Latest news with #Kindred
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I've saved thousands on solo trips through home swapping - but my California stay wasn't what I expected
As the cost of travel continues to rise and frustrations with traditional accommodation mount, a growing number of travellers are rethinking how they holiday. Among them is 27-year-old, Natália Amorim, from Canada, who has saved around £18,000 in just two years, globetrotting around the world to bucket list destinations, including California, Copenhagen and the Netherlands. Next month, she's even managing to spend a month in a plush Notting Hill apartment for just $180 (£133) - less than the average price of one night at a hotel in the same area, £147. But how has Natalia done it? It's all thanks to ditching hotels and Airbnbs in favour of home-swapping on Kindred, which involves paying just the price of basic cleaning and membership fee. Since joining, she's used the service to travel extensively for both leisure and work - clocking more than 90 nights in homes across the UK, Europe and the U.S. But one of Natália's most memorable stays was at a three-storey house overlooking Amsterdam's canals, a home she describes as 'the most beautiful' she'd ever seen in an exclusive interview with MailOnline. On another occasion, having only seen pictures of the interior, she arrived at what she thought was a modest California stay - but was greeted by something entirely different. Since joining Kindred, she's used the service to travel extensively for both leisure and work - clocking more than 90 nights in homes across the UK, Europe and the U.S She tells us: 'I only had pictures of the inside of the property, and it ended up being a whole ranch, almost, to ourselves.' Natália's first experience with home swapping come through Facebook groups, but she found them disorganised and risky in terms of safety. However, since discovering Kindred in 2022, Natalia insists she rarely worries about her security and comfort now when she's going to stay at others, or when there are guests in her house. She doesn't even strip her home bare before guests arrive, though some hosts attach 'do not touch' notes to items they wish to be kept unused by guests. Natália says: 'I think different people go about it different ways. I personally leave all of my stuff out. I will push away, like some some space in the closet if they need - I even keep my journals out. 'One host had little stickers called "Privacy, please." If there's a drawer that you don't want anyone to open, anyone to touch, you can just add the little privacy stickers. 'I've had a host recently that did it with Post-it notes, telling me, "This drawer has too much stuff. If you open it's gonna fall."' Each swap is built on mutual trust and, unlike traditional rentals, Kindred users must host in order to stay. She adds: 'I'm a big gift giver, so I every time I stay in a kindred I pay a lot of attention to their home and their mugs and their tastes and their art to like, try to find a gift that matches their personality' She continues: 'There's a real community aspect, a human aspect, to home swapping. I'm really close with all my hosts that have hosted me and I still keep in touch with some of my guests. 'Guests have even taken selfies with my cat. 'Usually the host will leave a handwritten note whenever you get there. It was my first time in Edinburgh a few weeks ago with Kindred and the host left me some tea bags. 'I'm a big gift giver, so I every time I stay in a Kindred I pay a lot of attention to their home and their mugs and their tastes and their art to like, try to find a gift that matches their personality.' For increased safety on Kindred, before confirming any trip, members arrange a video call and each home is verified. Guests can personalise how they exchange keys - Natalia uses a keypad or lockbox - and support is available 24/7 in case something goes wrong. Natália explains: 'Nothing is automatic. 'When someone requests to stay at your home, and when you request to stay at their home, you have the opportunity to book a video call with them. For Natália, the decision to home swap wasn't just practical - it was a game-changer that saved her thousands, 'cleared her conscience,' and allowed her to experience unique, once-in-a-lifetime trips 'Then there's a waiting period before anything is actually lost.' For Natália, the decision to home swap wasn't just practical - it was a game-changer that saved her thousands, 'cleared her conscience,' and allowed her to experience unique, once-in-a-lifetime trips whilst making lasting friendships along the way. She says: 'When I house swap, I'm genuinely welcomed as a guest, and get to forge true connections with my hosts pre and post trip, while experiencing the city like a local.
