Swap Homes, Save Thousands: Family Tries Home‑Exchange to Cut Holiday Costs

Mon Sep 14 2026 06:22:32 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A UK family swapped their Cheshire house for homes in Europe, slashing accommodation and transport costs by over £6,000 in two years. Discover tips and real‑world savings of home‑exchange travel.

The Vanderpump family swapped homes with strangers twice over the past two years, saving roughly £2,500 on accommodation and £700 on transport per trip. They say the biggest benefit is experiencing locals’ authentic daily life, not just cheaper stays. Home‑exchange platforms like HomeLink encourage careful listing, insurance checks, and trust-building before hosting. Many travellers now use swap services to offset rising travel costs and gain community‑like experiences.

Swap Homes, Save Thousands: Family Tries Home‑Exchange to Cut Holiday Costs

Would you swap homes with a stranger in exchange for a cheaper holiday? For the 42‑year‑old Henry Vanderpump and his 39‑year‑old wife Elliw, the answer is a resounding yes. Over the past two years, the family have swapped their five‑bedroom Cheshire house with two other families in Europe, travelling to Hamburg and Copenhagen and saving an estimated £6,000 in total.

In each trip, the pair stayed in a different home while their own home remained empty. The swap is arranged through the Home Link platform where both parties pay an annual membership fee but pay nothing for the accommodation itself. By also swapping cars, the family cut travel costs further.

Their biggest takeaway? “It’s not just about the money,” Henry says. “We get to live like a local—ride electric bikes in Denmark, float on lakes in Hamburg, try restaurants that the host recommends. The experience feels truly authentic.”

Behind the Savings

Accommodation cost per trip: ~£2,500 saved.

Transport cost per trip: ~£700 saved.

Annual Home Link membership fee: ~£20.

Total savings in two years: roughly £6,000.

How to Do It Right

Home‑exchange trust is built on clear listings and reputable platforms. Key steps companies recommend:

Provide detailed, high‑quality photos.

Maintain open communication before, during, and after the exchange.

Declutter for guests – keep wardrobes, drawers, and cupboards tidy.

Leave a comprehensive guide – explain appliances, rubbish collection, and emergency contacts.

Share local hotspots to enrich the stay.

Lock away valuables and ensure home insurance covers guests.

Check travel insurance if you’ll be staying in someone else’s property.

Other Journeys

May Burrough, a 38‑year‑old COO from London, has logged 34 home swaps through HomeExchange, paying a minimum of four months’ review time before booking. She attributes her €5,000‑€8,000 yearly savings to visits across Barcelona and the Swiss Alps. “The community feel of exchanging homes is unmatched,” she notes. “One hiccup has been a room‑share misadventure, but that’s the exception.”

Petra Novak, who works remotely from London, uses Kindred for her travels. She claims £18,000‑£20,000 in savings across Europe and appreciates the platform’s damage‑protection policy. She stresses the importance of reviewing the social media profiles of potential guests and requesting an introduction letter to build pre‑arranged trust.

Insurance Must‑Checks

The Association of British Insurers recommends hosts verify that their home and contents insurance letters cover guests. It also advises travellers to confirm that their travel or home insurance includes accidental damage coverage. Some platforms, such as Kindred, offer an in‑built protection policy that has proven useful during minor incidents.

Ready to Try It?

If you’re curious about attaching a little authenticity to yourself holiday budgets while tapping into a global community of reciprocal travellers, a home‑exchange may be worth contemplating. Start with a reputable platform, keep the lines of communication open and maybe, just maybe, you’ll find you save more than you’d let on your next family break.

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