Swapping mates may have seemed the way to go in the swinging seventies, but several decades and a few kids later, many couples are looking to apartment swaps as a better way to get a break—together. A home exchange (when you stay in someone else’s apartment while they stay in yours) enables you to bunker down in a fully equipped home—often in the best part of town—at a fraction of the cost of staying at a hotel. It’s a great option for those traveling with young children, who want the conveniences of a kitchen and multiple bedrooms. These days most families look to the Internet to swap pictures, answer questions, and make a deal. Here, a few reliable sites where you can arrange your own swap.

domus2domus.com Specify the type of accommodations you’re looking for (location, number of bedrooms, smoking or non-, pet-friendly) and detail the apartment you have to offer. When a match is made, D2D will send each party the other’s e-mail, and you are free to negotiate your own deal (a one-time fee of $25 applies).

digsville.com This home-exchange club charges an annual fee of $49.95 and allows you to search categories such as activities (beach, golf, museums), lifestyles (smoke-free, alternative, educators), and destinations (Miami, London, Vancouver) in order to find the perfect home away from home.

homeexchange.com This site offers deluxe homes and apartments in about a dozen countries around the world, from Mexico to Australia. It’s also a great source for local weekend exchanges, like, say, a Hamptons beach house or a cottage in the Catskills. A one-year membership costs $49.95—just sign up, post a picture with your listing, and the e-mail responses are sent directly to you.

invented-city.com For $50, you can submit your own listing and have access to a growing database of exchange opportunities (around 2,000 houses and apartments in more than 40 countries). The site is best for families looking for a swap in the U.S., England, or France. The annual renewal fee is $25.

holi-swaps.com With more than 10,000 members, this is a great place to list your offer (a one-year membership costs $37). Recent listings include a villa on the Côte d’Azur and a three-bedroom oceanview home on Maui’s North Shore—both in exchange for New York City digs.

craigslist.com The site’s home-exchange service is free, allowing you to list your own apartment or search for other exchanges throughout the world (though it’s most useful for U.S. trades).