From vibrant cities to serene coastlines, Southeast Asia is now part of the ThirdHome luxury home exchange experience. Our newest venture helps to highlight the region’s breathtaking beauty and the spirit of adventure and sophistication our members seek. This expansion marks an exciting chapter in our global growth, and the buzz is building. See how the media is covering our arrival in Singapore below.
ThirdHome targets branded residences for growth in Thailand
“Nearly 50 properties in Thailand have joined our network organically. However, demand from our members for this country and the region far exceeds the available supply…We had a number of developers who had built beautiful resorts but were unable to sell them due to the economic environment…By partnering with us, developers can tap into this customer segment by making their branded residences available for stays by our members.“
– ThirdHome Director of Operations and Strategy, Giles Adams
ThirdHome, the Luxury Travel Club, Sets Its Sights on Southeast Asia
“We’re seeing a huge rise in luxury second-home ownership in Southeast Asia, not only among international and expat buyers but also among the rising number of highly affluent local residents…For people who love to travel, our exclusive club just makes so much sense…We’re actively looking to partner with developers and real estate professionals who want to differentiate their offerings and deliver long-term lifestyle value to their clients.”
– ThirdHome CEO & Founder, Wade Shealy
ThirdHome brings home-swapping model to affluent Singaporeans
“Generation Z is looking more about the here and now. The affluent ones have the ability and have the time and the flexibility to work across jurisdictions, across countries, across continents, which means that that has driven second home growth.”
– ThirdHome Director of Operations and Strategy, Giles Adams
ThirdHome, the Luxury Travel Club, Sets Its Sights on Southeast Asia
“It’s a great arrangement…Developers can use their unsold properties to generate travel credits, and ThirdHome sends the company qualified prospects who may eventually buy. They’ll say: Here’s your off-plan purchase, but while it’s under construction, you can travel to amazing homes worldwide…It’s a win for everyone.”
– ThirdHome Director of Operations and Strategy, Giles Adams
Interested in becoming a partner with ThirdHome?
Interested in becoming a ThirdHome Member?
A Legacy Investment. A Lifestyle You’ll Love.
ThirdHome is proud to introduce our newest partner, The Canyon Club. Nestled along one of the last privately owned stretches of Lake Travis, this intimate residential resort offers only 25 homes across 60 stunning acres, complete with 2,000 feet of private waterfront.
Blending heritage with next-generation innovation, The Canyon Club offers two paths to ownership: expansive 5- and 6-bedroom traditional homes, available for whole ownership from $2.8M, or the nation’s first luxury 4-bedroom 3D-printed residences by ICON, available through fractional ownership starting in the low $400Ks.
Whichever path you choose, life here is complemented by a suite of remarkable amenities: the first 3D-printed spa in the U.S., multiple pools, sauna, tennis and pickleball courts, fitness center, golf, boating, water sports, clubhouse, and curated dining experiences, all just 45 minutes from downtown Austin.
With an expertly managed short-term rental program and complimentary membership to Third Home’s global home exchange networks, homes at The Canyon Club offer the flexibility to use it, rent it, or trade it — delivering a luxury lifestyle offering with built-in investment returns.
Special Perks for ThirdHome Members
As a ThirdHome member, purchasing a home at The Canyon Club comes with exclusive benefits, including 20 Keys to enhance your travel opportunities within our network.
Exclusive Buyer Events
You’re also invited to attend exclusive buyer events in Houston on October 1st and Dallas on October 2nd. To secure an exclusive invitation, email janine.harker@thirdhome.com to join the guest list.
The Canyon Club isn’t just a place to live; it’s a place to gather, create memories, and secure your legacy for generations to come.
We’re excited to announce the launch of ThirdHome luxury home exchange in New Zealand, expanding our global network into one of the world’s most breathtaking destinations with exceptional homes that reflect the spirit of adventure and sophistication our members value. As we grow our presence across New Zealand, the media is taking notice—explore the latest coverage below.
Luxury home exchange club launches in NZ
“There’s a sense of security with bookings: the visitors are respectful, and you know your property is in safe hands. That’s not necessarily the case with Airbnb. And within the club it’s a real community, and you can interact on a personal level with the owners of places you stay in.”
