A place to stay with separate children's rooms, a real kitchen, and space for rainy days – and all without a hotel bill that devours the travel budget: That's exactly why we looked into home exchange. In this home exchange platform test let's not just look at nice promises, but at the questions families really have before registering: What does it cost? Is it safe? And which platform actually gets us into the apartments where we would love to live?
Our clear answer upfront: For families who travel regularly and have their own home to exchange, HomeExchange is, in our view, the most interesting choice. Not because every trip automatically turns out to be perfect. But because the concept works surprisingly well in everyday life and can turn normal vacations into special stays.
What a good home exchange platform must deliver
Home exchange is not about finding just any bed for the night. We open up our homes and live in someone else's in return. This requires more trust than a traditional hotel booking—and that is precisely why a platform's size is not the only thing that matters.
Four points were crucial for our test: the quantity and quality of the listings, an understandable exchange system, security in communication, and the concrete benefits for families. The last point in particular is often underestimated. A cheap accommodation is of little use if we end up with children in a sterile studio with no cooking facilities or have to pay for every little extra.
Therefore, a good platform should enable detailed profiles. Photos are nice, but we also want to know if there is a cot, how many people can actually sleep there, whether there is a washing machine, and what the location is like. Equally important: Is it possible to ask questions openly before committing? In an exchange, nobody should feel like they are booking a lucky dip.
Our home exchange platform test: Why HomeExchange is in the lead
HomeExchange is the platform with which we create the best conditions for authentic, affordable family trips see. This is primarily due to the international selection. Whether it is a city apartment for a long weekend, a house by the sea, or a base for a hiking holiday: the larger the active community, the more realistic it is to find a suitable home.
However, the crucial difference lies in the system. Alongside the traditional mutual exchange Are there GuestPoints. Put simply: We don't have to travel to our desired destination at the exact time other people want to come to us. If we make our home available to someone, we receive points. We can later use these for a stay with other members.
This makes home swapping much more practical for everyday life. Perhaps we want to go to the mountains in the summer, while someone else prefers to use our apartment in November for a city break. Without points, that wouldn't be a match. With them, both can still work. For families with school holidays and little flexibility in travel dates, this is a huge advantage.
The search filters also help in actual everyday travel. Those traveling with children search differently than two adults on a weekend trip. Enough beds, a kitchen, a washing machine, child-friendly amenities, parking, or proximity to public transportation are not minor details. When making an inquiry, you can also explain directly who is traveling and why the respective home would be a good fit. This usually leads to much more personal conversations than with an anonymous booking site.
Cost: Cheap does not mean completely free
The greatest appeal of a home exchange is, of course, the saved accommodation costs. Especially in holiday regions or popular cities, lodging alone can easily cost several hundred euros per night. Those who instead stay in an inhabited apartment or house often save not only on a place to sleep, but also on food. Preparing breakfast and dinner yourself noticeably relieves the budget – especially with children.
Nevertheless, it would be wrong to speak of a completely free trip. With HomeExchange, there is an annual membership fee. In addition, there may be costs for final cleaning, travel, groceries, or small voluntary gifts for the hosts. Some hosts prefer bed linen to be returned washed, while others arrange for the cleaning for a clearly agreed-upon amount.
For us, the calculation remains convincing anyway. Just a few nights in an expensive city can justify the membership fee. With a week of vacation for four people, the difference to the Hotel or vacation rental often very clearly. The point is: you don't save at the expense of comfort, but often even gain more space and a better view of the place.
Security: What was important to us before the first exchange
The most understandable concern is: Can I really leave my home to strangers? This question should not be brushed aside. Trust is the foundation of a home exchange, and it does not come from a pretty profile picture alone.
Before confirming, we look for a complete profile, multiple meaningful photos, clear house rules, and friendly communication. Do the members already have reviews? Do they answer our questions specifically? Does their reason for travel fit our apartment? Anyone who dodges questions for two messages or remains vague about important details doesn't automatically have to be our exchange partner.
HomeExchange provides a secure environment for this with profiles, reviews, and documented communication within the platform. Nevertheless, good preparation remains our most important safeguard. We write down what is important in the house: how to care for plants, garbage, keys, fragile items, and possibly pets. In addition, there is a small welcome folder with Wi-Fi details, shopping options, bus connections, and favorite spots in the area.
That sounds like a lot of work, but after the first time, it's quickly done. Our experience: the clearer the expectations beforehand, the more relaxed the stay is for both sides. Home exchanging works best not with a demand for perfection, but with respect and a sensible view of reality. In a lived-in home, a children's book might occasionally be crooked on the shelf or a pan might look used. In return, we don't live in a set, but right in the middle of it.
Who is HomeExchange particularly well-suited for?
Families and individual travelers who like authentic living and travel at least once a year benefit the most. Anyone who owns their own apartment or house already has what is valuable to other travelers: a place to arrive. It does not have to be a designer apartment or a holiday home. A neat, honest description and good photos are more important than high gloss.
Even those who are flexible have an advantage. A specific destination certainly increases the anticipation, but sometimes it pays off to keep an open mind about where to find a particularly lovely home. In this way, we discovered places that would never have caught our attention during a traditional hotel search.
Home exchange is less suitable for people who expect the exact same standard on every trip or want to avoid communicating as much as possible. Writing an inquiry, clarifying details, and preparing one's own home are part of it. In return, something is created that a hotel can rarely provide: the feeling of truly living in a place for a few days.
How families start without stress
The first step is an honest listing. Show the rooms as they are, state sleeping arrangements realistically, and describe what families can expect at your place. A high chair, a small playground around the corner, or a good train connection can be much more valuable to others than a perfectly decorated vase.
After that, it's worth not just waiting for incoming requests. Message hosts actively and personally. A short sentence about why their home in particular fits your trip works much better than a standard message. And if the first requests don't work out: that's normal. Especially for school vacations, it sometimes takes patience, early planning, and multiple options.
Our tip is not to make the first exchange unnecessarily complicated. Maybe you can start with a long weekend in a city that is easy to get to. That way you can experience the system without your entire summer trip depending on it. After the first successful stay, initial skepticism often turns into anticipation quite quickly.
Maybe your next travel destination is not even decided yet. But your home can be the beginning of it today – and someday another family will sit at your kitchen table while you are in a foreign city in the morning making coffee like the locals.
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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. 🧭 ❤️ 🏝️