Republished with permission from USI Travel Insurance Services
Traveling to new destinations is a thrilling adventure, but ensuring your health and safety should always be priority number one. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or an extended vacation, taking proactive measures can make a difference in safeguarding your well-being throughout your vacation.
Before You Depart
Research Your Destination
Before leaving, it’s paramount to familiarize yourself with the health conditions of your destination. Take the time to delve into the local health codes, potential risks, and essential vaccinations needed for your travels. Checking travel advisories and gaining insights into prevalent diseases or health concerns specific to the area you’re visiting ensures that you’re well-prepared to proactively safeguard your health throughout your trip. This knowledge equips you to take preventive measures and make informed decisions to minimize health risks during your travels.
Get Vaccines
Before jetting off to your destination, a crucial step toward ensuring a healthy journey involves consulting a healthcare professional. This visit ensures that you’re not only up-to-date but also equipped with all the necessary vaccinations required for your specific destination. Many countries mandate specific immunizations as a prerequisite for entry, making it imperative to comply with these requirements. Seeking guidance from a healthcare provider allows you to navigate through the intricate web of necessary vaccinations, providing you protection against potential health risks at your travel destination.
Pack Basic First Aid Supplies and Medication
A compact first aid kit is a traveler’s best companion, offering reassurance and preparedness for unforeseen situations on the road. Packing essentials such as band-aids, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, and any prescribed medications is a proactive step toward managing minor injuries or ailments during your journey. Ensure the kit contains an ample supply to cover the duration of your travels, allowing you to address minor health concerns swiftly and effectively. This simple yet vital precautionary measure can make a significant difference in managing unexpected health-related issues while you explore new destinations.
While You’re Away from Home
Know How to Find Medical Care
Before setting foot in a new destination, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the locations of medical facilities and emergency services. Research nearby hospitals, urgent care centers, and clinics to have a plan in place should you require medical attention during your travels. Equally important is saving emergency contact numbers, including local services and your country’s embassy or consulate. Being prepared with this crucial information ensures swift access to assistance if the need arises.
Be Mindful of Food and Transportation
Prioritizing food safety and secure transportation creates a healthy and secure travel experience. Choosing reputable restaurants reduces the likelihood of encountering foodborne illnesses, emphasizing hygiene standards and quality ingredients. Exercise caution with street food, particularly in areas where sanitation might be a concern. Additionally, relying on authorized transportation options, such as licensed taxis or recognized services, ensures safer travel, minimizes risks associated with unregulated modes of transportation, and enhances overall safety while navigating through unfamiliar locations.
Stay Vigilant and Aware
Maintaining awareness of your surroundings is important, particularly in bustling or unfamiliar settings. Stay vigilant by safeguarding your belongings and staying mindful of potential risks in crowded areas. For example, pickpockets can be an issue in very busy areas. They are very practiced and are able to swoop in, grab your valuables, and leave before you know anything is gone. Keeping valuables secure and considering carrying your backpack in front can deter theft in busy places, minimizing the possibility of incidents and allowing you to navigate through crowded spaces with greater peace of mind.
Buy Travel Insurance for Protection
Investing in travel insurance provides a safety net against unexpected events such as accidents or illnesses before or during your trip. USI Travel Insurance Services offers plans for every type of trip, giving you peace of mind while exploring new destinations. You can always visit our plan website, or contact the USI Travel Insurance Services Customer Service team for help selecting the best plan for your travel needs. Their representatives are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time and can be reached at (855) 874-0156 or customercare@travelinsure.com. Be sure to mention you are traveling with ThirdHome, account #50054.
Thousand Greens is a global community of passionate private club golfers who love to share the game with others.
Thousand Greens extends a special invitation to ThirdHome Members who are part of a private club, inviting them to join its vast network of private club golfers across thousands of top-rated clubs worldwide. This presents members with a chance to connect and relish the experience of playing at each other’s clubs as accompanied guests. Importantly, it provides access to esteemed private clubs that might otherwise be inaccessible.
Upon registering, members are categorized into one of four tiers based on their club’s ranking: best in world, best in country, best in state/province, and other private clubs. Members then earn credits enabling them to request invitations to courses at their own level or lower.
Exclusive Offer for ThirdHome Members
Enjoy a one-year complimentary Thousand Greens membership, which includes:
- Special Access to Top-Tier Courses: Experience firsthand thousands of the finest private golfing locales in 40 countries, including 84 clubs in the world’s top 100.
- Explore Endless Benefits: Join curated golf events, enjoy exclusive offers from top industry brands, track your progress on various golf “top” lists, effortlessly manage your golf contacts visually in one place, and share experiences across social media networks.
- Build Connections: Become part of a dynamic community comprising over 13,000 passionate golf enthusiasts eager to share club experiences, their love for the game, and a willingness to travel and play alongside fellow enthusiasts.
Click here to register. To activate your complimentary year, please enter the code THIRDHOME24D on the payment screen.
What do you do if you get bored of forever having to return to your second home? Join a club of like-minded and similarly property-endowed people and go and stay in theirs!
