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FAQ

What is Holiday Swap?
Holiday Swap provides users with a platform to securely swap and host their homes globally from just $10 per month, per person (or through a subscription plan). Our innovative chat feature makes Holiday Swap the first truly global social media app for like-minded travellers and explorers. Explore with our in-app map, a user-curated guide to the world, allowing users to discover new destinations based on activity or discover top activities at their upcoming destinations.
What are the advantages of Holiday Swap?
  • Swap vacation homes from $10 per month.
  • Connect to millions of users worldwide.
  • Book rental properties around the world.
  • Cheaper than our competitors and no hidden fees.
  • Excellent customer service.
  • Earn and spend HS Points on a variety of discounts.
What are the tips to find an exchange?
  • Members who are looking for a swap prefer to take their time in finding the right home and swap partner for them. Finding an exchange requires time and personal investment. Once you send a request, members will often first take a glance at your home to determine whether they will be engaged in a mutual exchange. Also, check out your profile! This is why it is critical that you have your account and listing completed completely. Finally, unlike instant booking platforms, swappers are not required to say "yes" to every request they receive.
  • We always advise our members to send as many personalised messages as possible. Start a conversation with the people you are traveling with, and mention what you like about the place.
  • We recommend that you contact all of the members whose homes meet your needs in your desired location. The number of requests required to find an exchange varies depending on the destination (for example, New York and London are our most top attractions) and the time frame.
  • It is also critical to make effective usage of the search filter. You can enter your specific dates and the number of bedrooms required using the filters. You can also limit your search to only reciprocal or non-reciprocal exchanges, as well as the amenities that are essential to you. This will aid in filtering the search results to display the homes that best meet your requirements, increasing your chances of locating the ideal exchange for you.
  • Remember to consult the map! To see a larger area, you can zoom in or out of the map. For instance, if there aren't many options in your preferred destination, you may use the map to look around.
  • Bear in mind that new opportunities can emerge at any time:)
  • Check our article to find more tips for your next trip Home Swap Tips You Should Try House Exchange to Change!
How do I use it?
Download the app to experience a new way to travel. With the click of a button, you can meet swappers or find bookers and form long-lasting friendships with people from all over the world. We provide a variety of options for people of various backgrounds to swap homes. Swap your house with that of another swapper. Host your space or room.
How to house swap for vacation?
It is easy to swap homes for your next vacation with Holiday Swap. You only need to sign up for Holiday Swap, upload your house photos, and start to search for the location where you will travel. Don’t worry! After you sign in, we will show you the steps you will take.
Swap holiday meaning?
  • A house swap, also known as a home swap, is a temporary exchange of residences. It allows two people or families to experience a shift of scenery with all of the amenities of home and none of the costs and fees associated with a hotel.
  • House swaps are typically used for holiday stays, but these short-term arrangements may be a viable option for many people who need places to stay away from home.
How does Holiday Swap work?
  • Make your listing (it's free!) and complete your profile to earn an extra 70 HS Points.
  • Look for homes in interesting locations and send swap requests.
  • Join now to complete your swap!
Is Holiday Swap legit?
  • Holiday Swap is a safe social community of like-minded travellers. All your personal information on our platform is protected by us, and all your payments go through our secure payment provider, Stripe. Keeping your account safe is our top priority. We encourage users to use our chat to get to know each other and make lasting friendships around the world. Our chat instantly translates languages so that you can easily speak to anyone worldwide. Get to know who you are swapping with so that you feel more comfortable. Add them on social media!
  • Before your trip, users can subscribe for Property Damage protection. Take a look at our terms to discover more.
  • Holiday Swap is an inclusive marketplace committed to accessibility, tolerance, respect and ensuring all our users have equal protections and opportunities. We welcome users into our Holiday Swap community, regardless of background.
Can I swap my house if I stay in a rental house?
Yes, you can swap even if your house is rental. It is up to you as long as your host agrees to this.
I don’t own a house, can I still use Holiday Swap?
Yes, you can still use Holiday Swap. Share your space and start to swap!
Is it free to swap?
You can use free version of Holiday Swap which is Lite Access. But if you want to access premium features you can travel the world only for $10/ month without paying extra to hotels and Airbnb.
