Sara Holt ditched pricey hotels for a Paris home exchange – and now swears by the budget-friendly travel hack.
A traveller has revealed how she saved hundreds on her trip to Paris by swapping homes with a stranger she met on Instagram.
Sara Holt, 27, from Copenhagen, was put off by the soaring cost of hotels and Airbnbs, so she posted a video of her studio flat online asking if anyone fancied a summer exchange.
Offers poured in, but she opted for a Parisian apartment belonging to a girl she’d followed online for some time.
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Flying out on 16 July, Sara stayed for a week in the French capital, enjoying the city for a fraction of the usual price. She estimates the trip would have cost £600 for a hotel alone, but by home swapping she spent just £500 in total – including flights, food, drinks and shopping.
“Travelling is expensive but a lot of the time it’s the accommodation that really breaks the bank,” she told Hype Daily. “With home swapping, you really only have to pay for transportation.”
Her host left the flat spotless with a welcome gift of wine, soaps and chocolate, plus local recommendations. Sara said living in a neighbourhood away from tourist traps gave her an authentic, “everyday life” Parisian experience.
Though she admitted she was nervous about breaking something or losing keys, the exchange went smoothly – with both women keeping in touch throughout the week for tips and advice.
“The money saved was definitely a bonus, but the real win was feeling like a local,” Sara said. “It’s not just about saving money – it’s about the stories you collect and the memories you make.”
Now hooked on the idea, Sara says she can’t imagine travelling any other way.
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