Welcome to The Big Posh Holiday Swap—a 6-part Paramount+ original series that explores the homes and lifestyles of some of THIRDHOME’s Exchange members. In this awe-inspiring show, viewers get to know the Club’s founder and CEO, Wade Shealy, and Director of Strategy, Giles Adams. Wade explains how the Club began—a simple swap pool between him and his friends who own second homes. Now, 12 years later, the Club features over 16,000 properties across 100 countries. The Big Posh Holiday Swap takes us inside these extravagant homes, including THIRDHOME’s Reserve properties, an exclusive program for even higher-worth properties.
If you haven’t seen the show yet, what are you waiting for? In the meantime, let’s uncover the details behind the fantastic properties in Episode 1.
Cottar’s Mara Bush Villa in Masai Mara, Kenya
Overview
Cottar’s Mara Bush Villa is located on the award-winning Cottar’s Safari Camp in Kenya, bordering the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve. Cottar’s Bush Villa won the World Travel Award for Africa’s Leading Luxury Private Villa in 2016 and is Global Eco-Sphere Retreat accredited. Located next to the Savannah Plains, the luxury villa sleeps up to 12, and guests can enjoy privately guided game drives, night game drives, bush walks, swimming, and fishing and can even witness the Great Wildebeest Migration known over the world.
Cottars History
Cottar’s Safaris Services was established in 1919 and was one of the first registered safari companies offering superior game hunting and film safaris throughout Africa, India, and Indochina. Among the Cottar’s long list of achievements, many were firsts. They were the first to import American safari vehicles, the first to reach new areas like Lake Paradise, and the first service to obtain rare safari footage. The Cottars were even the first safari company to establish a tented photography camp in the 60s.
Property Look
The Bush Villa has five bedrooms and six bathrooms and offers complete privacy, with a secure and secluded road leading to the house, which makes it a perfect immersion into nature.
The villa comes with a dedicated staff of eight (one waiter, one housekeeper, two security guards, a guide, and a wildlife spotter). And if you were worried you wouldn’t have access to modern amenities, you can rest assured that the villa has internet access throughout, satellite TV and DVD, and is powered with electric and solar energy.
Trail’s End in Whistler, Canada
Overview
This six-bedroom, eight-bathroom chalet is known around Whistler as the most luxurious getaway in the entire community. Located in the in-demand Kadenwood neighborhood, this ski-in/ski-out retreat sits on 7,500 square feet on a private slope. Trail’s End bursts with luxuries, such as heated floors throughout the home, an espresso bar, a sparkling water dispenser, and a covered, heated entertainment deck.
About Whistler
Whistler Blackcomb is one of the best and most well-known ski resort areas in all of North America. Ranked by USA Today as one of the top 11 resorts this side of the Atlantic. Not only does it offer some of the best skiing for all levels, but it’s also got one of the top villages for après-ski activities, rivaling those famous Austrian ski villages you always hear about.
Seascape Escape in Koh Samui, Thailand
Overview
This four-bedroom, four-bathroom villa is nestled within the grounds of the W Koh Samui Luxury Resort, located on the popular Koh Samui Island—the second-largest island in Thailand. Seascape Escape overlooks the Gulf of Thailand, which is world-famous for its scuba diving and deep-sea fishing.
Accessible via the Koh Samui airport, which is only 15 minutes by car, this tropical getaway boasts ocean views, an infinity pool, loungers, and a sun bed to enjoy. Visitors can enjoy maid service and all of the benefits that the W Hotel has to offer. If you are interested in airport transfers, private chefs, or other services, those can be provided for extra fees.
Watch Episode 1 of The Big Posh Holiday Swap, now available on Channel 5 in the UK.
We are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for new experiences and real estate ownership through one of our longstanding partners Legacy International.
THIRDHOME is always looking for partnerships with resorts and experiences that will bring you the best in luxury travel. We know Caribbean destinations are our Members’ favorites, so we are certain this partnership with Turtle Island by Watermark will provide some amazing opportunities for our members to take advantage of home exchanges in Ambergris Caye, Belize.
The 171-unit private island resort is nestled in a lush tropical setting on 90 acres of soft sandy beaches and clear turquoise waters. Just minutes from San Pedro, this luxurious Caribbean resort is set to deliver the quintessential island experience. It will offer guests a wealth of amenities, including opportunities for adventurous excursions like fishing and diving, an exclusive snorkel lagoon, marina, pool, jet skis, shopping, restaurants, clubs, bars, and a 20,000-square-foot beach club.
The resort is being developed with an overall greater purpose of “ensuring that people and nature work together successfully” by using new technologies and systems that limit environmental impact, accelerate development time, and support global causes, including the conservation of marine ecology.
Additionally, THIRDHOME Members are invited to participate in the initial investment opportunity, Terra Azul Sustainability Fund, and/or with a pre-construction purchase of one of the distinct oceanfront homes at Turtle Island by Watermark at a discounted price below public offering. The Terra Azul Sustainability Fund represents a joint venture launch in support of Legacy Resorts’ newest Lifestyle and Sustainable Resort Brand, by Watermark. This opportunity allows you to invest in high-demand real estate in one of the Caribbean’s fastest-growing destinations and, of course, increase your own THIRDHOME Membership portfolio.
