The first message from a family in Lisbon sounds perfect: central location, two bedrooms, toys for the children, and even a small balcony. Then it just says: 185 GuestPoints per night. Who Understanding GuestPoints in Home Exchange quickly realizes: The principle is much simpler than it looks at first glance. And it makes travel surprisingly flexible, especially when you can't or don't want to exchange at precisely the same time.
For us as a family, that's exactly the big difference between a classic exchange and HomeExchange. We no longer have to hope that our desired family wants to come to us in the same vacation week. Our apartment can be a host at a later date – and we can travel already.
What are GuestPoints in home exchange?
GuestPoints are the point currency used for stays in non-reciprocal home exchanges. Simply put: whoever stays at your place gives you GuestPoints. You can then use these for a stay in someone else's home.
An example from everyday family life: A family from France spends five nights in your apartment. You receive the agreed-upon number of GuestPoints for this. A few months later, you use these points for a week in Copenhagen or for an extended weekend in an apartment on Lake Constance. So, you're not necessarily exchanging with the same person, but within a large community.
This is not a payment to the host. The points do not go directly from your account to the account of the family you are staying with, as if it were a booking platform. They are a compensation system within the community. Hosts make their homes available and receive travel budget in the form of points for it.
In a classic, simultaneous exchange, you generally don't need GuestPoints. Both sides stay in the other family's home – the exchange is directly balanced. GuestPoints come into play when stays are staggered or only one side travels.
How is the score of an apartment determined?
The number of GuestPoints per night is not simply a random draw. It is based on several characteristics of a property: location, size, number of beds, amenities, season, and demand all play a role. Therefore, a small city apartment in a popular metropolis may cost more points than a spacious house in a rural region.
This might seem unromantic at first, but it makes sense. Otherwise, apartments in particularly in-demand cities would be permanently difficult to access, while other offerings would receive hardly any inquiries. The points create a framework that reflects supply and demand reasonably fairly.
Nevertheless, a score is not a judgment on the value of your apartment. A simply furnished home with good transport links can be much more attractive to other families than a large house far from everything. Things that seem like a given in everyday life – a separate children's room, washing machine, elevator, parking space, or garden – also make a real difference for traveling families.
As a host, you can review the suggested score and adjust it within the allocated range. I wouldn't try to get the maximum. A realistic rating is more likely to lead to suitable inquiries and a good feeling on both sides. Those who honestly describe what guests can expect generally find people who appreciate their home.
Why the same trip can cost a different number of points
With GuestPoints, not only the destination matters, but also the timing. Paris during the summer holidays, a ski lodge over New Year's, or a beach house in August are naturally more in demand than the same accommodation during a quiet week in November.
However, this doesn't mean that families with a small points budget can only travel during the off-season. Especially if you're a bit flexible with destinations or dates, great opportunities arise. We've often found that a city trip from Sunday to Thursday, a trip in the spring, or choosing accommodation just outside the center saves points – without the experience being worse.
Here's how GuestPoints are added to your account
The most obvious way is to host guests. For every confirmed night, the agreed-upon points will be credited to you. This also works if you stay home yourselves. This is a pleasant option especially for families who don't want to give up their own apartment for every trip: You decide for yourselves when and how often you want to be hosts.
Additionally, on HomeExchange, there are opportunities to receive GuestPoints when starting in the community, depending on your profile status and actions. The specific conditions can change. Therefore, it's worth paying close attention when setting up your profile and especially describing your home completely. Good photos, an honest description, and clear information about sleeping arrangements not only help with inquiries but also show that you are reliable.
What's important is: Don't plan around points that aren't yet confirmed. Only when a stay is bindingly confirmed should you factor them into your travel plans. This may sound trivial, but it prevents unnecessary stress if a request doesn't work out.
Planning GuestPoints Wisely: Our Family Approach
When searching for the first time, it can be tempting to spend all your points on the big dream vacation. There's nothing wrong with that if this particular trip is important to you. However, we've learned to keep a small buffer. A spontaneous wedding invitation, a long weekend, or a stopover on a road trip feels even better when accommodation costs aren't an immediate concern.
For planning, a simple look at three questions helps: How many points do we already have secured? How many points can we realistically gain through confirmed guests? And how much flexibility do we want regarding the location and travel dates? Anyone who knows these three things will search more relaxedly and write more suitable inquiries.
For longer summer holidays, a mix is also worthwhile. Perhaps you could spend five nights in an apartment with a higher point value in the middle of the city and the second week in a quieter region. For children, a change of scenery is often an adventure in itself. a little adventure – and you get to know a country not just from one perspective.
The score alone is not decisive
A common misconception is that a high number of GuestPoints automatically means many successful exchanges. In practice, trust counts just as much. Hosts open up their actual homes. Therefore, they pay attention to a complete profile, friendly messages, verifications, and whether you credibly explain why your home is a good fit for their trip.
So don't just write, „We would like to stay with you.“ Briefly tell them who you are, who you are traveling with, and what excites you about the area. If your children are traveling with you, feel free to mention their ages. This helps hosts assess whether their home is a good fit and whether they would like to welcome you.
Even as a host, you shouldn't just look at the score. A nice family with clear communication who respects your house rules is worth more than a request that brings many points but causes headaches. Home exchange works particularly well when both sides feel comfortable with the agreement.
Typical questions about GuestPoints in home exchange
Do I always have to vacate my apartment when I want to use points?
No. You decide for yourselves when you want to be hosts. Some families only open their homes during their own travels, others occasionally host guests while they're visiting friends or relatives. There's no obligation and no pressure to be constantly available.
Can hosts decline a request?
Yes, of course. Even if you have enough GuestPoints, every request remains a personal decision. That's precisely why it's worth asking early, saving multiple suitable options, and communicating politely.
Are GuestPoints really cheaper than vacation rentals?
The biggest advantage is usually that you don't pay the usual overnight prices. Membership and travel costs are of course still factors. But precisely on a family trip, where hotel rooms and holiday apartments quickly become expensive, the accommodation budget can be enormously relieved. Added to this is the comfort of a real apartment: kitchen, space, washing machine, and often also things like children's books or bicycles.
For us, the most beautiful effect of GuestPoints is not the point balance itself. It's the freedom to think about travel differently: not as a search for the cheapest hotel room, but as an invitation to arrive in a real home for a few days. Those who plan with openness, realism, and a bit of flexibility quickly realize that their own apartment can be much more than the place where they land between two vacations.
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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. 🧭 ❤️ 🏝️