Top 20 Home Exchange and Vacation Rental Services
HOME EXCHANGE, also known as HOUSE SWAPPING, is an alternative means of travel accommodation, through which two parties agree to swap their homes for a set period of time, with no monetary exchange taking place. Its origins stem from low-cost vacation accommodation and are believed to date back to 1953, making it a pioneer in the Collaborative consumption movement.
Using the catchphrase, "You stay in my house while I stay in yours," home exchange has been around since the 50’s. The proliferation of the internet since the 90’s has greatly increased its popularity, providing users with easier communication and a much larger pool of homes from which to choose. Many websites now offer services to a growing home exchange community, where people sign up, pay a fee, upload a profile and search for a match, using each site’s search tools.
Some estimates indicate that traveller participation in house swapping is consistently increasing by 15-20% per year. Summer is traditionally the peak season for house swapping, due to families traveling during summer vacations and house swapping allows families to try out a location for a short period of time while saving money over the traditional vacation costs and allowing them to take vacations that they may otherwise be unable to afford. It's estimated that families can save approximately US$5,000 by swapping their homes instead of booking hotels and rental cars, though some may be uncomfortable with the idea of others using their home. Not all travelers are interested in house swapping solely to save money, but they also see it as a means of meeting locals, seeing relatively un-touristed regions and experiencing local culture. The internet has made the process of finding a swap significantly easier with a number of websites devoted to house swapping.
Home Swapping News, Reviews & Resources
- Agoda.com - since 2005. "Get the best prices on 2,000,000+ properties, worldwide." Driven by our passion for travel, the Agoda team works hard to bring you the cheapest prices on hotels, resorts, unique homes, vacation rentals, and more. Our huge selection of accommodations will let you plan the perfect trip. From adventure travel and backpacking to honeymoons and family vacations, we've got you covered.
- AIRBNB | Airbed & Breakfast - since 2008. "Vacation Rentals, Homes, Experiences & Places." Unforgettable trips start with Airbnb. Find adventures nearby or in faraway places and access unique homes, experiences, and places around the world. Called the "Ebay for space" by Time Magazine. A new way to travel: vacation rentals, private rooms, sublets by the night. In March 2017, Airbnb raised US$1 billion in funding, bringing total funding raised to more than US$3 billion and valuing the company at US$31 billion. It has over 5M+ listings worldwide in 81K+ cities in 191+ countries, and 31 offices globally.
- COUCHSURFING - since 2004. "Stay with Locals and Meet Travelers. Share Authentic Travel Experiences." We envision a world made better by travel and travel made richer by connection. Couchsurfers share their lives with the people they encounter, fostering cultural exchange and mutual respect. Every Year We Support: 400,000 hosts, 4 million surfers & 100,000 events.
- cuckooz - since 2016. "Live Local." Boutique apartments, in London's coolest neighbourhoods. A new brand of serviced apartments; designed by travellers for travellers. Design-led apartments in London’s diverse city fringe neighbourhoods, with fast access to excellent transport links; Cuckooz serviced apartments are genuine homes created to help nomads feel native.
- guesttoguest - since 2011. "The world's leading home exchange website." GuestToGuest is a peer-to-peer hospitality community. We offer a safe system that allows you to spend amazing vacation, to save on your hotel or rent budget, live like a local and feel at home around the world. Our members win points, the GuestPoints, each time they invite other members, and they can then use these GuestPoints to be invited wherever they want. Top countries include the US, Germany, Brazil, Canada, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Greece, and Morocco.
- HOME BASE HOLIDAYS - since 1985. "Swap homes with thousands of fantastic up-to-date home exchange offers and enjoy FREE vacation accommodation worldwide!"
- Home Away - since 2005. "Book beach houses, cabins, condos and more, worldwide." Vacation rental marketplace with more than 2,000,000 vacation rentals in 190 countries listed on its website. It operates through 50 websites in 23 languages through which it offers rentals of cabins, condos, castles, villas, barns, and farmhouses.
