The fact that everyone on the site is swapping too creates trust and you can always turn requests down – I wouldn’t swap with anyone who had anything less than 5-star reviews from their previous swaps.
It is also possible to arrange non-reciprocal swaps using the website’s
internal credit system.
For example, if I knew I was going to be staying with family for a week
I could let my home out for GuestPoints.
Then I could use that balance at a later stage for a trip of my own to any of the properties on the site who accept GuestPoint exchanges (some people are home swapping purists and won’t swap this way, preferring to stick with direct reciprocal swaps).
In the year since I began home swapping, I have taken more trips than ever and saved lots of money in the process.
Having access to home comforts brings the costs of travel down even further – no need for checked baggage when you have laundry facilities.
Local help
You can be more selective about your meals out when you have a fully stocked kitchen at home – hosts are happy for you to use
ingredients in their cupboard to cook with. Having local experts to message is helpful, too.
In the South of France, my host told me about a couple of nearby bakeries which gave away free bread and pastries from 4pm each day.
But the main benefit is the time you can spend somewhere. Once you remove daily accommodation costs, the trip reduces to simply the price of flights and whatever you spend on the ground once you’re there.
With working from home becoming increasingly common, many home swappers prefer to exchange for weeks, or months, at a time.
This allows you to really get to know a place and move at a more relaxed pace than you might as a tourist with only a handful of days to play with.
Doing a home swap also takes the sting out of returning home after a lovely holiday.
Every time I have returned home from a swap, my place has been spotlessly clean.
It is also customary for guests to leave a small gift behind from their country.
A nice welcome home and a reminder that my flat hasn’t sat empty in my absence. Instead, it has been enjoyed by travellers just like me, making new memories.
What should you look for in a good travel insurance policy?
TRAVEL insurance policies can vary a great deal, but here are some “must have
- Medical expenses – A good policy will give cover of £1million or more for travel in Europe and £2million or more for the USA
- Repatriation service – The costs of getting you back to the UK for medical reasons should be covered automatically by your policy
- Cancellation and curtailment – A good policy will cover you for £2,000 or more if you have to cancel or shorten your holiday
- Missed departure – Covers additional accommodation costs and travel expenses up to £500 or more if you miss your flight due to circumstances out of your control
- Delay – You’ll usually be covered for £250 or more if your travel plans are delayed due to circumstances out of your control
- Baggage cover – Covers you if your baggage is lost, damaged or stolen. Look for policies that have cover of £1,500 or more.