This is your chance to experience and enjoy:
- Destination Ownership
- Resort Lifestyle
- Island Living
- Four Star Hospitality
- Luxury Residences
- Life on the Water
To learn more about this unique opportunity, please contact chad@thirdhome.com. The initial pre-construction sales process is already underway, so time is definitely of the essence!
For more information regarding Turtle Island by Watermark, click the links below:
- Terra Azul Executive Summary
- Terra Azul Sustainability Fund I – Investment Memorandum
- Turtle Island Vision Book
“THIRDHOME is just the perfect answer for people like me that travel constantly and have friends located everywhere.”
– Yvonne Corbett, owner of turin castle, thirdhome member since 2020
From left to right: Turin Castle in Forfar Scotland; THIRDHOME member and owner of Turin Castle, Yvonne Corbett
From expat to 17th-century Scottish castle owner and now a featured star in the Paramount+ original series Millionaire Holiday Home Swap, Yvonne Corbett has quite the story to tell! We were fortunate enough to sit down with Yvonne as she recounts the filming of Millionaire Holiday Home Swap and learn the fascinating inside scoop behind Turin Castle, including what exciting surprises guests can come to expect.
Read our interview with Yvonne below to learn more about Turin Castle and her life as a THIRDHOME member:
What made you choose Scotland for your second home?
I was an expat and lived abroad with my husband for 23 years. He wanted to come back to Scotland, so we bought Turin Castle 8 years ago. I was either going to go for the whisky trail or the golf trail—I knew that I needed to be in the middle of one of them, and Turin came up. I did try for a couple of other castles, but everything happens for a reason. In Scotland, you bid to get one, and I wasn’t successful twice. But it always means that the right thing is waiting for you, and Turin has been the right thing. It’s been really hard work but a lot of lovely surprises. I really believe in fate; I’m not that kind of person, but there were many that I wanted and didn’t get, and now I know better. I didn’t get them for a reason.
When you bought Turin Castle, did you have to renovate a lot, or was it in pretty good shape?
It was neglected badly for 2 years; it was definitely unloved, so we rolled our sleeves up. It’s a bit of a funny story—my husband had never seen the property. I flew up for one day to look at Turin from Cape Town, which is a 12-hour flight, and turned around and went back, and I said to my husband, “I think that’s interesting. You should go look at it.” But he was so busy that he didn’t have time. That was on a Thursday. We’ve got this system in Scotland where you note your intent to offer—so I did that on Friday, and about an hour later, they said, “It’s closing; you have to bid on Monday at noon.” And because we were in South Africa, my husband had no time to get up and look at it. But as you can see, lucky, lucky me, we bought it, and my husband liked it.
How did you become involved with THIRDHOME?
I heard about THIRDHOME from another member and thought it was really interesting because I’m a traveler myself. We were expats; We lived in Asia, Dubai, and South Africa. And so we’ve got friends all over the world, and THIRDHOME is just the perfect answer for people like me that travel constantly and have friends located everywhere. It was a win-win. We were always invited to weddings abroad and just to go see people, but now, not having to stay with them because you’ve got your own property, it’s just a dream.
You’re a featured member in Millionaire Holiday Home Swap; Do you have any funny stories? What was your favorite part of the experience?
It just seemed to go past really quickly. Well, I think actually the funny part was that we had gin for breakfast. Neither of us meant to, but Giles and I were filming at the bar, and I didn’t expect to drink it, but I had to because I would’ve looked really bizarre on film if I hadn’t tasted it too. But it’s Scotland; we’re supporting the local economy by drinking alcohol.
Do you have a room inside Turin Castle that you love the most or are most excited for people to see?
I love the conservatory; it’s just pure glass and surrounded by greenery in the garden. Sometimes deer walk past on warm nights. We have hedgehogs, we have red squirrels, we have hawks that come down—it’s beautiful. But also, the library is kind of special. It’s very peaceful. We’ve had a couple of people who’ve just said, “We don’t want to do any excursions with our friends. We’re just going to sit in the library,” because it’s full of historical books.
So the excursion is kind of the castle itself?
Yeah. In fact, that’s what people forget. We say, “Scotland in 20 minutes is what we are” because we’re beside the highlands, we’re beside the beach, we’re beside the golf, and now we’ve got two whisky distilleries close to us. So everything you want from Scotland is close to Turin—We call it “The Turin Twenty.” So if you want to be up in the highlands hunting or just hiking, which a lot of people do, the scenery is stunning. Yet, twenty minutes in the other direction, they’re on a beach that’s seven kilometers long, and there are caves on one end that you can wander through, and on the other end, there’s a fort from the 13th century.
It’s kind of crazy, and people always underestimate how much there is to do. The biggest complaint we get from people is—and I mean it—“I wish we’d stayed longer.” Our last guest said, “Next time, I’m just gonna stay at Turin, and I’m gonna travel from there. I want to be here and know that I’m coming home every night.” Because it feels like home to everyone because it is home, it is a home; it’s not a hotel; it’s not meant to feel like it’s commercial.
