We had a wonderful exchange with Anna & Alan. Communication with them before, during, and after the exchange was exceptionally friendly, clear, and open-hearted. From the very beginning, chatting with Anna via Whatsapp, I soon realized that she had a great sense of humour and we also share love for art and history. She sent us their ‘home manual’ with practical information and tips on local hidden gems and places to eat and drink (Q1 Observation Deck for weekend breakfast, Franquette in Mt Tamborine for croissants and other French pastries, InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort for an afternoon drink by the pool watching kangaroos).
Everything exceeded our expectations. The apartment is in an excellent location, it is spacious, bright and fully equipped. It is located on the 25th floor and each time we came back after a long day of exploring the area, it still gave us that ‘wow factor’. The space is very well organized, bedroom had plenty of storage space, comfortable bed and high-quality bedding. It was easy to feel at home. The balcony is a place of peace and relaxation, listening to the sound of the sea. Although we never needed it, the pantry contained everything necessary in case of need.
We hired a car for the whole duration of our stay and manage to see a lot in just a few days. We highly recommend all the beaches between Main Beach and Currumbin Beach, walks in Mt Tamborine, a day trip to Byron Bay and a stop at Fingal Head Lighthouse. We saw so many whales while on their migratory journey that we stopped counting. We were also lucky to spot bearded dragons, parrots, a couple of koalas (by the carpark at The Pass Beach near Byron Bay), bearded dragons, dolphins (at The Spit), parrots, kookaburras, bats, etc.
If you get a chance to exchange homes with Anna and Alan, don’t hesitate. It is so worth it!