We saved £6,000 on holidays by swapping homes with strangers

Image source, Henry VanderpumpImage caption, The Vanderpump family on holiday in Denmark last yearByDaniel ThomasBBC NewsPublished12 minutes agoWould you swap homes with a stranger in exchange for a cheaper holiday? Or would the idea of someone sleeping in your bed and using your kitchen while you were away put you off?Henry Vanderpump, 42, his wife Elliw, 39, and their two young children have had two home exchange holidays in the past two years and have another planned this summer.In each case, they have stayed in another family's home, while that family stays in theirs, a five-bedroom house in Tarporley, rural Cheshire.Neither side pays anything for their accommodation, although they do pay an annual membership fee to Home Link, the listings site they use to book the trips.Image source, Henry VanderpumpImage caption, The Vanderpumps' Danish hosts let them use their electric bikes So far, the Vanderpumps have stayed in similarly sized properties in Hamburg and Copenhagen, and Henry says they have saved around £2,500 on accommodation per trip, plus a further £700 on transport, as they also swapped cars."We used to have one holiday a summer, now we have two [because of the savings we make from home exchanges]. And the kids love the idea of living in someone else's house while that person is living in theirs."Home exchanges have been around since at least the 1950s, but an increasing number of people seem to be embracing them because of the rising cost of living, or simply to experience a new type of travel, commentators say.'We lived like a German family'Henry says the best thing about swapping homes isn't the savings but getting to visit places off the tourist trail and have a "really authentic experience".When the family visited Hamburg in 2024, they stayed in a suburb and lived "like a German family" for a week, exploring lakes on the edge of the city recommended by their hosts.Last year, they stayed in "a very Scandinavian house" in suburban Copenhagen, which was "all on one level and had no clutter"."They also left us several electric bikes to use," Henry says. "We cycled to the beach, swam in the Baltic and tried restaurants they recommended."Image caption, May Burrough went on a home exchange trip to the Swiss AlpsSome people are not comfortable with the idea of strangers staying in their home, and for those who are, there's a lot of preparation and tidying to do before their guests arrive.Home swappers may also have to be more flexible about when they travel - Home Link says members typically send 10-15 messages before getting an offer."Last minute bookings won't always work," says May Burrough, 38, a chief operating officer from London who has done 34 home swaps over the last three years using HomeExchange. Rather than doing direct exchanges, she hosts people in her central London flat while she's overseas staying with her partner in France.This way, May builds up points on the platform she can use to book trips at other times. How to home swap successfully If you are putting your home on a booking platform, make the listing clear, with plenty of information and appealing photosKeep in contact before and during the exchange to build trust and avoid misunderstandingsDeclutter and make space in wardrobes, drawers and cupboards your guests will useLeave a comprehensive guide for guests, covering things like appliance instructions, rubbish collection and emergency informationShare local recommendations to help them get the most out of their stayLock away items of value to avoid them being damagedCheck that your home insurance policy provides the cover you needSources: Home Link, HomeExchange, the Association of British InsurersMay reckons she has saved about £5,000-£8,000 through swaps in places like Barcelona and the Swiss Alps.She loves the "community feel" of home exchanges and says she's only ever had one "semi-negative experience" when a booking she thought was for a whole flat turned out to be a room in a flat share. As for preparation before guests arrive, she says she tries to make sure her flat is clean and clears some space in her wardrobe. "I provide clean sheets and towels. I lock away valuables."Image source, Petra NovakImage caption, Petra Novak, from London, uses home exchanges to travel around EuropeThe main home-swap listings platforms vet their members and invite them to review one another.But the Association of British Insurers advises hosts to check that their home and contents insurance provides the cover they need before hosting guests. It also says it is worth checking your travel insurance before staying in someone else's home to check it covers accidental damage.Petra Novak, who uses the home swap site Kindred, says the platform's own damage protection policy has covered her on the few occasions something was damaged in her London flat.The 34-year-old, who uses the platform as she works remotely around Europe, says she has saved some £18,000-£20,000 through home exchanges. She says she was nervous about swapping homes with strangers at first but has never had a bad experience.However, for added peace of mind, she likes to check out the social media profiles of prospective guests, adding that a personal touch can help build trust before an exchange. "I personally like when someone submits their booking request along with a nice introduction letter, telling me about themselves and the reason why they would be visiting London." Related topicsTourismHolidaysPersonal finance