'I swapped homes with a total stranger for a week to save £600 on hotels'

A woman has shared how she swapped homes with a stranger on Instagram to save £600 on accommodation costs. Sara Holt, 27, said she felt fed up with the prices of hotels and Airbnbs and instead decided to ask others on social media if they'd be up for a home exchange.

With hopes of visiting France, Sara, who lives in Copenhagen, shared a video of her studio apartment online saying she hoped for a summer home exchange. Sara claims to have received offers from all over the world – but chose to go with a flat from a girl in Paris who she had been following online for a while.

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. Sara told Luxury Travel Daily: "Travelling is expensive but a lot of the time, it is the accommodation that really breaks the bank.

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"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.

"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.

"It was a bit strange to live in someone else's space but it quickly felt very homey. I also had a good sense of who the person was, so it made the whole experience feel a lot safer."

Sara estimates the trip would have set her back £600 just for a hotel alone – a far cry from the £500 she spent all-in including flights, food, drinks and shopping. She loved the experience so much that she now can’t imagine travelling any other way.

She added: “It was great to have your own kitchen and everything you need on hand, which is not the case in a hotel. 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. I came home to a spotless apartment, looking almost better than when I left and the whole thing felt very wholesome."

However, there were moments of worry – Sara knew there was no second party involved to help if something went wrong in her temporary home. She said: “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.

"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!"

Despite some initial nerves about swapping her £700-a-month studio flat in Denmark with a stranger, the whole week went off without a hitch. She added: "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."