I've saved thousands on solo trips through home swapping - but my California stay wasn't what I expected
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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.
Natália Amorim, pictured in London, has swapped out hotels and short-term rentals for home swapping - and has saved up to £18,000 in just two years
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
Natalia has globe-trotted around the world to bucket list destinations, including California, Copenhagen (pictured) and the Netherlands
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.
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
Natalia says: '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 (pictured)
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.
'Knowing that staying in a real home when home swapping avoids contributing to gentrification allows me to travel with a clearer conscience, too.'
Daily Mail
