The accommodation was spacious, the kitchen had plenty of space for breakfast chaos, and there were even books in our language in the children's room. It's exactly these moments that make family trips more relaxing – and they don't necessarily cost a fortune. For those who are planning their vacation before booking flights, the following tips can help: Home exchange or house sitting with a family After thinking about it, I compare two quite different types of travel. Both can be wonderful. But only one of them usually really suits the kind of vacation that families want.
What is the difference between house swapping and housesitting?
During a house swap, you live in the home of another family while they move in with you or visit you at a different time. In a classic mutual exchange, both parties travel at the same time. However, there are also Exchange stays with points, where you do not necessarily exchange your home for the same accommodation directly.
House sitting works differently: You live for free in a house, but you take on responsibility in return. Maybe two cats need to be fed, chickens need to be watered, plants need to be watered, or a dog needs to be walked daily. This can feel very much like a holiday in the country – but it is also a task with fixed times.
The crucial difference for families therefore lies not only in: Where do we sleep more cheaply? But also: How much freedom do we want to have during these holidays?
Home exchange or house sitting as a family: the honest comparison
At first glance, both options are attractive because they don't involve typical overnight costs. Especially in cities, on popular coastlines, or during school holidays, this can completely change the travel budget. However, the reality with children brings up a few differences.
Freedom in daily life
With a house swap, you own the time. You can leave after a late breakfast, spend the whole day at the lake, or simply order pizza after a strenuous excursion and have a movie night. Of course, you treat your host’s home with respect. But you’re not here to keep a business running.
With house sitting, there is often a rhythm that the animals follow. A dog has to go out in the morning, cats need food, and maybe a horse is waiting for its feed. For families who love animals and like to spend their holidays slowly, this can be just right. For a city trip with museums, long restaurant evenings, and day trips, it quickly becomes impractical.
Comfort for children
A good house swap is often surprisingly uncomplicated for families because there is already a family living there. A high chair, toys, books, children's cutlery, a washing machine and a real dining table are not luxury details; they make the difference between everyday life on the road and organizing things on a long-term basis.
With house sitting, it can be the same, but it doesn’t have to be. Some houses are perfectly equipped, others belong to people without children and are therefore less child-safe or family-friendly. Then there’s the question of whether your children are really prepared to reliably follow the rules around animals. An enthusiastic „We’ll take care of it!“ on the first evening is different from going out with the dog on time, even in wind and rain, for seven days.
Responsibility and risk
House sitting requires trust in both directions. You need to know clearly what happens in an emergency: What if the cat won’t eat? Who is the vet? Can the children leave the dog alone in the garden? What happens if the owners’ return is delayed? Good arrangements take a lot of pressure off, yet responsibility remains.
When you exchange homes, you also take on responsibility, just in a different way. You take on a temporary home, follow house rules, and return it in good condition. In return, you are usually not responsible for living beings or daily chores. For many families, this is a more relaxed situation.
Selection and planning
House sitting offers are often tied to specific places and times that are currently available. Those who can travel flexibly discover exciting regions with this. Those who have a tight timeframe due to school holidays, visits from grandparents, or vacation days sometimes need patience.
When swapping homes, the selection for families is often greater, especially if you inquire early and are open to different neighborhoods or regions. A home with multiple bedrooms, a kitchen, and space for playing is hardly affordable in a hotel – that’s exactly what’s possible when swapping homes.
When Housesitting May Be the Better Option
House sitting isn't the inferior option. It only fits a certain type of trip. Our family would choose it if we want to stay in one place for a longer period of time, the children really like animals and can help out, and we don't plan on a packed holiday schedule.
It can be especially beautiful when the animal itself becomes part of the experience: walking through an unfamiliar village with the dog in the morning, picking eggs from the own holiday chickens, or showing the children how to be careful with a strange home. These are valuable experiences.
Before agreeing, however, you should not just look at the beautiful photos. Ask specifically about the daily care, contact with the veterinarian, rules for children, and possible costs in an emergency. Also clarify whether you are allowed to take the animal anywhere or whether longer trips are excluded. The clearer these points are in advance, the more relaxed your stay will be.
Why we usually choose house swapping for classic family holidays
For a week of beach holidays, a city trip, or the long-awaited trip in the summer holidays, home swapping is usually the smarter travel hack for us. We have a real home instead of a room, can cook for ourselves, wash clothes, and adjust the daily routine to the energy of the children. This not only saves money but also nerves.
In addition, there is something that is difficult to measure in numbers: you experience a place differently. You buy bread from the bakery around the corner, know the playground after two days and have a living room in the evening instead of just beds where everyone is meant to rest at the same time. Especially with children, a trip feels less like logistics and more like life.
For us, HomeExchange which is the most convincing solution because the platform designed for apartment exchange It’s possible to find suitable homes for families there. A profile with honest photos, a clear description and a few personal messages often gets more responses than you might think. You don’t need to own a designer home or live in a metropolis to do this. A well-maintained home, reliable communication and the willingness to give other travelers the same opportunity count much more.
This is how you make the right decision
Before booking, don’t just consider the cost issue. Ask yourself what your ideal holiday days look like. Do you want to leave early in the morning, return in the afternoon and spend the afternoon in the garden? Then a house swap is probably a good option. Do you want to intentionally spend time with animals, stay in a quiet place and build responsibility into your everyday life? Then Housesitting can be a perfect match.
The age of the children also plays a role. With young children, a well-equipped family home is often worth its weight in gold. With older children, house sitting can be a small adventure and a real learning opportunity. It also depends on how experienced you are with animals. Anyone who has never had a dog should not be tasked with caring for a demanding four-legged friend during their first house sitting.
No matter what you decide: be open about who you are, how many people are traveling with you, and what is important to you. When requesting a house swap, it helps to briefly explain why you like this particular place and how you will handle the home. When requesting a house sitting, you should be honest about what animal experience you have. Personal, friendly messages build trust – and that is the most important currency in both forms of travel.
Perhaps your next trip won’t start with searching for the cheapest hotel room, but with looking at the home you already have. It can take you further than you think.
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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. 🧭 ❤️ 🏝️