We saved £6,000 on holidays by swapping homes with strangers
More people are turning to home swapping to save on accommodation and transport while gaining an authentic travel experience, with some saving thousands of pounds.
Home swapping, a practice dating back to the 1950s, has seen a resurgence as rising living costs and a desire for unique travel experiences drive interest. While some are uncomfortable with strangers staying in their homes, others embrace the savings and authenticity.
Henry Vanderpump, 42, his wife Elliw, 39, and their two children have completed two home swaps in the past two years using Home Link, a listings platform. They live in Tarporley, Cheshire, and have stayed in similar-sized homes in Hamburg and Copenhagen while their guests occupied their five-bedroom house. Henry estimates they saved around £2,500 per trip on accommodation plus £700 on transport by also swapping cars, totaling approximately £6,000. The savings allow them to take two holidays a summer instead of one.
May Burrough, 38, a chief operating officer from London, has done 34 home swaps over three years via HomeExchange. Instead of direct swaps, she hosts guests in her central London flat while she stays with her partner in France, building points for future trips. She has saved an estimated £5,000–£8,000 on stays in places like Barcelona and the Swiss Alps. May appreciates the community feel and has only had one semi-negative experience when a booking turned out to be a room in a shared flat.
Petra Novak, 34, who works remotely across Europe, uses the site Kindred and estimates savings of £18,000–£20,000 through home exchanges. Initially nervous, she has never had a bad experience. For peace of mind, she checks prospective guests' social media profiles and values personal introduction letters with booking requests.
Successful home swaps require preparation: clear listings with photos, ongoing communication, decluttering for guests, a comprehensive guide covering appliances and rubbish collection, and locking away valuables. It's also crucial to verify home insurance covers such arrangements. Major platforms like Home Link, HomeExchange, and Kindred vet members and offer reviews; some provide damage protection policies.
