We were delighted to meet Amanda and Roger when they welcomed us to their fantastic house in St Augustine. We immediately got on well, partly because they knew the area where we have our house in England very well. The house in St Augustine had everything one could want and was very convenient for golf which was our main activity. We were pleased to be able to welcome them and other members of the family back to our house in Devon after Covid. All in all a thoroughly successful exchange.

This was a wonderful exchange. Mandy and Roger had several delicious meals ready for us and two pets to greet us when we arrived. Their home is gracious, beautifully decorated and comfortable. There is a patio outback that looks over a lake. Egrets and herons kept us busy with our binoculars while we drank coffee outside each morning. There were plenty of places to read and lots of books to choose from. The location is outstanding for outdoor and cultural ventures. The supermarket is about a mile and a half away. We explored Anastasia Island, several bird reserves and we walked the firm sand beaches in St. Augustine, Crescent Beach, and Vilano In St. Augustine we went on an ecotour to look at porpoises and bird life. St. Augustine provided so many options for activities. We especially enjoyed the tour of Flagler College, the Lightner Museum, the fort and the water front. Jacksonville is about 35 minutes away and we went to the symphony in a stunning performance arts building. Excellent exhibits were mounted at the Cumming Museum and Gardens and the Contemporary Art Museum in Jacksonville. Now for food....lots of great fish at Salt Life, Harry's, Ragtime, and South Beach Grill. There is a .7 mile long boardwalk at Palencia, Mandy and Roger's community. We walked that either in the a.m. or late afternoon and it was a perfect way to beginning or end the day. This exchange worked out beautifully and we were pleased to get to know both Mandy and Roger through emails and finally meeting. St. Augustine is an exciting place to visit.

If you ever get the chance to exchange with the Dandys then you must. We are just home from a fantastic once in a lifetime trip to Florida with this beautiful house, located in the stunning private resort of Palencia in NE Florida, being the highlight of our stay. The house is luxurious and spacious with 'all mod cons', located on a quiet cul de sac that is just like all the movies you have seen set in America! Palencia is part of a resort / club with all its own immaculate amenities including fantastic swimming pools (with a water slide for kids, a quiet pool for adults and an Olympic-sized pool for serious swimming). The location is super quiet and calm, with fantastic views out onto a lake; air con kept us cool in the August heat; and we really enjoyed taking their well-behaved and adorable dog out for walks from the house over boardwalks through tropical rainforest environments. My husband was overjoyed with the onsite golf club and the great World of Golf Hall of Fame just 5 mins drive away. Orlando and Disney is about 2 hours away and the Dandys arranged for pet care while we had a few days down there. St Augustine and the region is a perfect place to holiday - beautiful unspoilt beaches (the Dandys gave us access to their private beach club and a nearby water park), we saw dolphins swimming off our local beach, lots to do and enjoy. The Dandys left us not only a whole folder full of useful information about the area, but an incredibly generous hamper full of delicious local food. All in all a fantastic swap and an amazing holiday - we didn't want to come home!