– ThirdHome Member Josephine E.
Luxury home-swap platform to expand in New Zealand
“In the two years of her membership, Bianchi calculates she will soon have had $120,000 worth of accommodation, spread over four one-week-long trips. That includes the one to Mexico, where the home came with a cleaner, chef and driver; one in a “beautiful luxury resort” in Byron Bay, Australia; and one closer to home in Arrowtown’s Millbrook resort when she had an overflow of family members coming for Christmas.”
– ThirdHome Member Pauline B.
Selling the dream: How travel perks are helping close prestige deals
“We’re not trying to disrupt real estate,” Wade said. “We’re enhancing it, offering homeowners and agents a way to extend the value of a second home well beyond the walls. When agents say, ‘Buy this beachfront property in Byron and you can stay in a Paris penthouse or a Swiss chalet for $900 a week,’ it changes the conversation.”
– ThirdHome CEO & Founder, Wade Shealy
Luxury house swaps coming to NZ
“Rather than just swapping in the traditional sense, you can swap your homes over a certain value but you can actually choose from over 18,000 properties right around the world in more than 100 countries, and not just your average homes: we’ve got castles, ranches, yachts, safaris.”– Coast FM Host, Lorna Riley
Luxury travel club ThirdHome launches in New
Zealand
“To rent a place, like a 3-bedroom Ritz Carlton, you’re going to pay U.S. dollars, anywhere from $30,000 to $40,000 for the week. If you have a luxury second home that you offer up a week in ThirdHome for another number of years, you pay about $900 to stay in a Ritz Carlton 3-bedroom. I tell people, there’s no better deal, if you want a luxury second home, there’s no better deal in the world than ThirdHome.”
– ThirdHome CEO & Founder, Wade Shealy
Karl Lagerfeld’s former residence in France is available to book – but only if you know where to look
“Château d’Isle-sur-Marne, a meticulously restored castle dating back to 1732, is available to book exclusively through ThirdHome, a members-only luxury travel club. Formerly home to the late fashion icon and featured in both the 2023 Met Gala tribute Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty and Millionaire Holiday Home Swap, the château offers guests an experience that is as culturally significant as it is aesthetically breathtaking.”
– Sophie Howe, Author at Harper’s Bazaar Australia
ThirdHome New Zealand: What it’s like using the luxury home exchange
However, we’re here because of novelty and familiarity and excitement, and how they alchemise. Because even the most breathtaking places can lose a little shine over time, and we start to hunger for something different. This is one of travel’s greatest appeals: the chance to substitute the familiar delights for, not something necessarily better, but novel and thus delightful in a unique way. It’s also, in my eyes, one of the greatest appeals of a company like ThirdHome.
– Multimedia journalist, NZ Herald, Sarah Pollok
Interested in becoming a partner with ThirdHome?
Interested in becoming a ThirdHome Member?
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 can 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.
- Explore Endless Benefits: 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.
- Build Connections: Become part of a dynamic community comprising over 11,000 passionate golf enthusiasts eager to share club experiences, their love for the game, and a willingness to travel and play alongside fellow enthusiasts.
To activate your complimentary year, please enter the code THIRDHOME24D on the payment screen.
Our latest collaboration with Epic Golf Club, a premier platform that delivers exceptional golf experiences worldwide.
ThirdHome members are invited to play the world’s premier private golf courses through our new partner, Epic Golf Club. This exclusive golf society provides a platform for avid golf enthusiasts to play at some of the world’s best private golf courses together.
Special Opportunity for Members
Enjoy 6-months free of dues with an approved Epic Golf Club Membership, which includes:
- Exclusive Access to Elite Courses: Explore some of the world’s most prestigious golf courses, from lush greens nestled in scenic landscapes to iconic championship venues.
- VIP Events and Tournaments: Enjoy VIP access to exclusive golf events, tournaments, and networking opportunities with fellow enthusiasts. Epic Golf Club sponsors around thirty golf events per year, typically at top–100 golf clubs. Each event currently attracts around 80-100 Epic members.
