• How does Skal International integrate with Accommodation Swap?
• Is there a different credit charge between one and five star rated establishments?
• Is there a different credit system for B&B's and Self Catering establishments?
• Would B&B's have to provide breakfast when swapping with a self/c establishment?
• What prevents just anyone requesting accommodation who is not a legitimate member?
• Can I allow others(family,friends) to use my credits?
• Do I need to use all my credits at the same time or at one establishment?
• Do I have to agree to accept "guests"for the full 12days?
• Do I need to "reciprocate" the owner/s of the establishments I stay in by having them in my establishment.
• What happens if I wish to terminate my membership or sell my establishment? Are there any refunds available? And should I want to join again in a few years time, would I be given another 12days starting package?
• You said we would start with 12days credit. Once this is used and no-one has requested to stay at my establishment can I apply for another 12days?
• Can I accumulate more than 12days credit and then use them any time, perhaps years later?
• Do children under the age of 12yrs count as adults?
• What if there are three persons making a booking and we need to use two rooms instead of one?
• The unit for bartering shall be
• How can I keep track of my credit/debit status?
• What prevents an unscrupulous person from using my name or establishment in order to get a holiday?
• What happens if someone books with me but does not pitch?
• Is this exclusive to the countries listed here?
• Can I charge for cleaning and other services etc?
• How much is this going to cost?
• How to register

How does Skal International integrate with Accommodation Swap?

• We have set up Skal International as a separate 'group' within the Accommodation swap web site.
• The modus operandi for Skal group members shall be exactly the same as for other Accommodation Swap members with the exception of:
  • Skal group members shall direct all queries to their respective Skal representative. Accommodation Swap will only work via their respective central committees.
• Any new Skal contact introduced via an existing Skal member shall register to become a member of Accommodation Swap via the 'Skal International group' link.
• Skal group members may also introduce non Skal members to Accommodation Swap and if they join that member will receive the normal five credits award on offer to all Accommodation Swap members who bring in new members.These contacts however shall fall under the auspices of Accommodation Swap and all fees shall be paid directly to Accommodation swap.
• Skal group members are entitled to swap across the board with all Accommodation Swap members and vice versa.To view the Skal membership table click on "skal international group" and follow the links.
• Skal group members shall pay all fees directly into the bank account of their respective committees.

What prevents just anyone requesting accommodation who is not a legitimate member?

• There are checks and balances built into the system. For example when a request is made you must immediately ask for their Reference Number and if you are uncertain as to their legitimacy then you will check with the administrators before accepting the swap.

What happens if a member books with me but does not pitch?

• Let us know and we will take disciplinary action against the wayward member. We will still credit your account as though the swap had taken place.

Can I allow others (friends or family) to utilize my credits?

• Absolutely, the credits are yours to do with what you like

Do I need to use all my credits at the same time or at one establishment?

• No, you can book into a number of different places for how ever many days you choose.

Do I have to agree to accept "guests"for the full 12days?Isn't this too many? I am not able to take 12days leave of my business so why should I have to have others stay with me for that amount of days?

• You can have "guests" for as many, or as few days, as you choose. If you choose to (say) have "guests" for only two days, then obviously once your initial starting package has been used you will only have accumulated two days "credits" (you can determine what your own level of participation will be and tailor your portfolio accordingly)

Do I need to "reciprocate" the owner/s of the establishments I stay in by having them in my establishment.

• No, the person you stay with earns "credits" (days) which are then "banked" with the database for his/her use when ever they choose to use them. They can then choose to stay with any other fellow member (including you) at a time convenient and negotiated between themselves.

What happens if I wish to terminate my membership or sell/transfer my establishment? Do I get a refund on accumulated credits? And should I want to join again in a few years time, would I be given another 12days starting package?

• You can terminate your membership at any stage
• There are no refunds on credits- remember that there are no cash transactions. If you have credits to your name, you must use them before you leave the scheme, or you lose them.
• There is no refund on your yearly subscription
• If you sell your establishment and the new owner wants to join the scheme he/she will have to register as a new member.
• Should you register again within two years after terminating your membership you will not be given another starting package - you would have to build up "credits" before being able to swap.

You said we would start with 12days credit. Once this is used and no-one has requested to stay at my establishment can I apply for another 12 credits?

• The 12days credits awarded when first registering is to get new members started.Thereafter the system is based on a careful balance of spending and earning credits. The principle method of growing credits for all members is via hosting.
• What happens if by no fault of yours you run out of credits? There are two ways you can recharge your credits:

1. We have introduced a "bonus" system which allows members to earn five credits for every new member they bring on board. Every member can earn extra credits in this way - and
2. If there is no "strike" against your establishment ( turning away a booking request when you could have accepted ) then you are able to purchase a bundle of six credits per trading year.

