visiting Spain. While the addition of more home exchange options arriving shortly with our new partnerships is exciting, there are beautiful homes in this area of Spain already available for your next home swapping experience! Interested in booking a trip now? Visit Marbella, you’ll already have one of your day’s itineraries set by repeating this fun adventure!

THIRDHOME officially has more than 6000 homes in the club! While the properties available for home swapping in the club are all luxury and well-appointed, a great location can truly make a vacation unforgettable. This week, properties that boast prime surfing locations are getting special attention. Listed in no particular order, here are five properties to “Catch a Wave” available for home exchanges with a 3RD HOME membership:

 

1. Blue Dog Beach House –

Located on Australia’s Sunshine Coast, the Blue Dog Beach House is located just across from Castaways Beach, a particularly popular spot with the locals for surfing. The Sunshine Coast as a whole is known for being reliable with surfing conditions and has beaches that are appropriate for both beginners and advanced surfers. Plus, this luxury beach house is incredibly designed with sprawling views of the ocean and a soft coastal design palette to truly get you into a beach state of mind.

 

2. Villa Santai 2 –

Experience a unique culture and world-acclaimed surfing at the same time by staying at Villa Santai 2, a large Balinese villa in Kerobokan, Indonesia. Kuta Beach is nearby and is consistently ranked as one of the best surf spots in all of Asia. Even better, the difference between the longest and shortest day in this area is very small at only 48 minutes. This means you can count on long daylight hours to enjoy the waves. When you exchange for a stay at Villa Santai 2, you can expect to enjoy a beautifully landscaped outdoor area and to be pampered by a full staff. Additionally, this villa comes with a separate home on the property named “The Surf Shack” which is decorated in honor of Bali’s rich surf culture.

 

3. Surf Song –

Use your membership to exchange for Surf Song, a gorgeous Kauai ocean view home in Princeville, Hawaii. There are several surf boards provided to explore the local beaches that have year-round big waves. There is even a small beach only a two minute walk from the property! Kauai receives long distance swells and waves that result from surrounding winds on all four sides of the landmass.

 

4. Cerritos Surf Colony – 

Exchange time in your second home for the opportunity to stay in a private villa at the Cerritos Surf Colony Resort in Todos Santos, Mexico. Cerritos Beach has a strong surfing reputation by frequently being a choice destination for surfing championships. If you are a beginner, this is a great place to visit! The Cerritos Beach & Surf Club offers board rentals and surfing lessons.

 

5. Langosta Surf Retreat – 

Stay in a beachfront condo that is directly on Playa Langosta in Costa Rica and take advantage of direct access to challenging waves. Enjoy entry-level access that is only steps to the beach and two great surf breaks, making this the perfect home swap situation for someone who wants to spend all day out on the water.

 

THIRDHOME, the pioneering luxury home exchange, achieved another new milestone. On May 31, 2016, the portfolio of member homes passed the 6000 mark. The portfolio of luxury properties is unmatched in the luxury vacation home exchange industry, totaling over $13.5 Billion in value. The growth of the club is due to the trust and support of our members and affiliate partners.