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Daily Mail
4 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.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Forget tourist fads. Let's better preserve, promote Hong Kong heritage
I have been trying to discover Hong Kong's 'hidden gems', as seen through the eyes of a budget traveller. Out of curiosity, I downloaded and explored mobile apps such as Meituan and RedNote (also known as Xiaohongshu ), to see what a local might be missing out on. Some of the recommended spots seem debatable, including the alleyways between Tai Wai's village houses that have been dubbed 'Little Kyoto', an ordinary street sign on the corner of New Praya in Kennedy Town and the Hong Kong Cemetery in Happy Valley . Some of the new hotspots are rediscovered backdrops for Hong Kong film scenes while others don't appear to offer much substance, as far as I can discern. Regardless of their credibility, however, these faddish 'landmarks' are a validation of the government's vision that 'tourism is everywhere' in Hong Kong. The government is also launching initiatives such as the 'Hong Kong industrial brand tourism' project to highlight iconic local brands and offer factory tours. One cannot help but wonder, however, if Hong Kong is so lacking in architectural and cultural heritage that travellers have to make up their own and the government has to seek help from local brands. In particular, what are we looking for when we seek heritage? Recommendations and definitions from the Heritage Discovery Centre and the Antiquities and Monuments Office aside, I would say anything handed down from the past, a practice or tradition, whether for a country, a city, or a family, counts as heritage. Indeed, what qualifies as heritage can be highly subjective. More importantly, we preserve and revisit our heritage because of a sense of purpose, honour, pride and value.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- The Sun
Our travel team's favourite affordable Europe holidays including hidden islands, quiet beach towns and cheap cities
STILL planning that European holiday but on a budget? Knowing where to go this summer without splashing the cash can be tricky. But there are still some amazing ways to see bucket-list destinations without spending too much. 10 The Sun Travel team have used their expert knowledge from travelling the globe to find their affordable destinations to visit this summer. Greek island hopping by cruise Want to enjoy the delights of the glamourous Greek islands Santorini and Mykonos without breaking the bank? A seven-night cruise visiting SEVEN Greek islands onboard the Celestyal Journey this June will set you back just £84 a night and include all your food. I tried one of this Greek cruise line's shorter four-night cruises and still managed to tick off five islands including the Instagram favourites of Mykonos and Santorini alongside the gentler delights of pretty Paros and Rhodes. Celestyal's ships are smaller - and older - than many other lines but their size means they can get closer to the action and the Greek hospitality onboard is second to none. This cruise on the Celestyal Journey includes the chance to enjoy the delights of both Santorini and Mykonos after dark, with the ship arriving at 8am and not departing until 2am. Other stop offs include Thessaloniki, Kusadasi, Crete, Milos and Athens. And with breakfast, lunch and dinner all included as well as your tips, wifi and entertainment, it's a great-value way to enjoy the A-lister islands without paying a fortune. And going in June - when the weather is guaranteed to be gorgeous - will mean fewer crowds than in peak season. - Lisa Minot, Head of Travel 10 Discover Europe's Secret Isles: Top 8 Underrated Destinations Northern French coastal towns France has heaps of coastline, but its fancy French Riviera usually hogs much of the limelight followed by the south west of the country that looks out over the Atlantic. Which is a shame, because many of the coastal towns in the north of the country are both very easy and cheap to get to, and a great way to spend a few days. Two of my favourites are Wimeraux in the in the Pas-de-Calais region, and Trouville-Sur-Mer in Normandy. They are both particularly great as they can be reached within 30 minutes of a French car ferry port, which can be taken from £97. Wimeraux is a quaint seaside town with a beautiful sandy beach and promenade, lined by elegant Belle Epoque villas. The town has a number of hotels from £99 and holiday apartments from around £80 a night, and the little bistro restaurants have retained the old French charm. Despite its proximity to Calais, it feels largely undiscovered by Brits - but it's perfect for a few days on the continent before you fill the car up with cheese and wine on the return journey. Meanwhile, Trouville-Sur-Mer has long been a popular holiday destination with both the French and the Brits. It's a large coastal town with a huge sandy beach and some very nice seafood restaurants, as well as a grand casino. Equally great for wasting a few hours are the many brocantes that populate the surrounding countryside in quaint barns. 10 Cesme, Turkey The Brits have been infatuated with Turkey as a summer holiday destination for decades now, and the prices for hotels and plane fares have risen accordingly. But the town of Cesme on the country's Aegean coast , about half an hour's drive from Izmir is still largely undiscovered by tourists. I paid for some £40 flights last summer and spent a week exploring the area's beaches and attractions. Cesme has seen a boom in fancy restaurants and bars in recent years, with several high end establishments now holding Michelin stars. 