Travel Weekly
6 days ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Revisiting the advisor class of 2024
At the one- to two-year mark in an advisor's career, they're often busy fielding inquiries. That is the fruit of their labors paying off, said Kindred. 'Occasionally, they get so busy that they don't have that opportunity to keep working on their business,' she said. It's important to focus on marketing, lead generation, balancing communication and staying in touch with their existing client list, she added. Working on time management can be key to keeping advisors afloat. 'I try to teach our advisors the concept of discipline, because that's really going to help you be successful and also stay focused,' Kindred said. That often means saying no to things that don't fit in with a business model, are unrealistic or that an advisor doesn't have time for. Kindred has seen some advisors have success with implementing budget parameters, like only working with clients whose budgets are $5,000, $10,000 or more. That can help protect the advisor's time. Charging a fee can also help with time management, as it often weeds out tire-kickers. 'If you haven't already done it, convert into a fee-based model,' Adriano said. 'A lot of people get into the industry doing things for free, selling to friends and family, and they just don't know how to showcase their value.' He said he believes charging fees is key to growing and scaling a business, especially one that's been operating for a few years. It helps agents showcase a higher level of advising while also providing another revenue stream. Also key, he said, is ensuring advisors understand their responsibilities as business owners, something that ASTA's educational offerings focus on. That encompasses accounting, financial stability and legal duties. 'Once you get to that two-, three-year [point] where you know that you've got some momentum going behind you, this is where advisors should start looking at ways to solidify their business and making sure that it's future-proof,' Adriano said. Petras agreed that understanding the financial model of owning an agency is important to success. Advisors should capitalize on the bookings they're making, whether it's by selling add-ons like pre- and post-cruise trips or insurance, or specializing. 'They need to focus on consistent revenue,' she said. 'Where do I have a greater opportunity?' Another part of that is repeat business. Advisors should do everything to keep their existing client base in place, Petras said. Focusing on client communication, being there for them and keeping them loyal will equate to a regularly recurring revenue stream.
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Summer 2025 travel trends: Top cities, dates to save
An April 28 to May 1 survey of 2,000 U.S. adults commissioned by members-only home-swapping community Kindred found that 90% were "actively looking" for ways to save on summer travel. USA TODAY reviewed various industry reports to glean the biggest trends among expected travelers this summer. Here's what to consider as you plan your trip. Top summer destinations There are no surprises among the most popular destinations this summer, which include a mix of international and domestic cities. Skyscanner's Smarter Summer Report includes Tokyo, London, New York, Rome and Los Angeles in the top five. Kayak's Summer Travel Check-In also has Tokyo, London and Rome in its top five, but included Paris and Orlando instead of New York and Los Angeles. Kayak also notes international flights are 11% cheaper to Asia, down 8% to Europe, and 5% lower to Africa this summer, compared to last summer. However, according to Airbnb's summer travel trends, nearly 40% of Americans will or are likely to stick to domestic destinations to save money, instead of going abroad. Airbnb adds that nearly 30% of Americans with kids 18 or younger living at home are planning staycations instead of going elsewhere or will "very likely" do so. What are the cheapest periods to travel? Skyscanner found Wednesdays are generally the cheapest day to travel and the cheapest week to travel is Aug, 25 through 31. Travelers who wait to fly in August may find better deals than for June and July, according to Kayak, however it says those planning trips around summer holidays will find the cheapest outbound flights on Tuesday, July 1 ahead of Independence Day and Saturday, Aug. 30 ahead of Labor Day. If you've always dreamed of RV life, here's how to try it Should I drive or fly to my destination? To save money, some travelers are skipping flights and hitting the road. Of more than 2,800 U.S. travelers surveyed for Deloitte's 2025 Summer Travel Survey, 22% said they plan to drive instead of fly this summer due to airfares. Without specifying cost other reasons, Airbnb's data shows 43% of Americans plan to drive instead of fly this summer. Where do people stay when traveling? Deloitte reports 80% of travelers plan to stay in hotels and 25% plan to stay in private rentals at least once this summer, both up from last year, but nearly 25% plan to stay with friends or family to save money. Kindred found an even higher number, over 40%, of its surveyed respondents choosing to stay with friends or family and 12% opting for home stays, which have historically been more popular abroad than in the U.S.