Can I accumulate more than 12days credit and then use them any time, perhaps years later?

• Yes, provided you remain a fully paid up member. Should you forfeit or relinquish your membership however you will lose all your credits

• No - the modus operandi of Accommodation Swap is based on a totally free stay except for breakfasts and other meals which can be negotiated between host and guest and paid for separately.

• No, this system is based on trading and swapping credits. It doesn't matter who stays at your establishment you still earn the same amount of credits, which you can then utilize to stay where ever YOU choose.Someone who owns a Bed & Breakfast might very well want to stay at a self-catering establishment and vice versa.
• Inorder to "level the playing field" however, those who own establishments other than self-catering would not be expected to provide meals.(this does not mean that this could not be negotiated or paid for separately)
• B&B establishments will have the option to accept credits (0.5 credits per person per breakfast) in lieu of payment for breakfast. This option is not mandatory and can be negotiated at time of making a booking.
• The unit for bartering shall be: 0.5 credits per person per night/day except if an individual uses the scheme he/she shall count as 1 credit.

  Please note that a separate swap form must be submitted for each room booked

  The unit for bartering shall be:

  Each person will count as half a credit except in the case where there is only one person using the scheme (in which case they will count as one credit) At the END of the stay the credits will be rounded off to the nearest, highest, whole number if you are a "host". If you are a "guest" the credits will be rounded off to the nearest lowest whole number. (both benefit - The maths is done automatically on submission of the swap form) Should two people require two separate rooms each person shall be regarded as one person on their own - see table below:

  • 1 person on their own in a separate room for 1 night = 1 credit
    2 persons in two separate rooms for 1 night = 2 credits
    2 persons in one room for 1 night (2x0.5) = 1 credit
    3 persons in one room for 1 night (3x0.5) = 1.5 credit (see what happens when the result is not a whole
    number in the example below)
    Example:
    As a "host" you have three guests occupying ONE room and they stay for three nights:
    3 nights at 1.5credits per night = 4.5 credits - rounded off to 5 credits earned. (for host)
    As a "guest" in the above example it will be rounded off to 4 credits spent (for guest)

Do children under the age of 12yrs also count as 0.5 credits per day?

This is quite a difficult one to set a policy on as some establishments charge for kids and others don't. We have decided to give the benefit to both parties vis a vis:-

GUESTS - two adults plus two children under 12yrs of age your account will be debited for only two adults at 0.5 = 1 credit used.

HOSTS - same as above but the hosts receive 4 x 0.5 = 2 credits ( 4 adults charged)

In this way both parties benefit.

What if there are three persons making a booking and we need to use two rooms instead of one?

In this case the person on there own utilizing a separate room will count as 1 credit per night (as in above charging fee for 1 person on their own)

How can I keep track of my credit/debit status?

Access the "my Account" page and click on "my credit balance".

If you've seen enough and want to participate, go to (click here) "registration", complete the form and submit. Once the form has been processed and the joining fee validated you will be sent an e-mail confirming your membership. This e-mail will also contain your personal, unique reference/registration number which should be kept in a safe place for all future contacts/queries you might make.You will then receive 12days credit with which you can immediately start trading.

Don't forget to first read the membership terms and conditions as laid out in the (click here) Agreement and code of practice that all members must accept and pledge to abide by.

NB if for any reason the registration form is not functioning correctly on your browser you can also use this e-mail address mikekie@global.co.za to manually register and subscribe.

How much is this going to cost?

We have tried to "compare apples with apples" by charging less than a days takings, for two people sharing, in a middle of the range guest house.

Please note that on registration there is an initial joining fee that all new applicants must pay plus a proportionate subscription fee for the months remaining up to June. Thereafter an annual subscription fee payable in June. Go to the joining fees table for quick reference on fees due when joining.

But we go one step further. Once you have joined and you don't get around to taking that well earned break, you will not be expected to renew your subscription until you actually start using credits !! Please take note however that if you make use of this option, once you apply for your first swap the full subscription fee will fall due for the remainder of that particular year and thereafter.

That's right it's a no lose situation !! Our fees are structured to encourage you to remain a member and even if you don't trade credits for a couple of years the membership fee is so low that you will make it all up with just one nights swap.

For less than a days takings can anyone not afford to join?

If you would like to take a sneak preview of participating members click on the following links:-

Registered establishments A to Z