How would your family’s travel change if you never had to worry about paying for a place to stay?

We travel a lot. When people ask about our trips, no one cares nearly as much about where we’ve gone and what we’ve done as they do about how we’ve managed to take so many trips as a family of five. As a freelance writer married to clergy, finding the secret to cheaper family travel was the only way to make it happen at all.

When I get an email alert that flights to Spain are on sale for $200 my heart flutters. For a brief moment, I dream of tapas, sandy beaches, and Spanish architecture. Then I remember: there are five of us. Now it’s $1,000 in flights. Ugh. And flights are just the beginning.

We’ve learned that the biggest secret to affordable family travel isn’t just finding cheaper flights, it’s dramatically cutting accommodation costs. 

Why family vacations are so expensive 

We manage flight costs with some light credit card hacking. That’s a huge hurdle out of the way, but even booking a staycation for a family of five can break the bank. Many hotels won’t let us pack into one room anymore. Booking a second room means we’re paying upwards of $300 a night, significantly more depending on the location. Hotels with family suites tend to run about the same amount as booking two rooms and Airbnbs have taxes and fees that upend your travel budget every time.

We’ll eat in and find every free activity available, but affordable family accommodations are a real barrier to travel.

What is HomeExchange and how does it work

Our biggest secret to affordable family travel has been HomeExchange.

HomeExchange is pretty much what it sounds like – an exchange of homes. This can be done simultaneously, a reciprocal exchange, or by using GuestPoints to stay when a direct swap isn’t practical. For example, we stayed in San Francisco while the home owners were in Mexico and a family from New York used our PA home. There’s no limit to the number of nights you can exchange and the platform is world-wide.

I worried no one would want to exchange with us. We’re a family with kids, pets, mobility equipment, and a modest home in a non-tourist town. You can read more about what we’ve learned along the way, but ultimately, HomeExchange isn’t about luxury properties, it’s about matching real travelers looking for real homes and real experiences. It’s a community. There is an extra degree of flexibility needed, since we’re working with other people’s travel schedules (especially if you’re hunting for a wheelchair accessible home), but we’ve almost always been able to make a stay work where and when we needed.

How HomeExchange saves families money on vacation

HomeExchange has an annual membership fee, about the cost of one night in a hotel, that covers you for a year of endless swaps. One year, we did so many exchanges that our membership fee came down to $1.79 per night. That’s approximately $14,000 in savings – not that we would ever be able to actually spend that in travel. Now that’s saving money on a family vacation! 

Instead of wondering how many nights we can afford, I find myself wondering how many days we can travel to make the most of our membership.

HomeExchange vs hotels for families

As a family of five, including one wheelchair user, a hotel room is no longer relaxing, even if we find one that allows us to squeeze in. Split rooms are complicated because then we have to split parents and it becomes less like family time and more like a hallway circus.

HomeExchange vs Airbnb

The next logical step is Airbnb’s. In an Airbnb, we have a full kitchen to cut down on travel costs from eating out. A well stocked home may even mean we save money on a night out with a family game day or movie night.

The biggest hurdle with an Airbnb is still cost, but we’ve also struggled with false advertising for accessibility and a wide range in cleanliness, friendliness, and communication. As a disability family, accessibility listings can feel especially risky. We’ve shown up to “wheelchair accessible” rentals with steps at the entrance or inaccessible bathrooms. With HomeExchange, we’re able to ask detailed questions directly to families before committing to a stay. 

HomeExchange is a community – not a sales platform. No one is in this to make money. We’re like-minded travelers who have leveraged our homes, which means we’re going to take the very best care of your home, knowing you’re in ours.

We’ve met the best people, dogs, cats, chickens, and rats (pets – of course!) through HomeExchange. Because every exchange starts with a conversation, we’re able to confirm accessibility needs. 

Real savings example: what families actually spend 

At the time of writing this, an annual membership is $235. That includes a welcome gift of 1,300 GuestPoints after signing up, completing your home listing, and activating your account. That’s enough to try an exchange for up to a week in someone else’s home before you share your own.

You may be able to save with an auto renewal. My loyalty membership is only $175 a year.

The typical American family spends 10-14 nights away each year. A low-end family suite or Airbnb averages $200 per night. That’s a savings of at least $1,765.

Tips for maximizing savings with HomeExchange 

Oh, wait, you thought HomeExchange was just for saving money on family vacations? 

HomeExchange has given us extra space while visiting family and a home during extended hospital stays. This summer, we’re even exchanging our tiny backyard in town for a large pool and patio in the country. We’ll only be a few minutes from home, so we won’t even need to get someone to water our plants while we’re gone.

Save up extra GuestPoints by offering your house when you’re visiting family for the holidays or traveling for work or other times you don’t need to work out an exchange.

↪Check out my full article on unconventional HomeExchanges

Is HomeExchange worth it for families? 

If you travel at all as a family: yes, HomeExchange is worth it. We’re able to travel significantly more, now that the cost of one night covers us for 365 nights. It’s an incredible feeling to know we could go just about anywhere without having to figure out saving money on accommodations. 

FAQs:

Is HomeExchange safe for families?

Yes. Because HomeExchange is built as a community, it may be one of the safest ways to stay. We stay in real homes, in real communities. It’s as safe as any home in the location you choose.

Can you use HomeExchange if you don’t live in a tourist destination?

Yes. Our home has been used for a Rubic’s cube competition and by grandparents looking for a more kid-centric home. There are plenty of reasons for people to be interested in a HomeExchange, and they’re not all based on popular locations.

Is HomeExchange cheaper than Airbnb?

Yes. While Airbnb costs vary widely, a full year of HomeExchange is $235. If you travel for more than a couple of nights per year, HomeExchange is a significant cost saver for family vacations.