USA Today
7 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
The Daily Money: Vacationing on a budget
The Daily Money: Vacationing on a budget Good morning! This is Betty Lin-Fisher with today's edition of The Daily Money. Summer travel is around the corner for many travelers, but less may be more when it comes to summer vacations this year, reports my colleague Eve Chen. While travelers are still planning to get away, many are shifting their destinations, trip duration and other factors amid economic uncertainty. An April 28 to May 1 survey of 2,000 U.S. adults commissioned by members-only home-swapping community Kindred found that 90% were 'actively looking' for ways to save on summer travel. What are some ways to save on your summer travel plans? Is that customer service site real? When something is wrong with a product or we have an issue with a company, we're itching to connect with someone from customer service to make it right. But a growing number of scammers are creating fake customer service phone numbers or websites, or even connecting with someone venting on social media to take advantage of the situation. Here are some tips to protect yourself. Could iPhones really cost $3,500? President Donald Trump is threatening a tariff of at least 25% on Apple if iPhones are not manufactured or built in the United States. Experts agree a new tariff could drive iPhone prices higher, but disagree on how much. 📰 Consumer stories you shouldn't miss 📰 About The Daily Money Each weekday, The Daily Money delivers the best consumer and financial news from USA TODAY, breaking down complex events, providing the TLDR version, and explaining how everything from Fed rate changes to bankruptcies impacts you.
USA Today
7 days ago
- USA Today
Vacationing on a budget: How the economy is impacting 2025 summer travel
Vacationing on a budget: How the economy is impacting 2025 summer travel Show Caption Hide Caption Top three travel trends for summer 2025 Airbnb shares data behind the top summer destinations and motivators for 2025. Less may be more when it comes to summer vacations this year. While travelers are still planning to get away, many are shifting their destinations, trip duration and other factors amid economic uncertainty. An April 28 to May 1 survey of 2,000 U.S. adults commissioned by members-only home-swapping community Kindred found that 90% were 'actively looking' for ways to save on summer travel. USA TODAY reviewed various industry reports to glean the biggest trends among expected travelers this summer. Here's what to consider as you plan your trip. Top summer destinations There are no surprises among the most popular destinations this summer, which include a mix of international and domestic cities. Skyscanner's Smarter Summer Report includes Tokyo, London, New York, Rome and Los Angeles in the top five. Kayak's Summer Travel Check-In also has Tokyo, London and Rome in its top five, but included Paris and Orlando instead of New York and Los Angeles. Kayak also notes international flights are 11% cheaper to Asia, down 8% to Europe, and 5% lower to Africa this summer, compared to last summer. However, according to Airbnb's summer travel trends, nearly 40% of Americans will or are likely to stick to domestic destinations to save money, instead of going abroad. Airbnb adds that nearly 30% of Americans with kids 18 or younger living at home are planning staycations instead of going elsewhere or will 'very likely' do so. What are the cheapest periods to travel? Skyscanner found Wednesdays are generally the cheapest day to travel and the cheapest week to travel is Aug, 25 through 31. Travelers who wait to fly in August may find better deals than for June and July, according to Kayak, however it says those planning trips around summer holidays will find the cheapest outbound flights on Tuesday, July 1 ahead of Independence Day and Saturday, Aug. 30 ahead of Labor Day. If you've always dreamed of RV life, here's how to try it Should I drive or fly to my destination? To save money, some travelers are skipping flights and hitting the road. Of more than 2,800 U.S. travelers surveyed for Deloitte's 2025 Summer Travel Survey, 22% said they plan to drive instead of fly this summer due to airfares. Without specifying cost other reasons, Airbnb's data shows 43% of Americans plan to drive instead of fly this summer. Where do people stay when traveling? Deloitte reports 80% of travelers plan to stay in hotels and 25% plan to stay in private rentals at least once this summer, both up from last year, but nearly 25% plan to stay with friends or family to save money. Kindred found an even higher number, over 40%, of its surveyed respondents choosing to stay with friends or family and 12% opting for home stays, which have historically been more popular abroad than in the U.S.