What happens if someone breaks/destroys/steals anything from my house during their stay?
Please subscribe to our Guarantee for Property Damage. This will cover any approved losses stated in our Guarantee Terms.
How do I get the keys to the house I am going to stay in?
Message your host for key exchange details.
Is Holoday Swap worldwide? Does it work in my country?
We are a home exchange platform available around the world, with over 1 Million users. We are almost everywhere. It works in all countries around the world. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact support@holidayswap.com
Can I cash out my HS Points?
Not currently.
Bookings:

  • GUEST:

  • Guest subscribes to either premium plan ($100 annual or $10 monthly) and all booking fees get waived - this is unlimited for the tenure of subscription. Guest will then only pay the nightly rate as set by the host.
  • Casual Guest chooses not to subscribe but continues to make a booking, $10USD per night booking will apply on top of his overall booking charge. So when the Guest arrives at checkout for a 2 night stay at $50 per night, the bill would appear as $100 + $20 (2x nights booking fee) = $120.

  • HOST:

  • Premium Host who has subscribed to $100 annual plan only, will pay a 6% commission on the total cost of all completed bookings. Fifteen (15) business days after the trip starts, monies are paid to Host. Receiving banks may add additional time to process the transfer. If the guest’s booking for 2 nights costs $100 in total, host receives $94 after 15+ days.
  • Casual Host who does not want to pay for premium, will instead pay the 9% commission fee. So this host will receive $91, for the same 2 night booking at $100, after 15+ days.
What is the difference between HS and Airbnb?
There's no denying that peer-to-peer accommodation models like Airbnb, VRBO, and similar sites have popularised staying in a stranger's home. The main difference between those stays and a home swap is cost: the cost of the stay, the cost of cleaning, and, in many cases, a booking fee for each visit. Hotel and resort stays can be less expensive, but even those can have what the travel industry refers to as "drip pricing," which means that the posted rate for a stay is discounted and appealing, but the final bill is dotted with add-ons. Furthermore, as Airbnb properties become more corporately owned, the personal connection, as well as the connection to a lifestyle, is lost. And these hosts can impose stricter rules on entertaining additional guests, provide child-friendly options, and consider additional factors as Market Watch mentioned in Try a home swap. You’ll skip Airbnb and hotel costs and vacation like you’re a local article.
Do I need to make the swap happen at the same time with the person I am swapping my house with?
You can also book houses that you like. We have both book and swap options available. This is our unique selling point. You can even allow someone to book your space using HS Points, which you can redeem for your next trip.
Can I still swap my house if I live in the house?
You can even swap a room you are using in the house.
Can I swap a 1 room studio for a 4 bedroom house?
Of course! Remember who you search for and swap with is completely up to you!
Do I have to swap a whole property?
No. What makes us unique is your ability to be flexible about what you swap. Sure, you can swap an entire house or apartment, but you can just as easily swap a shared bedroom in a house (assuming acknowledgement of potential housemates and their permission). This allows much more flexibility and variation of what can be swapped, providing an experience tailored to your needs.
Ambassadors - who are they and can I become one?
  • We would like to invite you to become a brand ambassador for our company!
  • As a brand ambassador, you will help us spread the word about Holiday Swap with your audience through the following actions:
  • Creating an account with Holiday Swap and listing your home.
  • Sharing Instagram stories highlighting how your audience can save while traveling with Holiday Swap.
  • Participating in arranged home exchanges with other influencers.
  • Creating travel content for us that we can share with our audience.
What you’ll get in return:
  • This is a paid partnership, payment will be established based on your profile and account insights.
  • If you’re interested, we’d love to chat more with you to go over what our brand ambassador program is all about so please click here and fill out this form.
Is home swapping safe and how am I protected?
  • Holiday Swap is a safe social community of like-minded travellers. All your personal information on our platform is protected by us, and all your payments go through our secure payment provider, Stripe. Keeping your account safe is our top priority. We also use Know Your Guest technology in partnership with SuperHog which screens our users to give Hosts extra security about their Guests.
