How to do a house swap through Airbnb and Facebook

I’ve had a lot of questions ever since we did the house exchange last December in Calgary, Canada (check out our trip and what we did there, in winter, with a 15-month old). I understand. I, too, thought this was something you only see in movies (and ok, with the slight chance of jusstt having Jude Law standing there all cute on your door step). But turns out it´s a real thing (the house swap part, not the Jude Law part – sorry!). And honestly, it´s one of the most useful tools we’ve found for affordable, family-friendly travel. Especially if you’re working remotely or traveling with kids, house swapping is our way! In this post, I’ll share how we arranged the swap through AirBnB and Facebook, what it was like to live in someone else’s house for a few weeks, and what options are out there for others interested in home exchanges, both free and paid.

What Is House Swapping?

House swapping, or home exchange, is when two parties agree to stay in each other’s homes, usually at the same time, without money changing hands. Some people use formal platforms to arrange swaps; others do it more informally through Facebook groups or personal networks.

It’s not new (again, in the famous movie The Holiday, this is what happened), but with more slow travel and people wanting to stay in the same place for a while longer, but also with rising Airbnb prices and over-tourism, it’s starting to make a lot more sense.

How we used Facebook for this?

For our house swap in Calgary, Canada, last December, we used a private Facebook group called Home Swap (Airbnb). I’ve had quite a few people ask how that worked, so here’s the secret.

The group is global and pretty straightforward: you post your Airbnb listing, share your travel dates, and mention where you’d like to go. If someone’s interested, they reach out. That’s exactly how it went for us. To join the group, you do need to answer a few questions, pay a one-time €5 fee to the admin (for identity verification), and share your Airbnb listing, yes, your home needs to be listed on Airbnb to use this specific group. Ours is, since we rent it out during the summer months, so that wasn’t an issue. Honestly, the small entry barrier made me feel more comfortable; it filters out the randoms and keeps the group serious.

Once in, I started browsing what kind of destinations people were offering. We posted our Airbnb with the dates we were hoping to travel, and then waited to see what would come in. Pretty quickly, someone from Calgary messaged us. She and her partner were planning a Euro-trip and wondered if we’d be up for a swap. We hadn’t really considered Canada before, but the idea of a white Christmas was tempting.

And then what?

We set up a video call, agreed on dates, and then, here’s the part I get the most questions about, we booked each other’s places through Airbnb. Why Airbnb? Because doing the exchange via Airbnb means you’re both covered by the platform’s insurance and protection policies. (remember, this is just the house insurance, if you need your own travel insurance, check out my personalized link at SafetyWing).

You basically set a symbolic price, something like €10 per night, so that the reservation is official, but no real money changes hands. I paid her €10 plus €1 Airbnb fee, and she did the same for us. So yes, I technically paid €11 and received €10, minus Spanish tax deductions on my end. Still a lot cheaper than a standard Airbnb stay.

We left each other basic instructions, agreed to water the plants and keep things clean, and that was that. No rent, no inflated service fees: just a bit of coordination, a mutual understanding, and trust.

Other Ways to Find House Swaps

Of course there are multiple ways to find a home exchange, some are free, some charge an annual fee, but all offer a way to travel differently.

Free Facebook Groups for House Swapping

Airbnb Host Exchange: Another Airbnb focused Facebook group: Active and global, with a mix of families, couples, and solo travellers. Posts are informal, and everything is handled through private messaging.
Surfgirl House Swap: A smaller but focused group for surf-minded women. There are fewer postings, but if you´re a woman looking for a house exchange near a surf spot, this is the one!
Worldschool Home Swap: Focused on travelling families who homeschool or worldschool. More niche, but the community tends to be highly engaged.

Paid House Exchange Platforms

If you prefer a more structured setup and a bit of protection, these platforms offer that, for a fee.

HomeExchange: One of the most established and well-known platforms. You pay an annual fee (somewhere around €175) and earn points by hosting others, which you can then use to stay in their homes.
People Like Us: Another popular one, though a smaller platform with a strong emphasis on community trust and detailed home listings. More personal than some of the bigger players.

Options if you don´t have a house to swap, live with others or simply don’t want someone staying in your space, there are some other options as well:

Trusted House Sitters: The concept is simple: you stay in someone’s home while they’re away, usually to look after pets and make sure the place is cared for. There’s no payment either way, just an annual membership fee to access the platform and apply for sits. It’s not uncommon to find multi-week stays in major cities or rural retreats in exchange for feeding a cat or walking a dog.
If pet-sitting isn’t your thing, or you’re looking for other options, platforms like Nomador, MindMyHouse, and HouseCarers offer similar setups. Each has its own things: Nomador, I feel like, is more popular in Europe and has a slightly more community-driven feel, while MindMyHouse tends to attract more off-grid or slower-travel listings.

Final Thoughts: Is House Swapping Worth It?

Yes, absolutely, or at least we think so! It’s not for every trip, and not every swap will be perfect, but it offers a way to travel that feels slower, more grounded, and less commercial.

If you’re curious and want help writing your first post in one of the Facebook groups, let me know. I’m happy to share the message we used or answer questions based on our experience.