From left to right: Bagpiper outside Turin Castle; Formal dinner setting at Turin Castle
People can tell that there are extra touches and quirky bits—there’s always something changing. We’re constantly looking for things to surprise people with. Just today, I found a company that’s a charity that works with adults with special needs, and they make chocolate bars and soap bars, and we just ordered them for pillow gifts because, you know, it’s just a nice story, and everyone can put chocolate on a pillow, but this one’s got a story. And we’ll do that maybe for a month or so, and then we’ll find something else so that when people come back, it’s always a surprise.
We love to surprise people. They don’t know what we’ve got, so we like to not show it all on the first night. So we say, “Oh, here’s the castle, and on the second night, the dinner could possibly be in the event space, and we’ve dressed it up with a theme, and a bagpiper will come in, etc.” It’s not about upselling; you’ve paid all this money to come, you’ve paid for the castle; now we’ll make it even better, without a cost.
So it sounds like you have a lot of repeat visitors that come back?
Yes, in fact, we’ve got some from Nashville that come, they’ve been 4 times, and they’re fabulous. We’re really close to championship golf, so we’re busy with golfing groups. We had a group from California that stayed with us for 28 days. You arrive as strangers and definitely depart as friends.
Can guests stay in the entire castle?
It’s everything—They’ve got their own wine cellar, they’ve got their own whisky cellar, we’ve got a games room. There is a swimming pool, but we covered it this summer so people can dance. We’ve got lots of cèilidh dancing because it’s Scotland, and we have whisky to make you dance. We had a fabulous group celebrating an anniversary, and they wanted Scottish country dancing, so we made everyone wear kilts.
Was Giles in a kilt while filming Millionaire Holiday Home Swap?
Okay, so that’s the funny part. He had on the wrong socks. We were laughing so hard because it wasn’t a full outfit. I think Giles actually secretly loved his kilt because he wore it a lot longer than he needed to.
Was this the same day that you had gin for breakfast?
Yes, yes. So that could have had something to do with it.
Are there any other fun facts we should know about Turin Castle?
I forgot to tell Giles that Turin Castle was the #1 gift in this year’s Oscar bag. We gifted a three-night stay for two guests.
Be on the lookout for Turin Castle in Millionaire Holiday Home Swap, now streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the UK and Ireland.
Paramount+ includes a mountain of quality entertainment for everyone to enjoy. UK-based readers can subscribe here: https://www.paramountplus.com/gb/.
Paramount+ costs just £6.99/month or £69.90/year in the UK (€7.99 per month or €79.90 per year in Ireland) with a free 7-day trial available to everyone.
Sky Cinema subscribers get the bonus of Paramount+ included at no extra cost.
From the southernmost tip of Africa to the countryside of Scotland, Giles Adams has been traveling from gorgeous home to gorgeous home in the Paramount+ original series, Millionaire Holiday Home Swap—a new show about the THIRDHOME lifestyle. Not only did Giles explore some extraordinary places for the first time, but he was also surprised by some unforgettable experiences along the way. He’s here to tell us all about his top five most memorable moments while filming Millionaire Holiday Home Swap!
Read Giles’ full testimonial below:
1. Feeding a Crocodile at Leobo, South Africa (Featured in Episode 2)
There are several lakes and watering holes on the Leobo estate, which are teeming with wildlife. One has a large herd of hippos you do not want to get too close to, and there is also a resident crocodile. He is not huge, but he likes impala meat. So the team at Leobo feeds him by attaching a large chunk of it to a long rope, and it’s then tossed into the lake. You wait until the crocodile bites it, and then you can have a little tug-of-war with him. He is surprisingly strong, and he feels as though he has earned his supper. You don’t want to slip while being on the other end of the rope, though!
2. Delivering an Aston Martin Rapide to our member’s home in Norway (Featured in Episode 5)
Having never been to Norway, I was particularly excited to visit. Kristiansand is a little over four hours south of Oslo, and I picked up our member’s Aston Martin halfway through the journey. The rest of the trip down the gorgeous Norwegian coastline was unforgettable, and the salubrious comfort of the car made it even more special.
3. Getting a taste of the Penhill Estate, Cape Town (Featured in Episode 6)
Penhill Estate is one of the locations I wish we had more time at; More time to spend with the new owner/member, Elo, and more time to shoot the properties on site. Just two hours outside of Cape Town, the drive was magical, and the setting was breathtaking. I hope as many of our members as possible get the opportunity to go.
4. The additional renovations at Château De Vézins (Featured in Episode 3)
We took a press trip to Château De Vézins a few years ago, and as such, I was excited to return to see Gaelle and Marc again. They have been busy and have completely renovated and extended the kitchen, added a gym/studio, and started renovating the top floor. But, the plans for the screening room in the semi-circular space above the main entrance would be something special. I hope to get a third invite back to see that when it is done.
5. The attention to detail at Turin Castle (Featured in Episode 6)
Yvonne is Turin Castle, and Turin Castle is Yvonne. She is an incredibly warm force of nature and the definitive host, but the team behind the scenes makes this property so special. Very professional but equally comfortable with either serving tea in one of the many reception rooms or having a casual cup of coffee with you just perched on the stools in the kitchen. A special atmosphere. The split cellar with a signpost at the bottom of the stairs indicating either “Grain” or “Grape” was particularly memorable.
