I swapped homes with a total stranger from Instagram to save money while traveling

Daily Mail​

3 hours ago

A woman who swapped homes with a total stranger on Instagram to save money on hotel costs while she was traveling has shared the highs and lows of the experience.
Sara Holt, 27, from Copenhagen, was planning a trip to Paris, France, and got fed up with the eye-watering prices of hotels and Airbnbs.
Inspired by the Cameron Diaz-lead movie The Holiday, she decided to turn to social media to try to find someone living in the European city who might exchange abodes with her.
She shared a video of her studio apartment on Instagram and received offers from people all over the world.
And she ultimately switched with a girl living in the heart of Paris.
She flew out on July 16 and stayed for a week – enjoying everything the city of lights had to offer for a fraction of the price.
'Travelling is expensive but a lot of the time, it is the accommodation that really breaks the bank,' she told Luxury Travel Daily recently.
'With home swapping, you really only have to pay for the transportation, which is a big perk when trying to save some money.
'Since watching The Holiday for the first time, I've always wanted to try it.'
The 2006 flick - which also starred Jude Law, Kate Winslet, and Jack Black - followed two strangers, one from a quiet English village and the other from star-studded Hollywood, who decided to trade homes in an attempt to spice up their lives.
In addition to saving money, there were a load of other benefits that came with living in someone's home rather than staying at a hotel.
'I was so happy arriving in her flat in Paris. It looked amazing, very homey and she had cleaned and laid out a list with local recommendations as well as a welcome gift of wine, soaps and chocolate,' Sara recalled.
'It was a bit strange to live in someone else's space but it quickly felt very homey.'
The content creator estimates she saved $800 on accommodation fees – and all in all, she only paid $650 for the entire trip, including flights, food, drinks and shopping.
She loved the experience so much that she now can't imagine travelling any other way.
Sara said: 'It was great to have your own kitchen and everything you need on hand, which is not the case in a hotel.
Sara flew out on July 16 and stayed for a week – enjoying everything the city of lights had to offer for a fraction of the price
'Living in her area had a very local feel as well, which was great. It was more like trying "everyday life" in Paris instead of a holiday.
'It was just perfect. We were keeping in touch all week, asking questions and sending each other recommendations.
'It was like having a guide ready in your pocket the whole time. The whole thing felt very wholesome.'
Sara added that the girl living in her apartment left it 'spotless,' in fact, it was 'almost better than when she left.'
But there were some downsides. Particularly, she admitted that she was worried knowing there was no second party involved to help if something went wrong in her temporary home.
'I was a bit more worried than usual about keeping her space in order – as there is not second party involved, I really didn't want to break anything or lose her keys – stuff like that,' she explained.
'I was a bit nervous the months leading up to it, that one of us would have to cancel after the other person had already booked flights.
'There's no refund policy when you just swap with someone outside of the platforms. Luckily that didn't happen!'
In addition to saving money, there were a load of other benefits that came with living in someone's home rather than staying at a hotel. The apartment she stayed in is pictured
Despite some initial nerves about swapping her $950-a-month studio flat in Denmark with a stranger, the whole week went off without a hitch.
Sara concluded: 'The money saved was definitely a bonus but the real win was feeling like a local and having that insider experience.
'I'd encourage anyone curious about home swapping to just take the leap. It's such a unique way to travel and connect with people.
'It's not just about saving money – it's about the stories you collect and the memories you make in a home that isn't your own.'