The most expensive part of a family vacation is often not the travel, but the accommodation. Two rooms, breakfast for everyone, a bit of space to play – and a week's holiday can cost as much as a small used car. That's exactly why House swapping instead of a hotel For us, it's long been more than just a money-saving idea. It's the way of traveling where we have breakfast in a real kitchen in the morning, the kids have their own room, and we don't just visit a place, but live in it for a few days.
Anyone hearing about home swapping for the first time usually has the same question: «But who will live in our home then?» The short answer: other travelers who also offer a home to swap. The longer answer is much more exciting – because a good swap is based on profiles, communication, and clear agreements. Not on blind trust or a complicated system.
Why house swapping is a great fit for families instead of hotels
A hotel can be wonderful – especially for a weekend when you only plan to sleep anyway. With children, however, the calculation quickly changes. Families need space, a refrigerator, a washing machine, and ideally no arguments about who ends up on the sofa bed. In an exchanged house or apartment, all of these are often readily available.
In addition, there is something that you only truly appreciate on the go: everyday life becomes easier. We shop at the neighborhood store, cook pasta on some evenings instead of eating out for the third time, and start the day without time pressure. If a child wakes up early, the whole family isn't sitting at the hotel breakfast at seven o'clock, all spiffed up. You simply make coffee and let the day begin slowly.
The budget also eases considerably. With a classic home exchange No accommodation costs Depending on the platform and chosen model, there is a membership or small fees for certain services, but compared to multiple hotel nights, this remains surprisingly manageable for many trips. The money saved then tends to go towards an excursion, good food, or simply a longer trip.
This is how apartment swapping works in practice
Most people imagine apartment swapping as two families switching homes at the exact same time. Of course, that happens – and it can be a perfect fit. We've already been to places where a direct swap felt particularly harmonious: we wanted to go to their city, and they wanted to go to our area. Both sides had the same vacation weeks off.
However, the non-simultaneous exchange is at least as practical. You can let a host family use your apartment at a time when you are not traveling yourself, and then travel to another member later. Many platforms work with points or so-called GuestPoints for this. This way, everything doesn't always have to fit together like a puzzle in terms of time and location.
For beginners, HomeExchange is From our perspective, this is particularly pleasant because many families are there and the profiles reveal a lot about everyday life. You can see photos, reviews, sleeping arrangements, rules, and often whether children are welcome. This makes the search much more personal than an anonymous booking site.
A good profile brings in the right inquiries.
Before you send out your first request, it's worth doing an honest assessment: What does your apartment really look like? Which rooms are accessible? Is there a parking space, a garden, a crib, or a steep staircase? Good photos in daylight and a friendly text are more important than a perfectly styled accommodation.
We would never pretend our home is a design hotel. It's a place where life happens. That's exactly what many exchange partners are looking for: a comfortable sofa, a functional kitchen, toys for the kids, and tips from people who know the area. If you write transparently, you'll usually get inquiries that are a good fit.
The first message should be personal
A request with «Hi, is available?» might work, but it feels unconvincing. A short message showing you've read the profile is better. Who are you traveling with? Why do you want to go there specifically? What do you like about the apartment or the surroundings? And does the desired timeframe really fit?
For family inquiries, we mention things like our children's ages and that we know ourselves how valuable a quiet evening is after a long day of travel. This creates a connection without revealing too many private details. At the same time, we address practical points early on: pets, plants, car, arrival time, and whether certain rooms should remain private.
What you should clarify before the first exchange
Apartment swapping is straightforward, but not without thought. The best experiences arise when both parties know where they stand beforehand. Especially the first time, it's reassuring to go through these points calmly:
- How many people are arriving, and where will they sleep?
- Which areas of the apartment remain closed or private?
- Are there pets, plants, or special rules in the house?
- How do key handover, check-in, and check-out work?
- What happens in case of minor mishaps or if something breaks?
This sounds like a lot of organization at first. In reality, it's often a handful of messages and a short house manual. In it, we collect the Wi-Fi password, recycling instructions, how to operate the coffee machine, emergency contacts, and our favorite tips for the area. Especially with children, tips like «the playground behind the supermarket» or «the bakery is open on Sundays» are worth their weight in gold.
The honest disadvantages of house swapping
House swapping isn't automatically the best choice for every trip. Those who book today and want to fly tomorrow will often find a hotel more quickly. Even for a very short city trip, the effort involved in preparation and communication can be too great in relation to the travel time.
You also have to be willing to welcome other people into your home. Not everyone feels comfortable with this right away, and that's perfectly fine. Some people therefore start with an exchange in their immediate surroundings or lock off a study where personal belongings are kept. A tidy home and clear boundaries help enormously.
Another point: The selection depends on the destination and season. For Paris, London, or Barcelona, there are many offers, but also a lot of demand. In smaller regions, it may take longer for the right inquiry to come in. Data flexibility, Travel duration or location doesn't make a noticeable difference here. Those who don't necessarily need to live in the absolute center often discover more beautiful and everyday-friendly neighborhoods.
Our tip for a relaxed start
Don't plan your first exchange as the most complicated trip of your life. Look for a destination you can easily reach by car or train, stay for a few nights, and choose a profile with many positive reviews. This way, you can experience how pleasant it is to get a key in a foreign city and open the door to a home without much pressure.
Our favorite moment during a home exchange usually doesn't happen upon arrival, but on the second or third morning. The kids know where the cereal bowls are, we know the way to the bakery, and the city suddenly feels less foreign. That's precisely when a budget-friendly accommodation turns into a trip that stays with you for a long time.
If you own your own apartment or house, you probably already have the most important part of this travel hack. Start with an honest profile, put together some good photos, and look around without pressure. Your next favorite place might not be waiting behind a hotel reception desk, but behind the front door of people who love to travel as much as you do.
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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. 🧭 ❤️ 🏝️