How We Saved Over €3,500 on Travel in 2025 Using Swaphouse

2024 already brought us to Germany, France, and Malta through home swapping. Each trip was a reminder of why we started Swaphouse in the first place. This year we completed another 3 home swaps: two trips to Paris (yes, we love Paris! 🇫🇷) at the start and end of the year and almost two weeks in Italy in the summer. What would have cost us over €3,500 in accommodation costs ended up costing us exactly €0.

But this story isn't just about the money we saved. It's about why we built Swaphouse, how home swapping has changed the way we travel, and the friendships we've made along the way.

The Numbers: What We Would Have Spent

Let's start with the cold, hard facts. According to Airbnb's own data, these are the average nightly rates for an apartment in the destinations we visited.

That's over €3,500 we simply kept in our pocket by not paying for accommodation. We did treat ourselves to a few nice meals, museum visits, small local souvenirs, and, let's be honest, quite a bit of French pastries. 🥐

Let's be real: over €1,000 for a week in Paris? That would have simply been too much for us. Without home swapping, we would have either cut our trips down to 2-3 days max, or only gone once instead of twice. The numbers just wouldn't have worked otherwise.

Why We Built Swaphouse (And Why We Use It)

This is exactly why we created Swaphouse. We were tired of the impossible choice between expensive short-term rentals and not traveling at all. Luckily, our jobs allow us to work remotely from other countries a couple of weeks per year, which is why we love combining longer trips with work and exploration. But that flexibility means nothing if accommodation costs eat up our entire budget.

Home swapping changed everything. Instead of paying hundreds of euros per night, we simply exchange homes with others who want to experience our city while we experience theirs. And Swaphouse makes that possible for us.

Our courtyard view in Paris during our December home swap

Our Paris Love Affair: Swapping with the Same Couple (Twice!)

We love Paris. The croissants, the museums, the architecture, the impossibly stylish people cycling past with baguettes. Everything about it draws us back. This year, we managed to visit twice, both times through home swaps.

Here's the thing that might surprise you: both Paris trips were with the same couple. We first connected with them back in 2022 when they were still living in Montpellier and have now swapped homes four times total. What started as a simple exchange has turned into a genuine friendship.

There's something special about returning to a place you've stayed before. It already feels like a second home. The last time we swapped, we actually met up in Lille, halfway between Amsterdam and Paris, for lunch and a key exchange. It was a great excuse to see each other and catch up in person.

This is something you simply can't get from a hotel or Airbnb. These aren't just places to stay. They become extensions of our own lives.

11 Days in Italy: The Long-Stay Dream

Italy was a whole new experience for us. We spent nearly two weeks working remotely from a local apartment with an amazing view, savoring meals in neighborhood restaurants, and uncovering off-the-beaten-path gems.

Here's the thing: we kept working. This wasn't a vacation. It was a workation. We took a couple of days off to create longer weekends, but for most of the trip, we were at our laptops during regular work hours. The result? We only used 3 vacation days instead of 9, saving the rest for later in the year.

Our secret was waking up a little earlier than usual. The Italian summer days are gloriously long, and by starting work at 7:30 AM, we could wrap up by 4 PM and still have hours of daylight ahead of us. Some evenings we'd go for a quick hike in the surrounding mountains. Other times we'd hop in the car and visit a nearby town we'd never heard of before and explore the local market.

At €164 per night, this trip would have cost us over €1,800 for accommodation alone. And because it was a workation, we saved on vacation days too!

Our work-from-Italy setup with an amazing view of the mountains

"But What About People Being in Your House?"

This is the question we get asked most often. And honestly? We used to feel the same way. The idea of strangers in our home, sleeping in our bed, using our kitchen. It felt strange at first.

But here's what we've learned: it gets comfortable surprisingly fast.

The key is that home swapping creates a completely different dynamic than renting. You're not a "host" and they're not a "guest." You're both in the exact same situation. They're trusting you with their home just as much as you're trusting them with yours.

This mutual vulnerability creates something special. There's an unspoken understanding: "I'll take care of your space because I know you're taking care of mine." In our experience, home swappers are incredibly respectful. After all, they know you're sitting in their living room too.

From Strangers to Friends

One of the most unexpected benefits of home swapping has been the friendships. When you swap homes with someone, you share something intimate. You learn about their daily routines, their neighborhood, their favorite spots. They learn the same about you.

We always have a video call before any swap to introduce ourselves, walk through our homes virtually, and answer any questions. By the time the swap happens, these people don't feel like strangers anymore. They feel like friends you just haven't met in person yet.

The Parisian couple we swapped homes with have genuinely become our friends. We always meet each other in places like Reims and Ghent to catch up and exchange keys in person. We swap travel tips, check in with each other, and keep in touch between swaps.

This probably never would have happened if we'd just booked an Airbnb.

The Real Luxury: More Travel, Not Less

Here's what over €3,500 in savings actually means for us: we travel more.

We try to visit family in the US 1-2 times per year, and that already costs a lot in flights and vacation days. Home swapping is what makes the difference: we can still do those US trips and add three more trips on top, like Paris twice and 11 days in Italy.

That's the real power of home swapping. It's not just about saving money. It's about what that saved money enables. More adventures. More experiences. More memories. More opportunities to work from inspiring places and come back refreshed and motivated.

For remote workers especially, this is transformative. Your work doesn't change, but your view from the desk does.

What We've Learned From 3 Swaps in One Year

After a year of intensive home swapping, here are our biggest takeaways:

• Repeat swaps are gold. Once you find home swappers you click with, keep the connection going. It only gets easier and more comfortable each time.
• The pre-swap call matters. A video call before the swap builds trust and answers questions. It turns "strangers" into "people you know."
• If possible, meet in person. It's a great way to build trust and get to know each other before the swap.
• Leave your home swap-ready. Fresh sheets, clear instructions of the house, a small welcome note. It sets the tone for mutual respect and a great experience.

Our 2026 Plans: More Swapping Ahead

Will we go back to Paris? Maybe even three times. 😄

We're also eyeing the Swiss Alps for the summer, Lisbon, and perhaps somewhere completely new. The beauty of Swaphouse is that our community keeps growing. More homes in more destinations means more possibilities for adventure.

If you've been curious about home swapping but haven't taken the leap yet, consider this your sign. Yes, it feels a little uncomfortable at first. Yes, having someone in your home takes some getting used to. But if you're anything like us, you'll quickly realize it's one of the best decisions you've ever made for your travel life.

Because travel shouldn't be a luxury reserved for special occasions. With home swapping, it can be a regular part of your life.

Happy swapping, and here's to saving thousands while seeing the world!