10 But my favourites were the relaxed seafood restaurants along the harbourfront, where a meal for two can still cost under £50. Much like the restaurants, several luxury boutique hotels have moved into the area in recent years, but you can still get a room for under £50 a night. It's worth hiring a car to explore the local vineyards and some of the quieter beaches along the peninsula. Lisbon, Portugal No matter how popular it gets, Portugal still seems to top the affordability charts when it comes to European holidays. And while Lisbon has certainly seen prices rise substantially over the last decade, cheap Ryanair flights, affordable hotels and budget eats mean the Portuguese capital can still be a very wallet-friendly destination. Flights are still available from £100 next month, despite us entering peak holiday season, and decent rooms can be found from around £70. Plus, when you get there, so much of Lisbon is cheap. For starters, it's a very walkable city (if you're ok with hills and steps), and the bars sell wine by the glass for as little as £2.50. Then there's the pastel de nata's - one of the country's most popular dishes can literally be bought for £1. Time Out Food Market is also an excellent place to visit if you're looking for fantastic food at affordable prices. - Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel Faro islands, Portugal The Algarve is another part of Portugal Brits love going for a cheap holiday. But most tourists flying in to Faro head straight out of the city and over to the beach resorts. Yet there are some amazing tiny islands that you almost have to yourself and are extremely cheap to get to. My favourite was Ilha Deserta, also known as Barreta. The speedboat from the mainland only cost a few euros, and takes just 20 minutes. It's often called the Caribbean of Portugal, and I had to agree when I was the only one walking the quiet golden sands. The only thing on the island is the restaurant Estamine which is a must-visit, serving freshly caught seafood. Otherwise there is also Isla Armona, slightly more built up but still just a few euros to visit but with a few cheap ice cream shacks as well. A few euros to get your own 'private island' makes it a bucket list trip. Seville, Spain Seville is often seen as one of the cheaper Spanish cities, and there are some great ways to save money when there. For example, you can get free tickets for two of the top attractions, if you know where to look. For the Royal Palace, there are free tickets on Mondays between 6pm and 7pm on the website during the summer season. And for the Cathedral, every day there are free tickets between 2pm and 3pm. Make sure to visit Bar Alfalfa too - it's loved by locals and you can get a coffee and toast for just €2.10. - Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor Tirana, Albania After a three hour flight, I was in Tirana - the capital of Albania - having spent only £45 on a return flight from London. Another couple of quid got me from the airport to the city - only a half-an-hour bus ride away. There is a reason why Tirana is an up-and-coming destination - everything is cheap. From attractions to food, I spent no more than £100 in Tirana. And for coffee lovers, it is a great spot as caffeine is a big thing in the city which set me back less than £2. If I wanted to grab a pastry or sandwich too, I could have for less than a fiver total. Much of the city can be seen from just walking around, which means you don't have to spend much money on doing things. The central square sits in the middle of the city and often hosts a market to explore. One thing that I regret not doing and would spend money on if I returned? Staying at Bunk'Art 2 - a former bunker that has been turned into a museum. - Cyann Fielding, Head of Travel
The Independent
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
EasyHotel CEO on 'taking on the big boys' and E2E recognition
Karim Malak, CEO of easyHotel, shares his vision for affordable, sustainable travel and the company's ambitious growth plans across Europe. Speaking about the challenges and opportunities in the hospitality sector, Malak also reflects on the value of connecting with like-minded leaders through E2E and how the platform that champions entrepreneurship and business growth. His insights offer a compelling look at how innovation and accessibility can go hand-in-hand in reshaping the future of budget travel. For more information and to see the full E2E International 100 2025 list click here. To find out more about E2E, visit
The Independent
13-05-2025
- The Independent
Is flying from Manchester to London via Iceland cheaper than train?
A TikTok user flew from Manchester to London via Iceland for £57, saving £94 compared to a direct train ticket. The 24-hour trip included a brief visit to Reykjavik, where he sampled local cuisine and did some sightseeing. The video sparked debate online, with some suggesting cheaper alternatives like a £25 coach journey. Others expressed outrage at the high cost of UK train travel, highlighting the absurdity of flying internationally being more economical. The TikToker's journey underscores the increasing search for affordable travel options amidst rising train fares.
