The moment when we added up the accommodation prices for four people while planning our vacation was sobering: 180 euros per night, plus parking, breakfast, and quickly ending up at more than 2,000 euros for two weeks. The idea that a family can save money with a home exchange in Europe sounds almost too good at first. For us, however, it made the difference between a short trip and a really long holiday with time for bakeries, swimming spots, and spontaneous excursions.
Home swapping is not rocket science, nor does it mean sacrificing comfort. On the contrary, especially with children, a real apartment or house usually feels much more relaxed than a cramped hotel room. A kitchen, washing machine, toys, a balcony, and people from the neighborhood often turn a trip into a temporary home much faster.
How a family saves money with home swapping in Europe
The biggest expense when traveling with children is often accommodation. Anyone wanting to go to the Italian coast, a city like Barcelona, or the South of France during the summer holidays knows the prices. Even simple vacation rentals are expensive during popular weeks, and for families, the space problem adds to it. Two separate bedrooms, a kitchen, and perhaps a garden are rarely available cheaply.
In a traditional home exchange, both sides stay in each other's home. No money changes hands for the overnight stay. Alongside this, there are Exchange options with points, if the other family doesn't want to stay at your place at the same time. This makes planning surprisingly flexible: you can offer your home during your trip and stay at another family's place later.
Therefore, the savings are not just a nice discount. They can completely change your travel budget. Do the honest math: twelve nights at an average of 160 euros cost 1,920 euros. This amount can pay for many ice cream sundaes, museum admissions, train rides, and restaurant visits at your destination. Or you can extend your vacation by a week without the accommodation costs piling up any further.
A kitchen saves more than you think
We see the advantage every morning. Instead of searching for an expensive breakfast with hungry children, on the first day we buy bread, fruit, yogurt, and everything for an uncomplicated dinner. Not because we want to watch every penny on vacation, but because it makes the daily routine easier.
With a kitchen, you can decide for yourselves whether there is a picnic on the beach at midday or pasta on the balcony in the evening. Especially in expensive cities, this noticeably saves money. Anyone who has ever eaten out at a touristy restaurant with two children and drinks knows that small, spontaneous expenses quickly add up over two weeks.
More space, less cabin fever
Affordable doesn't mean small when it comes to home exchanging. Many exchange homes are set up for families because families live there. There are children's rooms instead of sofa beds, often playgrounds around the corner, and practical things that you would otherwise have to pack or rent: a high chair, bicycles, books, sand toys, or a drying rack.
This is especially valuable when the weather turns or a child needs a quiet afternoon. In a hotel room, a rainy day can be very long. In a lived-in apartment, on the other hand, even a slow vacation day is easy to endure.
What really matters during an exchange
The financial benefit is great, but home swapping works best when both sides feel good about it. We would never look at nice photos alone. More important are a complete profile, clear messages, and the question of whether expectations match.
Describe your home honestly. Is it on the fourth floor without an elevator? Do your children's rooms have lots of toys? Is the cat allowed to be fed, or are there rules for the garden? Exactly these details help other families choose you. Nobody expects a perfectly styled vacation home. Cleanliness, reliability, and openness count for much more.
Even during the search, it is worth looking beyond the well-known hotspots. An apartment on the outskirts of the city with a good suburban train connection can be ideal in Paris or Amsterdam. On the coast, small towns next to the famous seaside resorts are often quieter, cheaper, and more pleasant for children. Apartment exchange initiated these options, because you are not only choosing between commercial vacation rentals.
The first message often decides it
An inquiry shouldn't sound like a mass email. We always write who we are, who we are traveling with, why we like this exact home, and how we would treat it. A sentence about the proximity to the hiking trail, the garden, or the kids' rooms immediately shows: We actually read the profile.
At the same time, you can be specific. Ask about the parking space, the washing machine, or whether the apartment is suitable for a toddler. An exchange is not about trying to seem as uncomplicated as possible and then hoping for surprises. The clearer the questions beforehand, the more relaxed the arrival will be.
Home swapping in Europe: How we are planning it as a family
For summer vacations and holidays, we start early, ideally several months in advance. Popular regions are in high demand quickly, especially if you are tied to fixed school holidays. Nevertheless, it is still worth searching at short notice. Many families finalize their travel plans late or become open to a point exchange if their home would otherwise sit empty.
At first, we don't filter too narrowly. Instead of just typing „Tuscany,“ we look at the entire region and check train connections, beaches, hiking trails, and supermarkets. This often helps us find places that don't appear on every postcard, but offer exactly what a family vacation needs.
Before departure, we share a short house manual with the most important information: Wi-Fi, garbage, plants, appliances, shopping opportunities, and emergency contacts. Conversely, we ask our exchange partners for tips on everyday life locally. Where is cheap parking? Which bakery is open on Sundays? Which swimming spot is best with children? Such tips are priceless, even though they don't cost a cent.
That depends on your standards, of course. Anyone who wants room service, a breakfast buffet, and a 24-hour reception every day will feel more comfortable in a hotel. But if you like to travel independently, take your time starting the morning, and not just visit a place but truly inhabit it for a little while, you will find something special in home exchanging.
Why HomeExchange is a great fit for families
For us, HomeExchange is the obvious platform because many families there are looking for precisely this way of traveling. The profiles, reviews, and messages help build trust before committing. What is particularly practical is that not every exchange has to take place at the same time. This turns your own home into a real travel asset, even if you are not going away at the exact time your desired host family wants to visit you.
The best way to start is not to wait for the perfect first exchange. Create an honest profile, upload bright, realistic photos, and describe what makes your area special. You might not live in the middle of a global metropolis. But a home near a lake, a historic old town, a ski resort, or with good train connections is often exactly what other travelers are looking for.
If you still feel cautious the first time, choose a trip within Europe with easy travel and a family with whom the exchange immediately feels pleasant. After that, you quickly understand why so many stick with it: not only do you save money, but you travel closer to the real life of a place. And perhaps your next big family trip won't start with the thought „Can we afford this?“, but with the much more wonderful question: „Where would we like to live like locals this time?“
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On my travel blog Wandernotizen I'll take you along on our family trips around the globe. Between wanderlust and everyday chaos, you'll find honest travel reports, tips, and plenty of material to ignite your wanderlust. 🧭 ❤️ 🏝️