The flight had long been booked, the children really wanted to go to the sea – and when looking for accommodation, the usual holiday apartments suddenly became really expensive. It is precisely in such moments that it becomes clear whether a GuestPoint Booking Experience truly delivers on what it promises. For us, it was above all one thing: remarkably uncomplicated, once you let go of the idea that a home exchange always has to happen simultaneously and on a one-to-one basis.
We stayed using GuestPoints with people who didn't want to travel to our home at all. And other guests stayed at our place while we were away. At first glance, that sounds like a bit of an organizational project, but after the first messages, it feels much more like a very human way to travel. Especially with a family, that's a difference you notice immediately.
What is different about a GuestPoint booking
With a classic home exchange, you visit each other: you stay at a family's place in Lisbon, and later they stay at yours. This can work out wonderfully, but it often fails due to everyday life. Not every family wants to travel in the same year, not everyone has the same school holidays, and sometimes both sides simply want to go in different directions.
GuestPoints solve precisely this problem. Anyone who stays with you gives you points in return. You can later use these for accommodation with other members. Therefore, there doesn't have to be a direct reciprocal booking. This turns your own apartment not just into a home, but also into a travel budget for overnight stays.
With HomeExchange Does this model work particularly well because the profiles, reviews, and messages remove a lot of uncertainty? Nevertheless, it remains far from an anonymous booking process like at a hotel. You request to book with real people, discussing arrival, keys, and house rules directly with one another. Precisely therein lies the appeal for us—and sometimes also the little extra effort.
Our GuestPoint Booking Experience: What Really Matters
Our most important finding: The accommodation is not the only thing that decides whether an inquiry is successful. Much more important is how specific and friendly your message is. Anyone who just writes, „Is it available?“, will be overlooked faster than someone who briefly explains who is traveling with them and why this particular apartment is such a good fit.
During one of our first bookings, we were looking for a place to stay for a few days with children. We didn't want a designer apartment in the city center at all costs, but rather an apartment where we could have a relaxed breakfast in the morning, cook something, and put the kids to bed in the evening without a complicated room layout. The profile sounded like a real family home, not a slick vacation property. That is exactly what we picked up on in our message.
The confirmation did not come immediately. That is normal. Many hosts only check their calendar after work, discuss things with their partner, or want to know when you are arriving. After a few friendly messages, the key handover, towels, and sleeping arrangements were sorted out. On site, the apartment didn't feel like just any accommodation, but rather like a little base in the everyday life of another city.
This is the honest side of our experience: Save GuestPoints a lot of money, but they don't automatically buy you a perfect trip. Maybe there's a children's room full of toys ready, maybe the dining table is a bit smaller than expected. Maybe a neighbor handles the key handover. Anyone who travels with this kind of openness gets something in return that many hotels don't offer: space, a kitchen, a washing machine, personal tips, and often a much better feel for the place.
How families increase their chances of an acceptance
A good request doesn't have to be long. However, it should show that you have consciously chosen the other person's home. Especially in popular cities, a personal message can make all the difference.
It is best to write when you are traveling, how many people you are, and whether your dates are flexible. Briefly mention whether your children are older or if you are traveling with a baby. This is not a minor detail: hosts want to be able to assess whether their apartment suits you and whether, for example, a high chair, a travel cot, or a quiet sleeping area is needed.
These four points are especially helpful:
- Specify concrete arrival and departure dates instead of a vague time period.
- Refer to something in the profile, such as the location, the garden, or the family amenities.
- State openly who is traveling with you and why the accommodation suits you.
- Ask nicely for the few details that really matter to you.
We wouldn't list ten special requests right in the first message. Questions about parking, bed linen, or key handover make sense once initial contact has been established. An inquiry should show interest, not feel like a booking with a fine-print list of demands.
The calendar is more important than pretty photos
Of course we look at pictures. A bright kitchen, a balcony, or a separate children's room make a property attractive. For a successful GuestPoint booking, however, availability and location are often more decisive. A somewhat simpler apartment that is available in the right week and has good bus or train connections can be much more valuable for a family trip than the dream apartment on the other side of the city.
That is why it is worth inquiring about more than just a single accommodation. Especially for holidays, long weekends, and popular summer destinations, we send out several individually written inquiries. This is not a rude mass email, as long as each message genuinely addresses the respective home. As soon as one confirmation is received, we politely decline the others.
Flexibility also helps enormously. If you can arrive a day earlier or stay one night less, completely new possibilities often open up. We have already experienced that a previously blocked period suddenly became feasible because our departure did not necessarily have to be on Sunday for the hosts.
What questions you should clarify before booking
After an acceptance, not everything should be left to chance. A long contract isn't necessary, but a few clear agreements make the arrival much more relaxed. For families, the sleeping arrangements, key handover, and exact arrival time are usually the crucial topics.
We also ask about things that cannot be seen in photos: Are there many stairs? Is the apartment very warm in summer? Can strollers or bicycles be parked safely? Are there any special features regarding the stove, shower, or waste separation? Such questions are not petty. They show that you want to use the home respectfully.
On the flip side, part of the honest GuestPoint booking experience is also this: Sometimes an accommodation still doesn't fit perfectly despite a confirmation. Anyone with a toddler might not feel comfortable in an apartment with an open staircase. Anyone who is a very light sleeper should inquire carefully about a loud downtown location. Apartment swapping is not an off-the-shelf product. Therefore, it is wise to know your own must-haves without turning every wish into a requirement.
Traveling cheaply doesn't mean traveling without giving anything in return
Staying overnight using GuestPoints can financially leave a classic vacation rental far behind, especially with multiple people and longer trips. Nevertheless, one shouldn't pretend that everything is completely free. Depending on the model, membership or service costs apply, and you also prepare your own home for guests. Cleaning, making room in the closet, writing a short house guide, and organizing the key handover are part of it.
For us, the calculation remains convincing nonetheless. Instead of spending a lot of money on small accommodation for four people, we often stay in a regular apartment with a kitchen and room to live. That saves money not only on the booking itself, but also while on the go: breakfast at home, dinner after a long outing, and a washing machine can be worth their weight in gold with children.
Even more important, however, is the feeling of not just passing through a place. When there are children's books on the shelf, the baker from the neighborhood is recommended, and the playground is just around the corner, a city trip quickly turns into a stay that feels like everyday life for a while.
Anyone sending their first request does not need to be able to do everything perfectly. A complete profile, honest photos of your own home, and a friendly message go a long way to start. The best GuestPoint booking experience usually does not begin with a spectacular accommodation, but with the courage to see your own home as an opportunity for the next trip.
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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. 🧭 ❤️ 🏝️