Is it to escape our everyday routines, to discover new things, or to lose ourselves in the moment in a way which we wouldn’t do otherwise?
What do we take back from it? Just a few hundred photos, and some souvenirs?
And why do we forget about it so quickly?

If you’ve travelled enough, you soon realise that the most memorable times aren’t when you visit the attractions but the journey around it. The cultural aspects, the emotions, and the experiences you’ve had are all part of that memory but soon the memories of these places will fade, with not much more significance than a memory of a pretty picture you once saw, or a tasty meal you once ate.
It is such a shame because it could be so much more, but read on and I’ll tell you how we can change all of that.

I’m originally from a suburb called Randwick in Sydney, Australia.
My backyard is the Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and pretty much the whole coastal part of the eastern suburbs, which includes the world-famous Bondi Beach, Coogee Beach, and stretches all the way down to La Perouse in Botany Bay.

Born and bred here, I live this lifestyle.

I love trekking the spectacular coastal walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach, or spending a day in the sun at the Opera Bar, sipping on cocktails while watching the Sydney Harbour Bridge light up as the sun goes down.
Quite often, I’m a tourist in my own town. I’m a local so I can take the time to enjoy my surroundings, and not just for the attraction but also to be part of this beautiful coastal culture. I leave home and journey out to places I want to be, meeting people along the way, then return to the comforts of my own home at the end of the day with the feeling that I actually belong here.

On my recent three month journey to the United States I wanted to bring those sentiments with me on the road, so I decided to ditch the hotel and found homes to stay along my journey.

Landmarks and destinations such as Millennium Park in Chicago and Bourbon Street in New Orleans now have a greater meaning for me than just a tourist attraction.
I’ll never forget the feeling of wheeling my bicycle out the front door of my apartment in New Orleans, greeting my neighbours, and riding around the city to find a nice café to start my morning, or lining up for a ticket at the train station to catch the Metra back home with other commuters, eventually making friends and bumping into them again as part of my experience in Chicago. As we all know, the best travel tips come from the locals!

I could almost say that for a moment in time, I was a citizen of that town. For once, I felt a sense of belonging, and not just a sense of visiting. (I even did groceries!)

I was living a different life. I took in the everyday culture. I had a place to call home and all the comforts of being in one. I formed a local connection and I was part of the community.
It’s an experience that I’ll forever look back at able to say that I lived every moment of it as if it was a home away from home.

So, at this point you may be thinking to yourself, “Well, that’s all very well but I don’t have anywhere that I can stay to get that authentic experience.” That’s a good point, because you’re not likely to get that kind of experience staying in a hotel, and for a lot of people the idea of staying with a stranger detracts from that elusive home-like experience, rather than adding to it. That’s where Your Home Away From Home can assist. We can help you find a property that gives you all the comforts of home, as well as the ability to be truly immersed in the Sydney lifestyle – no strangers or couch surfing required!

You can find out more about Your Home Away From Home on our website or by giving one of our friendly staff a call. Whether you are planning a trip or just daydreaming, keep following our blog to stay up to date with life in Sydney!

Welcome home,

– Duke von Loewe