Owner Yvonne Corbett and butler Chris at Turin Castle in Forfar, Scotland
Watch Giles’ favorite moments and more on Millionaire Holiday Home Swap, now streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the UK and Ireland.
Paramount+ includes a mountain of quality entertainment for everyone to enjoy. UK-based readers can subscribe here: https://www.paramountplus.com/gb/.
Paramount+ costs just £6.99/month or £69.90/year in the UK (€7.99 per month or €79.90 per year in Ireland) with a free 7-day trial available to everyone.
Sky Cinema subscribers get the bonus of Paramount+ included at no extra cost.
THIRDHOME Rentals is more exciting than ever! Exchange members can now use Keys for up to 10% off their rental booking.
We are excited to announce a new way to maximize your THIRDHOME membership! Even with the thousands of options available on the Exchange site, there may be instances when you’re unable to find a stay that meets your travel needs. Luckily, our Rentals program is the perfect alternative for uncovering more stays within your desired location or time frame. Now, best of all, members can enjoy up to 10% savings by using Keys to book a stay on THIRDHOME Rentals.
About THIRDHOME Rentals:
THIRDHOME Rentals gives you more options for finding your next dream vacation through our platform of luxury-only vacation rentals. Discover new properties, new destinations, new experiences, and new opportunities for one-of-a-kind travel.
What’s new with THIRDHOME Rentals?
Aside from offering members up to 10% savings when they book with Keys, the THIRDHOME Rentals’ portfolio has significantly increased over the last few months. Now, there are more than 1,600 properties available in 27 different countries.
Furthermore, our property searching tool has also been improved with filter options. Plus, it’s easier than ever to find a vacation rental:
When members browse on Exchange, if there are no available stays matching their search criteria, a module will appear showing properties available on THIRDHOME Rentals for the same destination and dates selected.
What are the benefits of THIRDHOME Rentals?
- Members enjoy the same elevated standards as the Exchange: THIRDHOME Rentals program is much like the Exchange Club in terms of the quality and caliber of homes and resort properties available. All homes must meet our community’s standards: ideal location and well-appointed, with a minimum home value of $500,000.
- Properties are carefully vetted: All THIRDHOME Rentals properties undergo a vetting process and comply with the verification steps set by THIRDHOME, so members can list or book with confidence and without compromise.
- Choosing our rentals over Airbnb or VRBO: Unlike traditional short-term rental sites like Airbnb or Vrbo, THIRDHOME Rentals offers a network of luxury-only, hand-picked vacation rentals. Our Rentals platform does not offer “shared spaces” like private rooms within a house. You will never have to worry about sharing common areas such as bathrooms and kitchens with other guests not in your group.
- Exchange members have the chance to use Keys for up to 10% off rentals: After you log in to your account, navigate to THIRDHOME Rentals, and enter your desired destination and dates. Once you select a property, you will find a total quote for your stay, including the number of Keys you may use and the amount of money saved by using those Keys. You can enjoy up to 10% savings, which will be deducted at the time of payment.
Interested in renting your home on THIRDHOME Rentals?
- Active THIRDHOME Exchange members can list their properties on THIRDHOME Rentals free of charge; only a 5% commission will be paid for every booking made.
- For further instructions on how to list your rental home, please contact THIRDHOME Rentals directly by emailing rentals@thirdhome.com
Discover more ways to travel using Keys with THIRDHOME Rentals!
Have additional questions? Read our Rentals FAQ or contact us by emailing rentals@thirdhome.com.
Click here to view all available THIRDHOME Rentals.
THIRDHOME members can now place a Backup Reservation on a stay that has an active 24-hour hold.
The Backup Reservation feature was created to allow Guest Members to reserve a stay on standby if and when another member’s 24-hour hold is released from the system. The Backup Reservation button resides on the property page next to the held week under the Availability section.
See the examples below to learn how it works!
STEP ONE:
After you log in to your account, navigate to your desired residence’s property page. Click on the “View Availability” button or simply scroll down to the Availability section on the property page.
If a stay has an active 24-hour hold, it will show a “Backup Reservation” button, so long as it does not have an existing backup reservation in place.
STEP TWO:
Click the “Backup Reservation” button next to the stay you would like to make a Backup Reservation for. Once you have read and agreed to the terms and conditions, select “I agree.”
IMPORTANT NOTE: This is not an official reservation. Please do not make any travel arrangements, especially those that may be non-refundable, until you receive a notification that your backup reservation has been processed.
STEP THREE:
After agreeing to the terms and conditions, you will be taken to the following payment page. From here, you will see the total quote for your reservation, including the number of Keys used. To submit your Backup Reservation request, click on the “Place Backup Reservation” button.
PRO TIP: Members may use any available monetary credit or Keyless Tokens towards a Backup Reservation if desired.
At this time, the reservation will be placed in pending. When a Backup Reservation is pending: Keys are held, credit and Keyless Tokens are used, and the charge is authorized.
If the holding member does not make a reservation on this stay, the Backup Reservation will be processed, and the card will be charged.
If the holding member decides to make a reservation during the 24-hour hold period, the Backup Reservation is considered “unused.” In this case, you will not be charged for the reservation, credit and Keyless Tokens will be refunded, and Keys will be released.
