BRUGES! Need I Say more ...?! We live in a rural area with all conveniences of urban life. Previous exchangers were delighted with our home and location. Bruges has been elected as "The 3rd friendliest city in the world 2019" according to a poll by travel website Big 7 Travel: "One of the friendliest cities in Europe is Bruges, a fairytale place in Belgium. The charming atmosphere is hard to match, with a village feel and locals who go the extra mile to welcome tourists. From walking guides to the waiter who serves your hot chocolate and waffles, the people here make Bruges stand out".

Omio (French online travel comparator) examined which European cities are the most budget-friendly overall. In doing so, they looked at activities as well as catering and public transport. They examined how cheap the beer is, how much you pay for dinner for two and whether there are free drinking fountains. In that case, Grenada and Bruges come out on top. London, on the other hand, turns out to be very expensive when transport and food are also considered: the British capital is only 93rd in this overall ranking.

The prestigious and authoritative American luxury travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler just (2022) made its annual lists of favourite destinations, with Bruges coming in at number 8 in the world ranking of smaller cities, moreover as the only Belgian city in the list. "Impeccably well-preserved city centre with cobblestones and canals" and chosen by travellers looking for quiet, small and understated destinations where comfort comes first. "The right kind of less is more," concluded the editors of Condé Nast.
Bruges is the loveliest city in Europe: her museums, historical sites, restaurants and cafes (with more than 1,500 kinds of the world-famous Belgian beers)...Keeping a visitor occupied for more than a few days. It is an ideal destination if you are looking for a low-key place to relax. in 2018 Bruges had 8.3 million tourists! And it is a good base for visiting Ypres, Passchendaele (less than 60 km), Brussels, Ghent, Amsterdam or Paris ...
We have been Exchanging 30 times in the past; and have done 23 house sittings. Since our daughters left home, we are home Exchanging again. We still are good friends for over 25 years with a family from our first Danish home swap, once in a while, we visit each other (and had a wonderful exchange again with them in 2017); also with Dutch couples we still have nice get-together's.
Preferably no small children: we have a pond.
We do answer all mail!