SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO…YOUR HOLIDAY HOME

Award-winning home-swapping platform Love Home Swap launches an around-the-world guide to identify the most Santa-friendly holiday homes… with a few top tips to help children enjoy a stress-free Christmas break!   
Santa might know when you’re sleeping and when you’re awake, but how he finds you if you spend Christmas away from home has been a matter of concern for generations of youngsters. Thanks to years of experience, grown-ups know he will always get to you, no matter where you stay, but nobody wants their little ones feeling anxious about this as they pack for the Christmas holidays.

So, this year, to help keep kids’ worries at bay (and make Santa’s job that little bit easier), the industrious elves at Love Home Swap have carefully mapped out Santa’s around-the-world route and identified the most convenient ho-ho-holiday homes for him to visit on his annual circuit. And just to be sure, they’ve also created a checklist of the most Santa-friendly features to ensure he has a great stopover when he swings by.

If you’re thinking about home swapping this Christmas (or even staying with relatives!) make sure your home is Santa-ready by following these simple rules:

1. Make sure there’s a big, clean chimney – Santa visits more than a billion homes,* so it’s important to make sure the chimney is as clear as possible so he’ll have no trouble getting in and out. Don’t have a chimney? No problem, simply put your stockings in a prominent place to help Santa identify who is home!

2. Provide him with a parking space – Santa’s sleigh has nine reindeer, and it’s filled to the brim with gifts. A big roof ensures Santa has somewhere to park while delivering his presents, or alternatively a driveway or garden is ideal. Don’t have either of these? Don’t stress! Santa is very accommodating, so on-street parking will do just fine.

3. Light up your windows – Windows provide the perfect opportunity to string up some lights around the home. In addition to being a fun Christmas tradition, lights will help guide Santa’s sleigh at night, and ensure he can see your house when he arrives. As a bonus, you can leave signs in the windows to let him know you’re there.

4. Leave some treats – Santa, Rudolph, Comet and the rest of the crew will appreciate the chance to recharge their batteries, so make sure there’s plenty of fridge space to store snacks for them. After all, travelling more than 25 million miles** in one night is bound to work up an appetite.

5. Light a candle or two – We all know that Santa loves the North Pole, so make your holiday home smell like his home by lighting a fern or gingerbread-scented candle, and pop it on the mantlepiece.

6. Don’t forget Mrs. Claus – As a thank you to Mrs. Claus for her support in making sure children all over the world get their presents, help the kids draw her a picture or make an ornament that Santa can take home with him!

From beautiful beach houses in the South Pacific to cosy alpine homes in New Zealand and Christmassy chalets in France, the most Santa-friendly homes with big chimneys, clear fireplaces and even the perfect space for a tree have been added to his original route which starts in the South Pacific and ends in South America.

Célia Pronto, Managing Director of Love Home Swap comments: “Everyone celebrates Christmas differently. Some prefer to stay at home, while others love to go on holiday. Some venture to tropical coastlines, while others head to the ski slopes. However, one thing we all have in common is keeping the magic of Santa alive for children, and part of that is ensuring they know Santa will be able to find them, no matter where they are. That’s why we’ve decided to highlight a number of holiday homes on Santa’s annual sleigh route, as well as assemble a list of tips and tricks that adults across the world can use to attract Santa Claus himself.”

Properties showcased on Santa’s sleigh route include:

• Alpine home in Australia
• Luxury lakeside villa in Thailand
• Spacious cottage in the United Kingdom
• Ocean view home in Canada
• Spectacular mountain escape in the United State  

The map can be viewed here.