WHAT’S NEXT?
You may view your Backup Reservation(s) at any time by visiting your dashboard and clicking on “Reservations.”
From there, you will be taken to your reservations page and will select the “Backup Reservations” toggle.
PLEASE NOTE: The Backup Reservations tab will only appear if there is a Backup Reservation in place.
If and when the Backup Reservation is processed, it will move into the Guest or Host Reservations tab accordingly. In turn, the only reservations that will be visible under the Backup Reservations tab are those that are: pending, canceled, or unused.
Reminder: The Backup Reservation is considered “unused” if the holding member makes the reservation.
Members will receive email notifications when: the Backup Reservation is made, when/if it is processed into a reservation, when/if it is canceled, and when/if the Backup Reservation is determined to be unused.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Members must be up-to-date on THIRDHOME deposit requirements, and annual membership dues must be paid in order to place a Backup Reservation. Members not current on dues will be prompted to pay the fee prior to completing the Backup Reservation request.
If you have any questions, please contact Member Experience by emailing memberexperience@thirdhome.com. We hope you enjoy and make use of this valuable new feature. Happy reserving and safe travels!
Ready to browse for new stays? Click here! Reminder: You must be logged in to view availability.
“THIRDHOME gives us the opportunity to travel the world ‘as locals’ by staying in homes owned by people like ourselves.”
– Luís Molina, father of thirdhome member diana Molina Ostos
Ah, Caidominici Villa. What’s better than spending a holiday in this expansive Umbrian farmhouse in the Italian countryside? Answer: Sharing it with your loved ones. This is the story of the Molina family.
The Paramount+ original series, Millionaire Holiday Home Swap, takes viewers on a journey inside the homes and holidays of THIRDHOME members. Diana, who joined THIRDHOME in 2017, spent her most recent holiday with her family (and film crew) in Pietralunga, Italy. Her father, Luís Molina, recounts their home swap experience, including his not-so-successful attempt at becoming a pizzaiolo:
Do you have any funny stories from when the Millionaire Holiday Home Swap film crew was there?
On our second day in Italy, we had planned to have pizzas and cook them in the pizza oven—a very Italian night. We prepared the wooden oven, following instructions from our chefs. The day before, they asked to turn on the fire at 1 pm and take care of it so it would be at the right temperature for dinner at 8 pm. And so, we did!
We would take turns to check on the over and add wood accordingly for hours. Simonetta and Luccia, our lovely chefs, arrived on time with the ingredients to give us a full pizza class. Each one of our family members took a stab at their own pizza with our chefs grading us! I got a “one” out of ten (1/10) rating!!!! After hours of preparing for the pizza night, I terribly failed at it! I was not able to spread the dough evenly, leaving holes all over and getting myself the worst grade possible, lol.
What was your favorite part of shooting Millionaire Holiday Home Swap?
After our truffle hunting experience, the mayor of Pietralunga surprised us with an invitation to give us a tour around the city. We were not expecting it! We learned about the history and day-to-day activities of the city through the mayor himself. We experienced the city very differently than if we had gone by ourselves and explored it. The shooting team was constantly engaging with the mayor and the people in the city, which made our tour a lot more fun and lively.
What do you like the most about THIRDHOME?
THIRDHOME gives us the opportunity to travel the world “as locals” by staying in homes owned by people like ourselves. It also offers us the opportunity to offer our home to people that we know will take good care of it because they understand what it is to entrust it to others in the network.
Who do you usually travel with, and what is the reason for your choice? (Alone or group? Friends or family?)
We enjoy both family trips and trips with friends. I am 70 years old, and I, fortunately, have more time to travel, and while healthy, I have to make the most of it! I try to travel locally in Mexico with my family, including my grandchildren, and abroad with my adult children and their partners at least once a year. With friends, we usually mix it around doing a year local trip and the following abroad.
What is the best travel advice you have received?
Two recommendations that never fail! Always choose travel companion(s) that are non-confrontational and enjoy the tiny moments. People that are easy to hang out with. Also, a good tour guide makes a huge difference when appreciating and enjoying a trip—a good tour guide is not an expense; it is an investment.
What is your most prized travel possession? What is the reason or sentiment behind this?
I love buying table books of the places I visit. These books have a special place at home. They help me [relive] again each one of the moments I had over my trips.
So who exactly is Caidominici Villa? Let’s take a look:
Caidominici Villa in Pietralunga, Italy
Caidominici is a tastefully restored six-bedroom, seven-bathroom villa located in the Green Heart of Italy. The villa, which joined THIRDHOME’s portfolio in 2010, has a perfect 5-star rating across all bookings. Caidominici offers peaceful seclusion and a wealth of amenities to keep guests entertained while on holiday. Some of the villa’s highlights include:
- Outdoor wood-fired pizza oven (better luck next time, Luís)
- Cinema room, library, bar, and game room
- 20m heated infinity pool
- Tennis court, bocce pitch, and table tennis
“The staff is wonderful; the amenities are like being in the finest hotel … Worth every key!”
– Douglas S., THIRDHOME member since 2016.
“One of the most beautiful places we have ever stayed in the world.”
– Elizabeth L., THIRDHOME member since 2017.
