How To Cut Travel Costs by House-Swapping

By Jordan Rosenfeld

August 24, 2021

©Courtesy of Glamping Hub

The joys of travel often outweigh the costs, but imagine how much more relaxed you could be if you didn’t have to pay for lodging on vacation. With lodging costs running about $150 per night on average, according to Value Penguin (and much higher depending on your location), you can end up spending a lot of money just to have a place to lay your head and your suitcase. Instead, consider the benefits of doing a home swap, which can save you a lot of money.

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What Kinds of Home Swaps Are There?

According to ShareTraveler.com, there are a few different kinds of home swaps to consider, such as:

• Simultaneous exchanges: This is probably the simplest, where each person or family simply vacations at the other’s home at the same time.
• Non-simultaneous exchanges. In this case, people visit each other’s homes at different times; this may require having a second home or an alternate place to stay that you don’t have to pay for.
• Points-based swaps: Some companies allow you to earn points every time you host a swap, which you can then redeem for a swap when you’re ready.
• Hosted swaps: In this situation, you stay at a person’s house while they are still in residence, and they host you, like an informal bed and breakfast. You may not get as private accommodations, and you will probably have to socialize, so this may not be for everyone.

See: Travel Prep: 10 Financial To-Dos Before Going on a Trip

Choose a Legitimate Company

You probably don’t want to just reach out at random to people you don’t know very well for a house swap — instead, work with one of several companies that arrange these swaps, such as Home Exchange. Home Exchange charges an annual fee and has a network of over 400,000 listings in 187 countries, according to The Points Guy. You could also try Holiday Swap, which has a similar number of users and listings.

Be Flexible

In order to find something that really works, you may have to be flexible in both destination and travel time, according to The Points Guy — especially if you’re swapping internationally. Seasons may not sync up and international travel can take a lot of planning.

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Spend Time on Your Agreement

You may be so excited to vacation in an Irish castle or an ocean paradise that you hurry to agree to the details, but don’t be hasty, warns The Points Guy. Get clear on all the details: will you need your garden watered, or the garbage put out on a certain day? Make sure you think through everything that you’ll need to do — and get very clear on your responsibilities in your own side of the swap — before you book your airline tickets or gas up the car.

Reap the Savings

If you work out a home-swap vacation, figure out how much you would have spent on your lodging and any amenities that come with said swap (sometimes owners will offer up the use of a car, a pool or something athletic like a tennis court). By looking at the costs of local hotels, resorts and condos, you can figure out what you’re saving — the longer you stay, the more you save. According to USA Today, a dental hygienist who swapped her home in Lake Tahoe, California, and her car with a Chicago family through Love Home Swap saved more than $8,000 on not just lodging and rental car, but on food, as they were able to use the full kitchen to cook rather than eat out.

Find Out: Flying vs. Driving: Which Is More Cost Effective for Travel This Year?

Be Smart

Of course, there are no guarantees. After you’ve interviewed the people you intend to swap with, you can only hope that they treat your home as they would their own. Having multiple upfront conversations is recommended, and sites like HomeLink offer up guidelines for a successful swap, with such tips as: describe your home honestly; leave it clean; clear away clutter and make space for your guests; get the terms of your exchange in writing; and leave your guests a welcome gift.

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About the Author

Jordan Rosenfeld

Jordan Rosenfeld is a freelance writer and author of nine books. She holds a B.A. from Sonoma State University and an MFA from Bennington College. Her articles and essays about finances and other topics has appeared in a wide range of publications and clients, including The Atlantic, The Billfold, Good Magazine, GoBanking Rates, Daily Worth, Quartz, Medical Economics, The New York Times, Ozy, Paypal, The Washington Post and for numerous business clients. As someone who had to learn many of her lessons about money the hard way, she enjoys writing about personal finance to empower and educate people on how to make the most of what they have and live a better quality of life.