Ontario traveller stays in over 40 home exchanges around the world [Video]

Seen as a cheaper alternative for travellers, home exchange is gaining momentum.

After staying in over 40 homes around the world, Toronto-based travel writer and content creator Yashy Murphy knows how to find the best place and save money during family trips.

There are several home-swap platforms. Typically, there is no money involved as people offer their home in exchange for another one in a different country. People can either earn points with each guest or do a reciprocal home swap. The home swap company may charge a membership fee.

Murphy told INsauga.com she began using the company that is now called HomeExchange several years ago. In a partnership with the company, she, her husband and children, aged three and five at the time, stayed in home exchanges in seven different countries as they travelled full-time for 148 days in 2017.

At first, Murphy felt unsure about staying in another person’s home in their bed.

“So, I did …