See more of Caidominici Villa by watching Millionaire Holiday Home Swap, now streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the UK and Ireland.
Paramount+ includes a mountain of quality entertainment for everyone to enjoy. UK-based readers can subscribe here: https://www.paramountplus.com/gb/.
Paramount+ costs just £6.99/month or £69.90/year in the UK (€7.99 per month or €79.90 per year in Ireland) with a free 7-day trial available to everyone.
Sky Cinema subscribers get the bonus of Paramount+ included at no extra cost.
Adele Hetherington, owner of Maison Mala, gives her take on the ins and outs of traveling and life as a THIRDHOME member.
Since joining THIRDHOME in 2016, Adele Hetherington has been an avid traveler, taking 41 trips to 12 countries. In 2022, Adele added her newly renovated Croatian villa—Maison Mala—to the Club, which in the same year, became one of the stars in the Paramount+ original series, Millionaire Holiday Home Swap. As a frequent jetsetter, Adele has plenty to tell, and we can’t wait to share it with you!
What is your favorite thing about THIRDHOME?
Going to places I may never have thought of going to before.
What is your favorite memory from a past THIRDHOME trip?
Amazing service at the Ritz Carlton Aspen — we loved it.
If you had the opportunity to experience a past trip again, what activities/attractions would you see or do that you never got the chance to?
Ski in Aspen when there was snow (we had the worst snow since 1974).
Who do you usually travel with, and what’s the reasoning behind your choice? (Solo or group? Friends or family?)
Always with family or friends, but fancy solo someday.
What made/inspired you to choose Croatia for your second home?
We have lots of them, Japan, Croatia, Thailand, England — maybe we are crazy — we just love owning houses in different countries and the massive challenges that are involved in that.
What is your favorite aspect of traveling?
Learning new things, smelling new smells, meeting new people, and eating new food.
Who is your dream travel companion, and why? Where would you like to go with them?
My husband; he is level-headed and kind and always keen to see more.
What characteristics make for a great/ideal travel partner?
Calmness and interest in learning new things.
What destination is top of your bucket list, and what would you like to do/see there?
Patagonia and South America.
What is the best piece of travel advice you’ve received?
Keep your passport close to your chest and open your eyes.
What is your top travel tip?
Try everything (within reason, of course) — step out of your comfort zone.
What item can’t you travel without, and what are its benefits?
Vitamins and a hydrating flight mask [that has a filter] keep me well and hydrated ([for example] long flights from Australia).
What is your most prized travel possession? What is the reason or sentiment behind it?
My “wheelie” bag — it is almost worn out — it is always packed and ready to go.
What is the most exotic food you’ve tried while traveling? Did you enjoy it? How would you describe it to someone who hasn’t tasted it?
Cockroaches in Cambodia (yuck, but that is in my head, really) crunchy and salty.
Who is the most interesting person you’ve met so far during your travels? What did you learn or experience from them?
I met a man on a Nile cruise many years ago wearing a Stetson — he had glued $1 bills together to tear off and hand to folks on his trip as tips — hilarious.
What is the most interesting thing you’ve learned on a trip?
Oh gosh, too many to tell — Jordan, Morocco, Egypt, Italy, France, England, Scandinavia, Asia — all give history history history, the human condition is amazing and mother nature too.
Do you travel with a fixed itinerary, or do you choose to go with the flow? Why?
Always free and easy — I always put the itinerary together but more recently have enjoyed package trips — rather nice having someone else do all the work (need a holiday after organising a holiday).
Do you prefer to travel to popular destinations or off-the-beaten-track spots? Why?
Both — everything is interesting — we can’t get enough of this world.
Do you prefer adventure-driven experiences or a chilled-out relaxed vacation? Why?
Both — it is great to experience everything as each will offer something special.
See more of Maison Mala by watching Millionaire Holiday Home Swap, now streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the UK and Ireland.
Paramount+ includes a mountain of quality entertainment for everyone to enjoy. UK-based readers can subscribe here: https://www.paramountplus.com/gb/.
Paramount+ costs just £6.99/month or £69.90/year in the UK (€7.99 per month or €79.90 per year in Ireland) with a free 7-day trial available to everyone.
Sky Cinema subscribers get the bonus of Paramount+ included at no extra cost.
“Having the ability to leverage my properties through THIRDHOME has enabled me to travel more often and enjoy nicer accommodations.”
– THirdhome member barrett masso
In the Paramount+ original series, Millionaire Holiday Home Swap, THIRDHOME member Barrett Masso jets off to Château De Vézins in Loire Valley, France. Join us as we uncover more about the 18th-century château and learn what he has to say about traveling with THIRDHOME.
Barrett has been a member of THIRDHOME since 2018 and has enjoyed stays across the globe, all the way from Aspen to Mexico. He shares with us a few tidbits about traveling and his membership with THIRDHOME:
What is your favorite thing about THIRDHOME?
Access to unique homes all over the world.
How has THIRDHOME changed the way you travel?
Having the ability to leverage my properties through THIRDHOME has enabled me to travel more often and enjoy nicer accommodations.
What is your favorite aspect of traveling?
Living in the moment and experiencing new cultures.
What is your top travel tip?
Embrace the unexpected.