  • We encourage users to use our chat to get to know each other and make lasting friendships around the world. Our chat instantly translates languages so that you can easily speak to anyone worldwide. Get to know who you are swapping with so that you feel more comfortable. Add them on social media!
  • Before your trip, users can subscribe to gain Property Damage to add extra protection. Take a look at our terms to discover more.
  • Holiday Swap is an inclusive marketplace committed to accessibility, tolerance, respect and ensuring all our users have equal protections and opportunities. We welcome users into our Holiday Swap community, regardless of background.
Do you store my credit card details?
No. We do not store credit card details nor do we share financial details with any third-parties. Our secure payment provider is Stripe.
Do I have to put pictures of my property on Holiday Swap?
What if the property is not as described?
  • Yes, to have your property appear in search there must be multiple images that clearly show the space. If the property is not as described when you arrive, make sure to take pictures of the problems and send our Support Team a detailed description of your experience support@holidayswap.com Please make sure to send all evidence within 7 days of the swap ending. We encourage all our users to subscribe to our Guarantee and take out the appropriate and relevant insurance coverage on their own.
What if there is damage when I return?
Please subscribe to our Premium plan for property damage protection. We also highly recommend having your own home insurance in place. This will cover any approved losses stated in our Terms.
How do I gain access to the property?
Before you finalise your swap on the App, you will be asked to choose your method of key collection, whether that is leaving your key in a safe place, providing a security code for a lockbox, sending your key to the other user before the swap or using KeyCafe.
What if I can’t enter the property?
Speak to your Host before you leave to ensure you have all the relevant information to enter the property on your arrival. Be sure to exchange numbers too in case there are any problems! We advise users to provide a local emergency contact in case a Guest is locked out or cannot enter the property.
Someone has chatted with me and asked for my address, and swap without going through Holiday Swap?
No. It is against our Terms and Conditions to plan a swap outside of the App. Not only will this breach your agreement with us, but it may be less secure for you.
How long it will take to hear back from customer service?
We strive to reply to you within 2 business days. In the case of urgent issues, you should first contact the other party. Please contact us at support@holidayswap.com.
How to query a negative rating?
Sometimes, for reasons out of your control, you may receive ratings that you disagree with. Whilst we completely support an open and free ratings system, we want this to also be fair and genuine. If you think a rating is malicious, goes against our guidelines, or otherwise fabricated, then please get in touch with our Support Team and we will take a look into any concerns, and take action where necessary.
What should I do in the event of the emergency or the problem related to property?
In case of an emergency at the property, please contact local emergency services and authorities right away. You should always ensure you have emergency contact details, and the relevant insurance for both yourself and the property. Any external emergency situation will not be Holiday Swap’s responsibility and you should proceed through appropriate channels dependent on any emergency you may have. Make sure to subscribe to our Premium subscription which includes Property Damage protection to help protect your trip!
What do I do if the website is not displayed correctly?
Immediately contact with our support team. You can send email to support@holidayswap.com or DM us on Instagram.
I have found an error on the website, what should I do?
Immediately contact with our support team. You can send email to support@holidayswap.com or DM us on Instagram.
What are HS Points?
Holiday Swap Points (HS Points) are the most effective way to fully unlock all of the advantages of Holiday Swap. Why spend money to stay once your Points will be enough? Simply completing your profile earns you 200 Points which you can happily spend on your upcoming vacation! Would you like your property to come up first in a search? Points will help you Boost to appear first.
Do HS Points expire?
Points are valid for 24 months (2 full years) after issuance.
Where can I check my HS Points?
Click on your profile, and under the edit profile button, you will see “My HS Points”.
What are the benefits of owning Tokens?
  • Simply, points enable our users to travel the world for much less.
  • Currently, users can buy points on Holiday Swap at a 20% discount.
  • For instance, normally 100 tokens would equal $100 however, our users can currently buy 100 tokens for $80 on our app.
How do I earn HS Points?
Points are the in-app reward of Holiday Swap. Earn points on our app by completing various actions on your profile’s progress tracker or by hosting other travellers. The points earned can be used to redeem against prize draws, boosting your home in search and even towards discounting a future stay.
Can I purchase HS Points?
If you do not want to host or swap homes you can directly buy points on our app and book homes on HolidaySwap.
How to reset my password?
