Isle of Wight, Great Britain
Platinum
Member since
2011| Exchange dates | Duration |
|---|---|
|
Flexible dates
March 28, 2026 - April 30, 2026 |
2 weeks |
House by the sea on the Isle of Wight, South Coast Great Britain
We live in a single storey bungalow in the quiet seaside village of Bembridge on the Isle of Wight, 15 km off the south coast of England. There are good transport links between the mainland and the island. London is 90 minutes from our nearest mainland port of Portsmouth.
We are well situated for the beach and the sea and all other tourist attractions on this holiday island. The Isle of Wight is designated as an area of outstanding beauty and has much to offer visitors. We came here in 1984 supposedly for a couple of years. We are still here - testimony to the quality and pace of life on the island.
Our house is perfect for a long week-end and/or a longer break and has all modern conveniences. It is easy to manage and conveniently placed. We have been members of Intervac for 30 years off and on and, having had great memories of exchanging homes accompanied by our children, we now look forward to embarking on exchanges as a child-free couple!
Our Family
- 2 Adults
- 0 Children
- 11 Exchanges made
Occupation
- Retired Education Officer / school principal
- Retired primary school teacher
Our Home
- House Type: Single storey home
- Environment: By the sea
- Bedrooms: 2
- Bathrooms: 2
- Sleeping Capacity: 4
References
In my house
- Pets - Not allowed
- Small children - Not allowed
Exchange Types
- Home exchange
Indoor
- Free internet access
- Computer available
- Central heating
- Fireplace
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
- Clothes dryer
- Television
- Piano
- Guitar
Outdoor
- Garden
- Terrace or deck
- Park / playground
- BBQ
- Garage / private parking
- Bicycles: 2
Facilities
- Non-smoking house
- Suitable for disabled people
- Car necessary
- Seclusion/Privacy
Our Destination Wish List
- France
Spoken Languages
- English
Our Neighbourhood
We live on the edge of a traditional English village with good amenities - 3 pubs, a bakery, grocers, butcher, supermarket, chemist and numerous coffee houses. We are a 15 minute walk from the sea.
Occupation
- Retired Education Officer / school principal
- Retired primary school teacher
Children
- We do not have children.
Pets
- We do not have pets.
About Our Family
Both Jane and I have been in education for over 30 years. Having been a headteacher/principal for 15 years, I retired from my role as education officer in August 2014. Jane retired in April 2013 from her job as a primary school teacher.
We have 2 grown up children. One lives locally and the other near Fareham in Hampshire.
We have lived on the Isle of Wight for 41 years and enjoy its peaceful beauty and the surrounding sea. Island life is quiet and away from the bustle of mainland England but we are only 20 minutes from the southern coast and 90 minutes by train or road from London.
We have been Intervac members for 30 years.
Lifestyle
We love the outdoors and living on the Isle of Wight gives us access to coastline, hills and woods. The island has the best of all landscapes and environments. We enjoy sports but also cultural activities - reading, theatre and music. The Isle of Wight boasts a world famous music festival and of course, is famous for its Cowes Week sailing regatta.
We have been longstanding members of Intervac but, the children having reached their late teenage years, we have had a break and we are now looking forward to the rewards and excitement of intervac travel.
References
This member has completed 11 home exchanges. Those referenced below may contain feedback/impression from its exchange partners:
Seraing, Belgium
BE065Malheureusement pour nos partenaires, avec qui nous étions déjà très liès, nous n’avons pas pu faire un échange complet. La maman de nos partenaires a dû être hospitalisée dans un état critique et ils ont souhaité rester à ses côtés. C’était très frustrant mais ils ont insisté pour que nous passions nos vacances comme initialement prévu...Nous leur en sommes très, très reconnaissants car nous avons adoré leur maison et cadre de vie. Nous espérons pouvoir remettre cet échange à plus tard, à un moment plus favorable pour eux.
---Deuxième échange en avril/mai 2025---
Gary and Jane ont été des hôtes parfaits, une fois de plus ( nous avions déjà passé un accord d’échange avec eux en 2018 dans leur maison précédente). Une excellente communication via WhatsApp, pratiquement au jour le jour, photos à l’appui. Des membres généreux et ouverts d’esprit. Bembridge, petit village aux commerces de proximité de qualité, sur île de rêve, où on a l’impression que le temps s’est arrêté. Une magnifique expérience! Merci à nos amis!