- Powerful Networking Opportunities: Be part of an exclusive group of some of the most successful CEO’s, business owners, and professionals who all share a love for the game of golf. Powerful networking and connections can be formed.
Click here to learn more or apply for membership.
Your journey as a member, simply put, is the most luxurious and exclusive golf society experience in the world. With Epic Golf Club, the entire golf world has been unlocked. So, no more asking for favors to get on clubs or being stuck playing 5+ hour rounds on resort courses. And you’ll also receive dozens of invites to incredible events at top clubs year-round.
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 Millionaire Holiday Home Swap—a 6-part 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, 15 years later, the Club features over 30,000 properties across 100 countries. Millionaire Holiday Home 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.
We sit down with Giles Adams, Director of Strategy and Operations with ThirdHome, and learn how Millionaire Holiday Home Swap came to light.
How did ThirdHome become the star of Millionaire Holiday Home Swap?
In March 2019, we met Plum Pictures, who have been producing innovative programming for major networks in the UK and US since 2007. After a few meetings, they asked if we would be open to them creating a show they would pitch to UK TV channels, streaming services, and content creators.
How did you decide on the format of Millionaire Holiday Home Swap?
Initially, we were thinking of taking our successful Best Job on the Planet contest and creating a TV series from it (think Amazing Race meets The Apprentice). At the same time, we were exploring a behind-the-scenes docuseries that gave viewers a peek behind the curtain to see some of the incredible homes we have in the Club and to meet the members simultaneously. This format felt more authentic and a truer reflection of who we are as a Club. In late 2019, Plum Pictures created a taster video that they would use to pitch to content creators.
How would you describe the show?
Millionaire Holiday Home Swap is a 6-part series where the viewer goes inside the homes and holidays of ThirdHome members, including behind-the-scenes shots as hosts prepare for guest arrivals, backstories of the homes themselves, and some of the distinguished homeowners. You’ll also get to meet ThirdHome’s Founder and CEO, Wade Shealy, and hear how ThirdHome started and has evolved over the years. In conjunction with showcasing some of the members’ incredible stays, you will also get a peek into the daily workings of ThirdHome, especially the European team in Spain. The series is beautifully shot and produced. It’s a great representation of the Club, the homes, and the experiences that members offer each other.
How did you decide which homes and members to feature in Millionaire Holiday Home Swap?
We wanted to showcase a mix of properties that reflected the diverse range of homes in the Club. Not only did we want to highlight the international flavour of ThirdHome by featuring far-flung locations, but also show the different types of experiences that we offer, such as skiing, safari, beach holidays, and cultural stays.
We were also looking to balance a blend of property showcases, member trips, and behind-the-scenes goings-on with our team that put all these stays together. Within the trips, we also wanted to show how members use the Club, from a couple traveling together to large multi-generational family reunions.
We know we have some great and varied members in the Club, and as such, we wanted to try and include as many of them as possible if they wanted to participate.
How did the pandemic affect the show?
The world shut down just as Plum Pictures was beginning to pitch the concept. Therefore, as most productions were put on hold in 2020, the conversations about putting the show together started back up again in 2021.
Ready to swap your holiday home? Click here to learn more.
ThirdHome makes the cut in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards survey!
Keep reading to learn how to vote for ThirdHome and enter the sweepstakes to win a dream getaway with Viking Cruises!
Condé Nast Traveler asked readers to participate in the first Readers’ Choice Awards survey over three decades ago. It was created so they could learn more about where their readers had recently vacationed, which destinations were next on their bucket lists, and all their favorite travel necessities. Your favorite destinations and travel stables need your love more than ever this year! ThirdHome is thrilled to be a part of it in the Homestays & Villa Rentals category once again and would love for members to consider voting for ThirdHome!
If ThirdHome is one of your favorite ways to travel, and we sure hope it is, keep reading to find out how to vote in the 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards Survey. By taking the survey, you enter Condé Nast Traveler‘s sweepstakes to win a dream getaway for two with Viking Cruises!
Step 1: Click here to visit the Condé Nast Traveler‘s 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards website
Step 2: Create an account or “Sign In”.
Step 3: Click on our category, “Homestays & Villa Rentals”!
