Is House Swapping the Greatest Summer Travel Hack?
We talked to 4,000+ people for Kindred’s summer travel poll, and found that people are frustrated with increasing costs. They are still on the lookout for the best summer vacation destinations — but they want to find more affordable places to travel, and more affordable ways to do it.
There are so many reasons to try Kindred house swapping — to experience destinations like a local, to travel more sustainably, to join our amazing community — but the most obvious reason (at least at the outset) is to travel more affordably. We had a suspicion that was the case, one that was confirmed when we surveyed 833 Kindred members around the world in March 2025. When asked what motivated them to try home swapping, 90 percent answered, “to save money when traveling.”
After conducting that member survey, we decided to double down on our research. In partnership with OnePoll, we recently conducted our Summer Travel Report, surveying 4,000 adults in order to understand how people are thinking about traveling this summer, as the cost of living is rising. Here are the top summer travel insights we found.
Americans are looking for affordable places and ways to travel
The average getaway now costs $259.20 more per person. Between that increase and the frustration mounting with traditional lodging — 84% of hotel guests and 84% of short-term rental users report pain points with their experiences — Americans are making more intentional, creative choices to maximize their travel budgets.
Our report found that 90% of U.S. travelers are actively looking for ways to cut back on summer travel spending. Why? Americans cite inflation and increased cost of living (49%), rising travel prices (45%), and economic uncertainty (28%) as primary motivators.
Among the top strategies for cutting back on travel costs: staying with friends or family (41%), finding more cost-effective accommodations (40%), and opting for staycations (26%).
The biggest travel hack of all? House swapping
Notably, 12% of people we surveyed are turning to house swapping as they are looking for ways to cut back on summer travel spending. Long popular in Europe, house swapping is growing more popular in America. And Kindred and its 140,000+ vetted homes are poised to meet that growing need.
In the words of Justine Palefsky, CEO and Co-Founder of Kindred: “Rising costs are reshaping expectations. What once passed as acceptable in travel no longer meets the mark — especially as people become more selective with how they spend. We're seeing a clear shift toward more thoughtful, value-driven travel that aligns with both budget and beliefs. Travelers still want to explore the world, but they're seeking options that offer greater connection, flexibility, and authenticity. Traditional accommodation models are increasingly seen as overpriced and impersonal. That's why we've seen a 7x year-on-year increase in membership at Kindred as more people turn to home swapping, where you can take 10 trips for the price of one and experience travel in a more meaningful, human way.”
House swaps are an alternative to Airbnb, VRBO, and hotels
Many people who participated in our poll expressed disappointment in traditional accommodation options. Top hotel complaints include the high costs for extras (30%), noise and disruptions (27%), expensive dining (26%), and limited kitchen facilities (22%). Short-term rental frustrations include high cleaning or service fees (18%), rising prices (19%), and a lack of personal connection (13%).
Among Kindred members, saving money is the top motivator (90%), with the average trip costing about one-tenth of a typical short-term rental. But motivations go beyond cost: over half want to experience destinations like a local (52%) or travel more often (51%), while others point to longer stays (45%) and more sustainable, values-led travel (44%). One in four (26%) say they now travel significantly more since joining Kindred.
Where Kindred members are house swapping this summer
With stays averaging just $15 to $30 a night, Kindred makes it possible to travel more often, stay longer, and experience more meaningful stays. So if Kindred is allowing its 130,000+ members to travel more this summer, where are they going? Here’s where our American Kindred members are booking, in order of popularity:
- London
- Brooklyn
- New York City
- Paris
- Amsterdam
- San Francisco
- Barcelona
- Chicago
- Los Angeles
- Berlin
New to Kindred? Here are answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.
What is Kindred?
Kindred, a global home-swapping community, is revolutionizing the way people travel by introducing a new model built on trust, connection, and member-hosted homes — an alternative to both hotels and short-term rentals. With more than 130,000 global members across 150+ destinations, Kindred offers both owners and rentals a radically more accessible, responsible, and authentic way to travel. Here’s more information: What Is Kindred?
What are the fees to house swap on Kindred?
There are no membership or annual fees on Kindred; we don’t even take your credit card until you book a trip. When you travel, you’ll pay cleaning and service fees that average $35 per night — that’s ten times less than you might pay at a hotel or vacation rental. Here is more information about Kindred’s fees.
Are Kindred house swaps family-friendly?
Our 140,000+ vetted homes span the gamut — from centrally located studios ideal for a solo work traveler, to the five-bedroom homes fully tricked out with cribs and toys. Here is more info about how Kindred house swaps make the best affordable family vacations.