HomeExchange Review: How We Travel Canada on a Budget

Planning a trip in Canada can get expensive real fast, especially when you’re travelling as a family. Between hotels in places like Banff, Vancouver, or Quebec City, accommodation alone can easily take up most of your budget.

But what if you could travel across Canada without paying for hotels?

Over the past 5 years, we’ve been using HomeExchange to do exactly that. We’ve stayed 100+ nights in homes across the country, including Vancouver, Banff, Canmore, Golden, Fernie, Nelson, Panorama Mountain Resort, and Quebec City, often in places we wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise.

If you’re curious about home swapping, or wondering if HomeExchange is worth it (and for you), this personal review will walk you through everything you need to know… After that, you’ll be able, like us, to travel more, spend less, and make family trips within Canada actually affordable.

🎁 If you’re curious to try HomeExchange, you can sign up and start browsing homes for free. When you’re ready, use my referral code EMILIE-124b2 to get 250 extra GuestPoints.

Disclaimer: Just a heads up, this free article contains affiliate links. If you purchase after clicking one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost. Your support helps me continue to provide helpful and free content for you.

How Much Money We Saved Using HomeExchange in Canada

Yes, you can travel in Canada on a budget if you remove the cost of accommodation. This is exactly where HomeExchange makes the biggest difference.

Over the past 5 years, we have used HomeExchange for multiple trips across Canada. In most cases, we paid $0 for accommodation, aside from the annual membership fee of CA$300.

What accommodation would normally cost in Canada

If you have travelled in Canada before, you already know how expensive it can be and lodging is not exception. Here are typical prices we’ve seen:

• Banff or Canmore: $300 to $600 per night in summer
• Vancouver: $250 to $450 per night
• Ski resorts: $300 to $700 per night in winter
• Quebec City: $200 to $400 per night

For a family, even a short trip adds up quickly. But once you remove that cost, you can

• Travel longer
• Visit more places
• Stay in better locations
• Spend your budget on experiences instead

Our real savings with HomeExchange

Over the years, we have stayed away 100+ nights using HomeExchange. If we take a conservative average of $250 per night, that means, we saved more than CA$ 27,500 in travel lodging cost since 2023. 💰 💰

	Nights stayed with HomeExchange	Saving 💰 (in CA$)
2026 (planned so far)	22	$5,500
2025	24	$6,000
2024	13	$3,250
2023	51	$12,750

In addition to all the saved money, instead of being in a hotel room, we were in full homes with separate bedrooms, full kitchens…

That is more comfort and more savings.

👉If you’re planning a trip in Canada and want to save on accommodation, HomeExchange is worth trying. You can get started with 250 extra GuestPoints by using my code EMILIE-124b2. Even if you only do one exchange per year, the membership fee pays for itself right away.

What Is HomeExchange Exactly and How Does It Work?

HomeExchange is a platform that lets you stay in someone else’s home while they stay in yours, or while you obtain and use points. Every members on the platform are both GUESTS and HOSTS, which makes it super safe.

Instead of paying for hotels or rentals, you exchange your home (exactly like in the movie The Holidays). This removes one of the biggest travel expenses.

How HomeExchange works (simple explanation)

HomeExchange works with a yearly membership (that includes guarantees), and even one weekend stay covers the cost of the membership. In a nutshell:

1️⃣ You list your home for free

2️⃣ You pay the membership when you’re ready to search for your first exchange

3️⃣ You start contacting members to organise an exchange

4️⃣ You can do unlimited exchanges for a full year

The two main ways to exchange

There are two simple ways to use HomeExchange:

1. Simultaneous exchange

You stay in someone’s home while they stay in yours at the same time. This works well if your travel dates match and you can find someone interested in your destination. There is a search filter called “reverse search” that allows you to search for people interested in your city or province.

2. GuestPoints system (most common)

This is the option we use the most, because it gives you much more flexibility since you don’t need to match dates with another family.

• You receive points when someone stays in your home
• You use those points to stay in another home (at the same time or at a different time)

If, like us, you like camping, then it’s a great way to obtain points, by hosting members in your home while you are camping and using those points later to go somewhere else.

What are GuestPoints (in simple terms)

Each home has a point value (GuestPoints) per night calculated by the HomeExchange algorithm. This is based on:

• Size of the home and capacity
• Location
• Amenities

When you join HomeExchange and complete your profile and listing, you receive Welcome GuestPoints. Once your membership is active, you’ll have around 1300 points to start, which is usually enough for a good week vacation.

You can also get an extra 250 points by signing up through a referral link.

After that, every exchange you do will either earn or use points, depending on whether you are hosting or travelling (unless it’s a reciprocal exchange, then there is typically no GuestPoints involved). 

This is how we did our first exchange. We used our Welcome GuestPoints to go to Banff and Canmore for 9 days. After those 2 exchanges, we got a hang on how the platform works, how the communication works between members and we felt ready to host our first guests.

Why HomeExchange is different from Airbnb

With HomeExchange, every members are both hosts and guests (which adds a lot of trust between members). But also:

• You don’t pay per night
• There are no mandatory cleaning fees or service fees
• You stay in real homes, not rental properties

It’s really more like staying at a friend’s place than booking a rental.

🎁 This is exactly how we’ve been able to travel more across Canada without paying for hotels. If you want to try it too, you can use my code EMILIE-124b2 to get 250 extra GuestPoints when you join.

Our Home Exchange Experience in Canada (Real Examples)

Over the past 5 years, we’ve used HomeExchange to travel to some of the best places across Canada as a family without paying for hotels. It’s be honest here: We initially joined HomeExchange to save money.

