Our story
Founded on a love of travel and community
Swap Holiday Homes began with a belief that the best way to experience a place is to live in a real home, welcomed by people you can trust.
Open homes. Open hearts.
The idea at the heart of Swap Holiday Homes
A personal journey that inspired a community
My love of home swapping began more than 28 years ago with a spontaneous exchange in France. What started as an affordable way to enjoy a holiday became a lifelong passion for discovering new places, meeting wonderful people and experiencing the world through the homes of others.
Since then, I've exchanged homes across Europe, Canada, the USA, Mexico and beyond, travelling with my family, friends, pets and sometimes on my own.
Some of my most treasured memories are of watching my children experience different cultures, make new friends and feeling at home in places far from our own. We've shared meals with welcoming hosts, discovered neighbourhoods we might otherwise never have visited, and enjoyed incredible travel experiences without the expense of traditional accommodation.
Over the years, I realised that home swapping is about so much more than finding somewhere to stay. It's about trust, generosity, meaningful connections and the friendships that can develop when people open their homes to one another.
Having experienced other home exchange platforms, I wanted to create something more personal. A welcoming community where members genuinely care about one another and share a love of travel.
That's why I created Swap Holiday Homes.
My hope is that SHH becomes more than a platform. I want it to be a community where people feel confident, supported and inspired to explore the world, create lasting memories and perhaps make lifelong friends along the way.
Pauline
Founder, Swap Holiday Homes
The founder’s full story is being written with them and will appear here once approved. We will not put words in their mouth in the meantime.
Founder portrait to be supplied.
The journey so far
A simple idea
Swap Holiday Homes began with a simple belief: travel should be about more than accommodation. By sharing real homes, people can discover new places, build meaningful connections and enjoy more affordable, personal travel experiences.
A growing community
From the first members who believed in the idea to homeowners opening their doors across different destinations, SHH is building a community founded on trust, generosity and a shared love of travel.
A modern platform
SHH is developing a modern home exchange experience that combines verified members, reviewed homes, flexible exchange options and secure communication, while keeping the personal connections that make home swapping special.
Key dates and milestones will be added as the founder story is finalised.
Be part of the story
Join a community that believes travel is better when homes and hearts are open.