More and more people are discovering the benefits of home swapping. The majority of home swaps are arranged simply to enjoy fabulous free holiday accommodation. However, there are many Home Base Holidays members arranging home exchanges for more than just free holidays. Here are 10 good reasons to swap homes in 2025.
1: Enjoy free holiday accommodation
The majority of home exchanges are for wonderful free holiday accommodation. By swapping homes rather than booking hotels or holiday rentals, you can have a fabulous break but at a fraction of the cost. When home exchanging, your holiday accommodation is totally free and so it's not uncommon for Home Base Holidays members to cut the cost of their holidays by over 90%.
Why stay in a cramped hotel room when you could enjoy the space and comforts of a real home? You'll also have use of a fully equipped kitchen and often laundry facilities. Preparing your own breakfasts or a packed lunch for a day out exploring is an excellent way to make additional savings. Many home exchangers are also happy to swap cars for the duration of the holiday. Some members will also offer their guests use of bikes and other sporting equipment (skis/snowboards, kayaks, etc) during the swap, giving you more flexibility, adventures, and even more cost savings!
2: Work from anywhere in the world (digital nomads, freelance workers)
If you work independently, you don’t have to give up the travel you love. Digital nomads, freelance workers, and people running online businesses have the freedom to work almost anywhere they have an internet connection. Many such location-independent workers are using home swapping to arrange work/travel swaps worldwide, often arranging longer term (3+ month) exchanges. Browse home exchange offers
3: Swap city life for country living (or vice versa)
If you’re considering swapping the city for a life in the country or moving from the country to the city, but are not sure the move would be right for you – try first arranging a home swap! What better way to try out an area than by staying in a real home (you may want to arrange a swap during the worse time of year weather-wise so that you get a real taste of what a permanent move would be like). Browse home exchange offers
4: Stay in a real home when traveling for a special occasion
People use home swapping to attend special occasions such as weddings, anniversaries or special birthday celebrations. Swapping homes is a great alternative to a hotel room or staying with relatives. Browse home exchange offers
5: Have your own space when visiting friends and family
If you’re visiting friends or family, arranging a home exchange close to where they live can be an ideal option; you get the chance to spend time together but also have your own space. Browse home exchange offers
6: Save money when making family visits to your “home” country
Many families are separated from loved ones by thousands of miles. As well as wanting children to know their relatives abroad, it’s natural to hope that they’ll feel a connection to your country of origin. Arranging home swaps “back home” can enable lengthy stays at very little cost. Browse home exchange offers
7: Take sabbaticals or work on overseas projects
If work commitments or research mean you need to stay in a destination for a period of time, from several weeks up to a year (or more), arranging a home swap not only gives you a home to stay in, it’s also a major money-saver. Browse home exchange offers
8: Comfortable accommodation for sporting or cultural events
We’ve had members arranging home swaps to visit major sporting events such as the Wimbledon, the Superbowl, and more. Members also do home swaps to attend concerts, music and theatre festivals, and other cultural events. Just remember to arrange your home swap well ahead of time! Browse home exchange offers
9: Try out living abroad
If you’re thinking about moving to another country, why not arrange a home exchange before taking the plunge? By staying in a real home, you will get a much better feel for what life would be like if you did decide to move permanently. Without having to worry about hotel costs, you could swap for an extended period of time to try out living like a local and explore property options if you do decide to immigrate. Browse home exchange offers
10: Learn a new language
Many of our members seek to immerse themselves in another country so that they (and their kids) can learn or improve language skills. What better way to grasp a language than using it every day? Browse home exchange offers
