"Free Accommodation for Overseas Trips"... More People Turning to This Method

Earn One Credit Per Night for Lending Your Home
Only Service and Cleaning Fees Charged on Credits
Swap Everything from Small Apartments to Large Houses

'Home swap,' a system where travelers loan their homes to each other, is emerging as a new trend among global travelers fatigued by high prices and expensive accommodation costs.

A house searched under the category 'House with a Swimming Pool.' The host is Alex from Palm Springs, California. Screenshot from the Kindred website.

According to USA Today on September 4, the recent surge in travel costs has fueled rapid growth in home exchange platforms such as Kindred. Launched in 2022, Kindred now boasts a membership of around 500,000 people across 150 cities worldwide.

Home Certification Required Before Making Reservations

The process is simple. When you leave for a trip, you offer your space to another member, accumulate credits, and then use those credits to stay in another city. Regardless of property size, from small apartments in New York to large houses in San Francisco, the platform operates on a 1:1 swap system—offering one night gets you one night elsewhere.

Kindred reservation page example. Screenshot of Kindred website

Credits cannot be purchased separately and can only be earned by using the platform. According to the website, reservations can be made for stays ranging from one to 59 nights.

The platform is membership-based, requiring users to submit their home address and photos of the living room, bedroom, and kitchen for verification to determine if their home qualifies for exchanges.

According to the company, only about 15% of total stays are direct, simultaneous swaps, while the vast majority of users accumulate credits in advance and redeem them for future trips.

'1 Credit Per Night'... Longer Stays, Bigger Benefits

There is no sign-up fee, but service and cleaning fees apply when using the platform. For example, searching for a five-night New York trip directly on the website, the total charge was 5 credits plus $200 in service fees (approximately 260,000 won) and $300 in cleaning fees (about 400,000 won), totaling about $500 (around 660,000 won).

As a result of searching for a 6-day 5-night "New York Trip" on the website, 5 credits along with a total of $500 for fees and cleaning charges were billed. Screenshot of Kindred website

This makes Kindred more advantageous for longer stays. For comparison, if you were to stay at a hotel in New York for the same duration, average accommodation costs reach $3,000 (about 4 million won).

The platform currently features accommodations in Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Miami, San Francisco, Paris, London, Mexico City, Los Angeles, and New York, among other cities worldwide.

Korean homes are not yet listed, but if you have a friend living abroad, you can enter them as a 'referrer' when they upload and verify their home photos to earn credits.

Alternative to Soaring Rents, A Way to Experience Local Culture

The explosive popularity of home swaps is undoubtedly due to high costs. Travelers burdened by steep accommodation fees are turning to this system as a way to save on nightly costs and enjoy extended trips.

The practice of short-term rentals like Airbnb monopolizing housing has caused local residents to face housing shortages. This has led to skyrocketing rents, a phenomenon known as 'touristification,' which has driven interest in reciprocal accommodation.

Worldwide Accommodations Uploaded on the Website. Available Booking Dates Are Displayed Below Each Accommodation Name. Screenshot from Kindred Website

For example, musician Cassandra Jenkins, who is active in New York, shared, "During my touring schedule, I cover my accommodation in Europe using the points I earn by lending out my home to others." She explained, "Instead of letting my home sit empty, I started using the platform thinking that if I loan my place to travelers, I might someday save on hotel expenses myself."

Beyond savings, there's also enjoyment in "living like a local." By staying in residential neighborhoods instead of crowded hotels, travelers can discover popular local restaurants and shops and get a genuine taste of local culture.

Overcoming The Cultural Aversion to Lending Out Your Home

However, there are some drawbacks. During peak season, it can be hard to find available homes in popular cities on preferred dates, and some users may feel uncomfortable with personal belongings left in the space or with the lack of hotel-style amenities.

A photo of Justin's home in Chicago, uploaded by Justin. Screenshot from the Kindred website.

In response, the platform offers a rigorous member verification system and operates an incident compensation program worth up to $100,000 (about 138.4 million won), but users are advised to carefully check the coverage of their own homeowners or renters insurance.

Tourism industry experts predict that with high prices likely to persist globally, travelers' preference for home swaps will only grow stronger.

They also noted, "In Asia, including Korea, there may still be cultural barriers to opening one's home to others, but if trust-based technology can be established, home swapping could become the new standard for travel even in the domestic market."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.