- HOME EXCHANGE - since 1992. "World's #1 International Home Exchange Site." Search 65,000+ homes in 150+ countries.
- HOME FOR EXCHANGE - since 2004. "The marketplace for home exchange worldwide." Our members stay in each other's homes. It's a clever way to holiday for free.
- HOME FOR SWAP - since 2008. "Home exchange among us: travelling was never so easy and fun! Feeling at home anywhere has never been easier." Home exchange is an innovative way for all members within the same community to experience a fun, affordable and unique vacation. This premier service will allow you to spend your holidays with a higher level of comfort, extra money in your pockets, and brand new friendships within your community.
- HOMELINK - since 1953. "Home Exchange Holidays." At HomeLink we've been helping like-minded families arrange house exchange holidays all around the world for 65 years. We're more than just a home exchange website - we provide personal support for your home swap holiday from our office in Winchester and our team of experienced Home Exchange Co-ordinators around the world - between us we have a combined home exchange experience of over 400 years!!!
- House Trip - since 2009. Online holiday rental marketplace that allows homeowners and holiday rental managers (known as ‘hosts’) to list and rent out their properties to guests.
- Intervac - since 1953. "The original home exchange service." We are all richer when we share! Since 1953 Intervac has been leading the way so that you can find the perfect home exchange and enjoy your holidays stress-free.
- Love Home Swap - since 2010. "Swap your home and travel (just about) anywhere in the world." Welcome to the world's simplest holiday idea. Swap with inspiring homes worldwide. Try free for the first two weeks. Members-only home swapping site that's stylish, social and simple to use. Home swap holidays are revolutionising the way people travel. With 80,000+ inspiring homes listed in every corner of the globe, those looking to house swap can save themselves thousands on holiday accommodation costs.
- Nestpick - since 2014. "The largest search engine for furnished apartments." Nestpick is the biggest platform to search for mid-to-long term rentals. Browse more than 500,000 listings from 80+ top local vetted providers, in over 130 cities worldwide - completely free to use.
- OneFineStay - since 2009. "Enjoy the finest homes and service all around the world." Stay in distinctive private homes and villas in over 180 destinations - with an unprecedented level of service. The new way to stay in a city. Stay in someone's beautiful, characterful home while they're out of town, walk in their footsteps, and make the city your wonderland.
- Plum guide - since 2015. "Book London's Most Beautiful Holiday Homes." The cream of the crop of London's accommodation. The Plum Guide vets & handpicks London’s best holiday homes. Only 1 in 100 accepted.
- Third Home - "Explore a world of luxury travel your way." Private club for luxury second home owners. Each time another member uses your secondary home, you'll receive credits, called "Keys". You can then spend the Keys on 10,700 luxury private homes and resort properties worldwide. Popular destinations include Costa Rica, Italy, Florida, France, Cabo San Lucas, and the United Kingdom.
- Veeve - "Since we founded Veeve (as Vive Unique) in 2011, we’ve been matching thousands of visitors to London with hundreds of real London homes. In 2017, we opened our office in Paris. For our guests, we have over 1,000 characterful homes in London and Paris to choose from, a dedicated service and - if the mood takes you - extra home comforts (private airport transfer, fridge fills and maid service to name a few)."
- VRBO - since 1995. "Start planning your next getaway now!" The most popular vacation rental site in the US. Build your best vacation ever from over 2 million house rentals worldwide.
- WIMDU - since 2011. "Best City Apartment Deals." Over 10 Million Nights Booked. From penthouse apartments in New York, to holiday homes in Majorca and city studios in Paris, Wimdu's range of over 350,000 properties in more than 150 countries ensures that everybody can find attractive, affordable accommodation for their next trip. But that's not all. Wimdu also lets you rent out your own place to those looking for a place to stay. Listing is free, and allows hosts to make money from their extra space whilst helping others explore the world.
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