The most expensive expense on our travel budget was not the flight, the rental car, or the ice cream at the beach. It was almost always accommodation. Especially with children, a nice hotel room feels small after two days; a vacation rental, on the other hand, quickly runs out of budget after just a second month. Our experience of traveling without accommodation has fundamentally changed that: we stay in real apartments and houses on vacation—and in return, we free up our own home.
At first hearing, that might sound bold. Strangers in your own home? Yourself in a home that doesn’t look like a hotel? That was exactly the questions we had too. Nowadays, apartment swapping is one of the most relaxed ways for us as a family to travel: more space, a kitchen, toys, often a washing machine – and above all, no bill for the overnight stay.
Vacation without accommodation costs: Our experience begins before the trip
The real Aha moment didn’t come at the destination itself, but during the planning of the trip. Instead of always setting the price filter further and further during each accommodation search, we were able to choose based on location, space, and everyday usability. Does the neighborhood suit? Is there a children’s room? Is there a park around the corner? Can we walk to the bakery?
When it comes to swapping apartments, it’s not about finding the most luxurious apartment or staging your own home to perfection. What matters is that both parties get a place where they feel comfortable. A family apartment in Zurich can be just as exciting for someone from Barcelona as it is for someone from Barcelona to have a townhouse, an apartment by the lake, or a house with a garden.
For us, traveling feels less like going through customs. We buy groceries at the neighborhood store, cook pasta in between, and after a few days we know the playground with the best climbing frame. That’s especially valuable with children. No one has to drag themselves to the breakfast buffet in the morning, and a quiet lunch nap is suddenly no longer an organizational problem.
What accommodation costs really add up
A free night does not automatically mean a free vacation. Of course, travel expenses such as arrival, accommodation, meals, and insurance remain the same. Nevertheless, the absence of accommodation costs changes the entire travel experience. The budget is stretched further – for a longer trip, a better train connection, or simply to avoid overspending on every outing.
An example from our everyday family life: A week’s city trip can quickly cost a four-figure sum. If that expense is gone, a weekend might turn into an entire week. Or we choose a quarter that we wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford. The savings are therefore not just financial. They give us freedom of choice.
Then there's the comfort factor. Hotels are wonderful for one or two nights, but with children you often need more: separate sleeping areas, a fridge for snacks, space for jackets, books, and all the little things that families carry with them. In an apartment with people living there, many things are already there. Not always to our taste, but practical and surprisingly familiar.
The point at which many hesitate: trust
The honest answer is: A first exchange takes a bit of getting used to. You don’t just hand over a key and hope for the best. Good exchange partners get to know each other beforehand, write together, and clarify expectations. The clearer the communication, the more relaxed the journey becomes.
We make sure that a profile looks personal and is not just made up of two short sentences. Photos of the apartment help, but the messages are almost more important. Who is traveling with? When is the arrival scheduled? Are there any special features in the apartment? Should plants be watered, is a cat allowed, how does the heating work? Such details are not mistrustful, but the beginning of good mutual understanding.
Reviews also provide reassurance. They do not replace gut feelings, but make it visible how other hosts have experienced contact. If something remains unclear, we ask about it. After a few messages, a suitable exchange usually no longer feels like a stranger, but rather like a concrete arrangement with people who also enjoy traveling.
Our rules for the first apartment exchange
For the first exchange, I wouldn’t immediately plan the longest distance. A longer weekend in a city that is easy to reach takes the pressure off. This way, you quickly realize what information is important to you and how it feels to settle into a foreign home.
We agree in advance on how clean we will leave the apartment and where the bedding and towels are located and what happens with the consumables. We write down small things like the Wi-Fi password, waste separation, parking space or the key to the bike storage room. A short house guide is not a mandatory exercise, but a very friendly gesture.
Equally important: We do not treat a swap house as an anonymous vacation rental. We clean up after ourselves, replace anything that breaks, and respect private areas. Some hosts close off a work room or remove personal drawers. This is completely normal and should not offend anyone.
Not every exchange is the same
When exchanging apartments, there are two models. In the classic, mutual exchange, both parties stay in the other person’s home at the same time. This is ideal if the travel dates coincide. However, we also often use flexible exchange options. about guest pointsWe live with a family while they use our home at another time – or they don’t leave at all right away.
This flexibility makes the whole thing much more realistic. Of course, you don’t want someone from Lisbon to suddenly move into our apartment just when we want to go there. However, it’s possible to organize such trips well using platforms like HomeExchange, because not every encounter has to happen at the same time.
That also means: patience is a must. In popular holiday seasons and in small towns, there are sometimes more requests. Those who accept only one very specific destination and a fixed period of time are more likely to be disappointed. We prefer to receive several personal requests and remain somewhat open regarding the location. Especially family apartments are often gladly exchanged because they offer exactly the comfort that other families are looking for.
So a request becomes a good exchange
A mass inquiry is immediately recognizable. A short message that shows that you have really looked at the home works much better. We mention who we are traveling with, why we are interested in the location, and what we like about the apartment. In addition, we include the essential information: arrival and departure times, and whether we can offer a counter- or point-change.
A complete own profile This makes a big difference. Be honest about your spaces, describe the sleeping accommodations and mention things that are helpful for guests: proximity to the train station, a cot, a balcony, an elevator, or a quiet location. You don’t have to live in a design magazine. A clean, friendly, and realistic presentation creates more trust than glossy photos with false expectations.
For our departure, we prepare the apartment the way we would like to arrive ourselves. Fresh bedding, some space in the fridge, an open drawer in the bathroom, and a note with the most important instructions often suffice. When we have time, we recommend a favorite bakery or the nearby walking trail. These exact small tips make the difference between staying overnight and arriving.
When vacation without accommodation costs becomes less worthwhile
Home swapping isn’t a magic trick for every trip. For a single overnight stopover, the effort involved is sometimes greater than the benefit. If you’re looking for maximum anonymity, daily room service, or absolute planning down to the last detail, you’ll probably feel more comfortable staying in a hotel.
Even for very short-term trips, the choice can be limited. While sometimes wonderful opportunities arise spontaneously, we prefer to plan for school holidays early. And anyone who absolutely does not want to open their home to guests should not be persuaded to do so. The model only works if both parties feel comfortable with the situation.
For us, the advantages still clearly outweigh the disadvantages. Not because every exchange would be flawless. Sometimes the kitchen is awkwardly set up, sometimes a floor creaks, sometimes it takes a few more messages than expected. In return, we get trips that are closer to the real life of a place – and space for memories instead of high accommodation bills.
If you have your own apartment or house and travel at least once a year, there is probably more travel potential than you think. Start small, honestly introduce your home, and choose your first exchange so that it feels good. Perhaps you will soon be sitting on a stranger’s balcony with a coffee and wondering why you paid so much for overnight stays.
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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. 🧭 ❤️ 🏝️