But beyond the savings, what kept us renewing our membership years after years is the overall experience we get with HomeExchange:

• More space for the whole family
• A full kitchen (= smaller food budget)
• Kid-friendly homes with toys and books
• Outdoor space like a yard, a balcony and even a pool.
• Car exchanges (sometimes when we do reciprocal exchanges)
• Discovering new places (destinations we had sometimes never heard of)

Where we’ve been using Home Exchanges in Canada

The list of places we visited across Canada using HomeExchange is long and includes for example:

• North Vancouver,
• Squamish,
• Golden,
• Fernie,
• Radium Hot Spring,
• Panorama Mountain Resort,
• Banff & Canmore,
• La Jacques-Cartier near Quebec City
• Bromont in the Eastern Townships

We also did a few international trips, including:

• Paris,
• Costa Rica,
• French Polynesia (in a few months… I still can’t believe it…)

🌎 But the list of countries where you can find home swapping is even longer. HomeExchange has now more than 275,000 members en 150+ countries. Just pick a place!

Would we have done these trips without HomeExchange?

Honestly, probably not as often.

Places like Banff, Panorama, or even Vancouver can get very expensive, especially during peak seasons.

HomeExchange made those trips possible without having to constantly think about the cost. It also allows us to visit our families without having to be a burden to them, but also without using all of our travel budget.

Is HomeExchange Worth It for Families in Canada?

Yes, HomeExchange is absolutely worth it for families travelling in Canada (and anywhere in the world). It helps reduce one of the biggest travel costs and makes trips much easier with kids, where space and comfort matter a lot more.

Kid-friendly homes make a big difference

One thing we noticed quickly is that many homes are already set up for families and there is even a filter to help with the research..

We’ve stayed in homes with toys and books, high chairs and cribs and outdoor play areas.

It saves you from packing extra gear or renting equipment at your destination (which is another saving when you can fly carry-on only!)

Home Exchange Reviews: Pros and Cons

HomeExchange is an amazing way to travel, but it’s not perfect for every situation. Here’s a simple breakdown based on our experience.

Pros of using HomeExchange

Cons of using HomeExchange

Huge savings on accommodation: This is the main reason we use it. Removing hotel costs makes travel in Canada much more affordable. Access to expensive destinations: Places like Banff, Vancouver, or ski resorts become much easier to visit. More space for families: You get full homes, not small hotel rooms. This makes a big difference with kids. Kid-friendly setups:  Many homes already have toys, books, and gear for children. Live like a local: You stay in real neighbourhoods, not tourist areas. No extra fees: No mandatory cleaning fees. No nightly rates. No surprises at checkout.

Takes time to plan: You often need to send multiple requests and wait for replies. Not ideal for last-minute trips: It works best when you plan ahead, especially for busy destinations. You need to prepare your home: Cleaning and getting your home ready takes time. Less predictable than booking a hotel: You need to communicate with hosts and coordinate details.

For us, the pros clearly outweigh the cons.

Yes, it takes a bit more planning than booking a hotel. But the savings, space, and overall experience make it worth it.

How to Start Your First Home Exchange (Step-by-Step)

Getting started with HomeExchange is easier than it might seem. The key is to take it one step at a time.

Step 1: Create your account and list your home

Start by signing up for free and adding your home. You’ll need to include:

• Photos of your home (Bright, clean photos make a big difference)
• A clear description
• Details about beds, bathrooms, and amenities

👉 You can create your listing and explore homes without paying anything upfront. If you decide to go ahead, don’t forget to use my code EMILIE-124b2 to get 250 extra GuestPoints.

Step 2: Complete your profile

A complete profile helps build trust with other members. Add:

• A short introduction about your family
• Your travel style
• What you’re looking for in an exchange

People are more likely to accept your request if they feel comfortable with you.

Step 3: Start searching for homes

Once your listing is ready, you can start browsing. Use filters like:

• Destination
• Dates
• Number of guests
• Reserve search

Step 4: Send multiple requests

This is one of the most important steps. Don’t wait for people to contact you. Reach out first.

• Send several requests
• Personalize your message
• Be flexible with dates if possible

From our experience, it’s normal to send 10 to 15 requests before finding a good match. But we’ve finalized some exchanges with only one simple request.

Step 5: Confirm your exchange

Once both sides agree after some back and forth communication (maybe even a short call), you can finalize the exchange. 

Step 6: Prepare your home (if hosting)

If someone is staying at your home, take time to prepare it.

• Clean and declutter (but no need to remove all your personal belongings)
• Leave clear instructions
• Make it welcoming (and maybe prepare a little welcome gift)

We like to leave a small note, some local treats as a welcome gift and local recommendations. It helps create a better experience for everyone.

A quick tip before your first exchange: Start early and stay flexible.

Your first exchange might take a bit longer to organize, but once you’ve done one, it becomes much easier.

🎁 If you’re travelling as a family, this can really change how you plan your trips. Use my referral code EMILIE-124b2 to get 250 extra GuestPoints and start planning your first exchange.

FAQ: Home Exchange Reviews & How It Works

Final Thoughts: Is HomeExchange Worth It?

100% YES! HomeExchange is so worth it!

HomeExchange is one of the best ways we’ve found to travel across Canada on a budget.

By removing the cost of accommodation, it made it possible for us to visit more places, stay longer, and enjoy trips without constantly thinking about the price.

It does take a bit more planning than booking a hotel. But for us, the savings, space, and overall experience make it worth it every time.

If you’re planning a trip in Canada and want to make it more affordable, HomeExchange is definitely worth considering.