'I travelled the world for free saving £50k - I'm surprised more people don't do it but there is a catch'
A man who has visited countries including Australia, Italy, Mexico, Indonesia, Spain and France has revealed how he's been able to travel the world 'for free' thanks to one 'clever' hack.
Andre Hellstrom, who works as a flight attendant, fell in love with travel as a child and now embarks on trips over the world 'all the time' – and one particular tip has allowed him to save a hefty amount of money. Having heard about the concept of home-swapping from a friend while in San Francisco years ago, the 56-year-old says he initially found it 'strange' though adds the concept began to make more and more sense as he thought about it.
In 2010, Andre signed up for the home-swapping platform HomeExchange and has since completed 42 exchanges. The platform allows users to exchange their homes over dates of mutual choosing, or guests can offer GuestPoints to thank the owner for their hospitality.
'Since I fly cheaply, I have lots of flexibility with my schedule, so if I get an offer from Bucharest in Romania – somewhere that's maybe not top of my list – I'll think, 'OK, why not?',' says Andre.
'Then I'll move around my days and I'll go for a short weekend or something, so it's quite exciting sometimes.'
Andre often chooses long-term exchanges that last around three to five months, with his day job giving him the flexibility and ability to travel cheaply. Since taking part in home-swapping, Andre has visited locations such as Stockholm, Paris, Buenos Aires and Sydney.
He's even stayed at The Westin Maui resort for two weeks and spent a month in Chamonix skiing. In total Andre estimates he's saved around £50,000 in costs to date.
'I basically travel for free and exchanges are almost free too,' he explains. 'It just requires a lot of planning and a wish to be a good host to your guest. I'm surprised that not more people do it.'
While every trip is memorable for its own different reasons, Andre has opened up on his time staying in Rio de Janeiro where he was surrounded by breathtaking views. 'There are so many different ones, but the one in Rio, I have to say, that flat is amazing.
'I mean, you just wake up and you have amazing views of the Christ the Redeemer statue, and I love Rio. That flat, if it was on Airbnb, for a whole month it would probably cost £8,000,' he explains.
Andre has also welcomed guests into his own home, and says home-swapping has allowed him to make friends across the world. During one trip to Bali, a fellow member of the home-swapping platform helped him ship juju feather hats to his London home – avoiding what could have been a 'nightmare' scenario.
'That was a really good exchange because she was an interior designer, and I'm really into interior design,' he recalls.
'I wanted to buy a juju hat – it's something with feathers – and she helped me find people to make them and she shipped them to the UK. It was a bit of a nightmare… so she did me a huge favour.'
However, other stays haven't always gone to plan. While staying in Paris, Andre was required to look after a cat, though it wasn't all smooth sailing. 'The cat hated me,' says Andre. 'I really love cats… and I thought she would love me after a while, but she never loved me.'
Later this year, Andre has plans to head to Madrid where he will stay for three months. He also has hopes to go skiing in Switzerland or Austria in the future.
For others keen to try out home-swapping, Andre advises them to pay for a 'good cleaner' and make sure they have a 'passion for hosting people'. And for those who aren't too sure, he adds there is a catch: 'You have someone sleeping in your bed, but think of the money that you're saving and you'll forget about that.
'I feel so lucky, it literally opens doors around the world and that's why it's a no-brainer. For me, it's just perfect. I love it.'
Jessica Poillucci, PR manager of HomeExchange, says: 'HomeExchange advises people considering home-swapping to check the legalities of working remotely from your intended destination.
'Some countries may require specific visas or permits if you're planning to work, even if it's just remotely for your home company. It's also worth noting working from a different jurisdiction can also have tax implications.
'With regards to both visas or permits and tax, it's important to bear in mind the length of your stay as this can have an impact on both of these areas.'
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