Okay so I've stumbled across this website. They are currently doing a half price joining offer for $432.00
It's basically a home swap club. You can swap homes ( and cars if you like ) with others so holidays are more affordable. If you don't want to do direct swaps you can swap for points. You accumulate points by letting people stay at your house and you can later use them to stay at someone elses home.
Here's the part that makes it Oz bargain worthy.. If you sign up to the Platinum package ($432) they give you 1000 points to get you started. As a lot of properties are only 100 points a night this is 10 nights accommodation.
I have booked 10 nights in Melbourne with my "getting started points", on Christmas / new year holidays and it's only cost me the yearly joining fee of $432.00 !
When I was looking I found people to be pretty responsive ( within a week ) and the family home we are staying in is legit, has reviews and I now have them on facebook and spoken to them on the phone so its a go! They will be in England for the holidays ( which they booked with points). Their is no obligation to list your own home. Hope this helps some of you to get some cheap Christmas holidays accommodation !
This is so strange.. Can we swap wives too?