Step 4: Type “ThirdHome ” in the search bar.
Step 5: You will be prompted to answer a few questions…
Step 6: Last but not least, write a few sentences about your best ThirdHome experience and why you’re voting!
Click “Submit” to cast your vote!
After taking these steps and completing the survey, you’re all finished! ThirdHome is thrilled to be included in Condé Nast Traveler‘s 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards. Voting closes June 30th, 2023. Thank you for reading and voting!
Want more information about our Exchange Club? Click here to learn more about ThirdHome.
Interested in doing a home exchange? Many people find that home exchanges are the perfect way to explore the world safely and inexpensively. You get the same comforts of home for much less than you would pay for other accommodations like hotels. Swapping homes is relatively simple and quite exciting, but for first-timers, it may be overwhelming wondering where to begin. Luckily, this guide will explain the basics of each type of home exchange, such as direct and indirect, and how to choose the best option for you. Let’s get started!
What Does It Mean to Exchange Homes?
The name says it all. A home exchange or house swap is when two people temporarily exchange homes for a set period of time. Generally, both homes are located in different areas, be it different cities, states, or even countries. What’s more, is that the properties often vary in style. You might own a high-rise apartment in New York City or Chicago, whereas your exchange partner might have a beach house in Jamaica or a ski chalet in the mountains. The beauty of trading homes is that you never have to visit the same place twice.
What Types of Homes Are Eligible for Exchange?
If you were to search for a home exchange website, you’d find several different options. However, not all home exchange sites are created equal because there is more than one way to do a house swap. For starters, a house exchange can occur between homeowners’ primary residences or their second residences, such as vacation homes, investment properties, or fractional resort properties.
ThirdHome’s exchange club, for example, is exclusive to luxury second homes rather than primary residences to ensure the best experience possible. Staying in someone’s primary home often feels intrusive and uncomfortable because they contain the owner’s personal belongings. What’s more, is that exchanging primary residences limits when and where you can travel. When you swap primary residences, both parties are bound to that property’s specific location.
A vacation home exchange, on the other hand, enables members to travel to more destinations and in more unique accommodations, such as yachts and five-star resorts. Not only can you swap your home for a stay in any destination of your choosing, but you’re also using your investment to your advantage. Rather than feeling guilty about your second property sitting empty, you can leverage it for additional and unique travel opportunities. It’s a win-win.
Understanding the Different Types of Home Swap Models
Direct Exchanges
Swapping primary residences translates to a direct exchange, which is where you simultaneously stay in somebody else’s home while they stay in yours. However, direct exchanges require you to find not only someone who wants to stay in your home but whose calendar and schedule also align with yours, which is especially challenging if you’re interested in a long-term swap. The direct exchange model doesn’t allow for flexibility of location or time frame and demands more advanced and extensive planning.
If you were to search for the perfect home swap match, it would take a lot of time and effort, including frequent correspondence. In fact, on average, 40 emails are exchanged between the guest and host members, which can be cumbersome.
Additionally, a direct home exchange may be difficult to arrange, depending on the location of your home. For example, someone with a penthouse in New York City might not be particularly interested in trading houses with someone in Oklahoma or Kansas. Consequently, direct exchanges tend to have a low rate of success.
Indirect Exchanges
An indirect exchange allows you to stay at another member’s home, even if they don’t stay in yours. The accommodating member receives an exchange credit to use as payment for their next exchange. This eliminates the need to coordinate schedules and allows maximum flexibility.
ThirdHome, for example, uses the indirect exchange model by awarding Keys (credits) to members when they offer stays at their home. This, in turn, allows the member to use their Keys where and when they want without having to find another member who wants to use their home. As a result, members are able to make real-time bookings and plans without having to send speculative requests and wait for responses.
Best of all, ThirdHome’s indirect exchange model is designed to work in tandem with conventional renting. Because our members choose which weeks they make available to other members of the Club, they are able to list any additional weeks on rental platforms, so they never need to worry about losing rental income.
Now that you’re familiar with the different types of home exchanges getting started is easy. To join ThirdHome’s exchange club, simply qualify your home, browse our wide array of inventory, and begin traveling.