What was your favorite part about filming Millionaire Holiday Home Swap?
Knowing the content may inspire others to travel, and sharing the experience with my loved ones.
In Episode 3 of Millionaire Holiday Home Swap, we get an inside look at Barrett’s time at Château De Vézins—but the château has more to tell:
The origin of Château De Vézins dates all the way back to the 12th century. Between 1200 and 1400, the family of Hardy de la Porte, the original Baron de Vézins, built a redstone fort that would later become the château seen in Millionaire Holiday Home Swap. However, the story is not that simple.
The family married into a high-ranking Protestant line during the Reformation in the 16th century, which eventually led to the fort’s destruction as ordered by Louis XIII. Fortunately, years later, in 1708, the family reclaimed their land and began constructing a new château, which currently forms the house’s core. Be that as it may, most of the property was destroyed during the French Revolution—although it was ultimately restored in the mid-19th century.
But the story doesn’t quite end there; Around 1929, the last Baron died, and in turn, the château lay abandoned until 2006. A year later, the Deschamps and Rozon families purchased the home and began extensive renovations for nearly a decade. In doing so, the families honored the château’s history by using genuine antique furnishings and sourcing several fabrics and paint colors to recreate period interiors while also adding modern touches, including a heated pool, Jacuzzi, gym and sauna, WiFi, and a Sonos sound system.
Today, Château De Vézins is highly adored by THIRDHOME members with over 20 reservations having taken place and near-perfect reviews.
“The property is nothing short of extraordinary. It would take a book to describe it. My 25-year-old son said it was the best trip of his life, and he has taken a lot.”
– Bob M., THIRDHOME member since 2016.
“This property was absolutely spectacular! The grounds were beautiful and staying here will make you feel as if you have woken into a vision from the past.”
– Robert P., THIRDHOME member since 2012.
See more of Château De Vézins by watching Millionaire Holiday Home Swap, now streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the UK and Ireland.
Paramount+ includes a mountain of quality entertainment for everyone to enjoy. UK-based readers can subscribe here: https://www.paramountplus.com/gb/.
Paramount+ costs just £6.99/month or £69.90/year in the UK (€7.99 per month or €79.90 per year in Ireland) with a free 7-day trial available to everyone.
Sky Cinema subscribers get the bonus of Paramount+ included at no extra cost.
Have you ever wondered what it’d be like to holiday in an exclusive, world-class chalet? What about one teeming with luxurious accouterments in one of the most famous ski areas in the world? Well, one THIRDHOME family did just that—and is here to tell us all about it!
Episode 5 of the Paramount+ original series, Millionaire Holiday Home Swap, introduces us to two THIRDHOME gems—Chalet Les Brames and the Palmer family. The Palmers became members of THIRDHOME in 2020. In 2022, they swapped time in their second home to spend a holiday in what The Telegraph calls a “splendidly secluded, sumptuously furnished and equipped to satisfy most guest whims” chalet.
Below, Lisa Palmer talks about her family’s experience at Chalet Les Brames and some of their other travel adventures:
What did you enjoy most about staying at Chalet Les Brames?
Our favorite part of the house we stayed in was the chef—he was fabulous. The staff was a close second.
What was your favorite part about filming Millionaire Holiday Home Swap?
Our favorite part of filming was getting to know the girls [from the film crew] and hearing their stories—very sweet girls. They were very nice and had traveled all over shooting for this show and others—it was great to hear about it.
How has THIRDHOME changed the way you travel?
There are times and places we prefer a home over a hotel. THIRDHOME has opened up all of the home locations we didn’t consider in the past.
Who do you usually travel with, and what’s the reasoning behind your choice? (Solo or group? Friends or family?)
We mostly travel with our family as it is a nice way to stay connected with our children. However, with the larger THIRDHOME houses, we have included friends as well, making our travels even more special.
What is your top travel tip?
Our best travel tip is to not check bags. We try not to check bags if we can—they always get lost. My friend Stacy just got to Italy minus a bag; she was with us in France.
What is the most exotic food you’ve tried while traveling?
The most exotic food I’ve ever been served is Sea Cucumber in China, but I couldn’t bring myself to try it.
Do you travel with a fixed itinerary, or do you choose to go with the flow? Why?
I travel with a fixed itinerary. I’m not chill enough to go with the flow.
We can’t wait for you to see Chalet Les Brames in Millionaire Holiday Home Swap, but in the meantime, here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect:
Aside from providing the perfect home base for exploring Les Trois Vallées (The Three Valleys), Chalet Les Brames also offers a:
- Billiards room
- Cinema
- Massage room
- Cold plunge pool and steam room
- Yoga and fitness room
… and much more!
See more of Chalet Les Brames and the Palmer family by watching Millionaire Holiday Home Swap, now streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the UK and Ireland.
Paramount+ includes a mountain of quality entertainment for everyone to enjoy. UK-based readers can subscribe here: https://www.paramountplus.com/gb/.
Paramount+ costs just £6.99/month or £69.90/year in the UK (€7.99 per month or €79.90 per year in Ireland) with a free 7-day trial available to everyone.
Sky Cinema subscribers get the bonus of Paramount+ included at no extra cost.