Home Exchange in Spain by Ana
Swapoffi
21 Oct
Check our Swapoffi member Ana’s home exchange experience in Spain, Malaga.
Tell us about your remote working life Ana?
I was a digital nomad before it was cool as I love travelling. I started back home in Bulgaria just 6 months before Covid! Travelling during the pandemic meant I had to stay longer in places and move slower. It was much easier then to find affordable accommodation as people were not travelling.
How did you discover home swapping?
When Covid was over, prices of accommodation went up so much.
For people like me who travel long term and want to be somewhere for one month, it was getting harder and harder to find accommodation, so I started looking at other options, like finding people who sublet when they are away. I actually had the same idea as Swapoffi, so I was so happy to come across you guys! I decided to create a profile and try it out.
How did you find accommodation before Swapoffi?
I have travelled a lot. I have shared my apartment and sublet it.
I have a lot of friends where we stay in each other’s home when they are away; or they just visit me in my home and I visit them in their home. Some of us are already doing home swaps that we are organising ourselves. We need a platform like Swapoffi to do it for us. The community is out there, we just need to reach them.
How was your home exchange experience in Spain?
We didn’t have any issues. We are experienced travellers and I am fine with people coming to my place. Other people might have insecurities.
I definitely see myself doing this a lot more. It’s authentic too. I like arrangement where the person you are swapping with explains things to you and cares. It’s the new way of Airbnb! 10 years ago, Airbnb was cool. Someone would rent you a room and give you advice. You had a connection with them. Now it has become too transactional. It’s just like another business. I think swaps are the future of travel. It’s a great business model.
What are the main benefits to you about home swapping?
The financial aspect! It’s becoming more and more expensive to travel. As that’s my lifestyle, I don’t want travel to be a luxury. I want to keep doing it without giving up things. I don’t want to compromise.
I also love the home feeling with a swap. You are not staying in a hotel, or Airbnb everything is there because it’s a proper home where someone lives. You don’t have to get anything as everything is there already. I appreciate all that.
I also like the feeling where you ask your host, where are the best places to eat? Are there any coworking’s around? how do to daytrips – bus or train?
Overall, it’s a much more personal experience of travelling. Olympia and I have a friendship now. At the end, we said we would be happy to do this again. It’s all very positive. See Olympia’s home.
What are your next travel plans?
I am going to the Canary Islands for winter. Last winter, I was in Cape Town. I like to go somewhere warm for winter. I am looking for a 4-month swap!
How would you describe home swapping to others?
I like the values around home swapping. It is helping me and helping others. We are the future of Airbnb. There is a gap in the market for accommodation for people like me. Home swapping is definitely going to be more and more popular.
Sidebar
Trending posts
Is Home Exchange Safe?
Swapoffi