Home Exchanges Get a Luxury Upgrade

Perhaps you're intrigued by the idea of doing a home swap but are nervous about the quality of guests and accommodations? If so, read on.

Home exchanges have recently undergone an upgrade, with new platforms made exclusively for luxury properties. HomeExchange Collection and ThirdHome allow members to exchange high end homes worldwide. 

Avoid the White Lotus resort drama in this Koh Samui stunner. 

This evolution makes sense. Home exchanges are like a throwback to the early days of AirBNB. You're staying in someone's actual house, and as a guest you're likely to be aware of that during your trip. Personal photos, kitchen junk drawers, and packed closets are all part of the package. That's charming for some, off-putting for others. 

A luxury home exchange experience is more likely to occur in the owners' respective vacation homes, which means an experience that falls somewhere between a hotel and a primary residence. It also means that the guest's house and the host's are likely to be of similar caliber, which was a long-time challenge for higher end homeowners who wanted to exchange. 

Ski in - Ski Out mountain estate in Steamboat Springs

ThirdHome also opens the door to more creative exchanges. Want to trade your Dolores Heights house or Tahoe cabin for a week on a yacht in the Grenadines? You can! ThirdHome also has partnerships with over 100 resorts worldwide. 

Both platforms require you to submit your home for approval. After that, the pricing models differ. HomeExchange Collection is a flat $1500/year fee, while ThirdHome charges per trip. 

If you have an exceptional home and an adventurous spirit, exchanging might be perfect for you. Host fascinating people and live like a local while traveling? Sounds like living the dream to us.