If you would like to learn more about our luxury home exchange opportunities, click here to browse our properties or visit our FAQ page.
Meeting ThirdHome Members’ expectations is an ongoing pursuit, and that’s where Episode 2 of Millionaire Holiday Home Swap comes into play. In this episode, ThirdHome’s Director of Strategy, Giles Adams, is looking to make amends with one family after a less-than-stellar trip to Mexico. Which means he needs to impress them with their next one. But that’s not all he’s up to; he’s also been tasked with finding extra weeks at one of the most sought-after properties, Leobo Private Reserve in South Africa.
Château d’Isle-sur-Marne in Champagne-Ardenne, France
Overview
Set in the heart of the historic Champagne region, Château d’Isle-Sur-Marne is a stunning, fully restored castle where time stands still. The eight-bedroom, five-bathroom château dates back to 1732, and the façades, the dovecote, the iron gate, the roofing, and the statues of the park are all protected as historical monuments. It extends over 34 acres of landscaped parklands and forest and is surrounded by water on all sides, accessible by a stone bridge, passing the moats surrounding the château.
Leobo Private Reserve in Vaalwater, South Africa
Overview
Leobo Private Reserve is a completely private 20,000-acre estate based in the beautiful malaria-free Waterberg mountains, a 3-hour drive north of Johannesburg, and home to the award-winning Observatory Bush Villa. Designed by Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, it is probably the most stunning safari house in Africa from an architectural and style perspective and is a fantastic home for families and small groups. Guests of this spectacular four-bedroom, three-bathroom retreat enjoy a wealth of amenities and luxuries, including a renowned gourmet chef and attending butler. Additionally, Leobo offers thermal imaging for night-time game viewing, quad bikes, racing quad bikes, a Polaris cross-country buggy, kayaks, fishing, horses, and game drive vehicles.
Episode 5 of Millionaire Holiday Home Swap takes viewers across the globe to see some of the most magnificent properties ThirdHome has to offer, from the shores of Southern Norway to the plains of South Africa. With that being said, let’s check out the luxury and beauty of three ThirdHome Reserve properties featured in this episode.
Kampedalen Estate in Kristiansand, Norway
Overview
Are you looking for the perfect Norwegian escape? Look no further than the Kampdelan Estate. Located along the Kampedalsfjord, this Southern Norway paradise has six bedrooms and five baths and can house up to 16 guests. So it’s perfect for a large family or the former Oil Minister of Saudi Arabia—No, we’re serious; he stayed here, and rightfully so, as this home has everything: a private beach, a boathouse, and its own park. Additionally, if you want to explore off-property, Norway’s southernmost town, Kristiansand, is only a 30-minute drive. Those who stay here can enjoy golf, the arts, hiking, ice skating, and even one of Norway’s oldest traditions—ice fishing!
Chalet Les Brames in Méribel, France
Overview
Chalet Les Brames is the quintessential french ski escape nestled under the George Mauduit piste, which drops down from the summit of Saulire to the main lift station at the Chaudanne. The chalet is also just a couple of minutes from the villages of Méribel Les Allues and Mottaret, right in the heart of the 3 Valleys—one of the most famous ski areas in the world. This seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom dwelling boasts a combination of woody Alpine charm with plenty of modern luxury to create the perfect ski getaway. When it’s time to put the skis to rest, this slope-side stay has steam and massage rooms, a pool, a gym, a billiard room, and a cinema for guests to enjoy.
Tsheshepe Lodge in Vaalwater, South Africa
Overview
Imagine waking up, grabbing your morning coffee, and walking outside to the back porch to come across a family of elephants. Well, at Tsheshepe Lodge, you might just experience that! This five-bedroom, five-bathroom lodge is located within the 75,000-acre Welgevonden Game Reserve, about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Johannesburg. Tsheshepe offers you the opportunity to witness a myriad of animals, from the Big 5—lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo—to smaller indigenous wildlife species such as impala, waterbuck, klipspringer, duiker, wildebeest, and warthogs. After cruising the safari on 4x4s, you can relax by the lodge’s pool for the perfect ending to your holiday!
“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 6-part 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.