You can reset your password in settings on the app.
How do I sign up on Holiday Swap?
Download our free app from the app stores and register your account in seconds!
Can I add another email address for my Holiday Swap account?
No.
What if I moved from the home that is listed on Holiday Swap?
You should keep your account and profile updated every time you move homes.
What do I do if I have issues adding my address?
We have a dedicated customer support team. Please contact support@holidayswap.com
How do I edit my listing and complete it to 100%?
Go to Profile, select your home and click Edit to make changes to your home listing and complete it.
How are the search results ordered and how can I appear higher?
The most active users get preference to appear higher in search results and least active users tend to appear further back in search. Use our Boost feature by spending your HS Points - this allows you to appear top of search results for a small fee.
How do I find a swaps?
  • After you've uploaded your home, you can begin looking for a swap in your favourite destinations.
  • Now, it is time to find a house for your next trip. First, click on “Explore” and type your desired destination to search box.
  • Faq-How-Do-I-Find-A-Swaps
  • Enter your destination, dates for your trip, the number of guests that will be accommodated, and lastly, select a rating for your possible host. Start to search!
    Faq-How-Do-I-Find-A-Swaps-1Faq-How-Do-I-Find-A-Swaps-2
  • You can view the full listing description by clicking on any of the results. The space description will be opened in a new tab/page, eliminating the need to return to the search and relaunch it, as the search page will stay open in a separate tab/page.
  • Faq-How-Do-I-Find-A-Swaps-3
    Now, you are ready for your next vacation!
How can I discuss the details of my exchange with my partner?
It is critical to discuss the details of the swap with your swap partner. Before finalising the swap, you must ask all of your questions and provide all relevant information about your home or stay to ensure that you are both on the exact same page.
Can hosts ask for extra fees?
No, they cannot ask for extra fees with the exception of local state or city taxes which sometimes need to be collected locally, in cash. If you face with this issue, please contact with our support team: support@holidayswap.com.
How can I be a great guest?
  • Congratulations! You have completed a transaction as a guest. Here are our best tips for preparing for your swap and ensuring that both you and your swap partner have always had the best experience possible:)
  • Communication is essential!
    Before your swap, do not be hesitant to ask your host each and every questions you may have and to reach an agreement on certain details: When is the most convenient time to arrive? When and where will you pick up the keys, and from where will you return them? Where can you get cleaning supplies? Do you have any special guidelines for a particular household appliance? What should you do with your old sheets or towels once you leave the house? Never make any payments outside of the platform as this put you at high risk.
  • Respect your host's residence.
    Remember the most important thing in Holiday Swap: treat your hosts' home as you would want them to treat yours, and follow their instructions:)
  • Leave your host's house in the same condition you found it (if not better!).
    Before leaving, give the house a thorough cleaning, air out the room, and leave the sheets and towels in the laundry basket, as agreed upon with your hosts. Take out the trash and double-check that there aren't any more dishes or glasses to be washed.
  • Also, if you notice a problem or accidentally break something, please notify your hosts immediately!
How much does the membership cost?
We only charge users from $10 per month, per person to swap or be a guest in another user’s home! We also two subscription plans that allow you to have unlimited free swaps with a guest for the term of your subscription!
What is included in the Holiday Swap Membership?
  • Everything on Holiday Swap for one low price.
  • Unlimited swaps on all your devices.
  • Don’t pay to stay when travelling.
  • Property damage protection.
  • 20% discount on token bookings.
  • Risk free.
What are the advantages of the membership?
  • Everything on Holiday Swap for one low price.
  • Unlimited swaps on all your devices.
  • No commitments, cancel anytime.
  • Don’t pay to stay when travelling.
  • 20% discount on token bookings.
  • Property damage protection.
Do I need to take the membership to host?
You can use the Lite version of the membership to host but still, we need to take your information to protect all of our users' safety and security.
How do I use a referral code?
You can click invite friends button at the en of your profile page. You can share your link. If your friends register to Holiday Swap, both of you will earn tokens and surprise gifts.
Faq-How-Do-I-Use-A-Referral-Code
How can I change my payment method?
To update your payment details, click on three lines in the top left corner.
Faq-How-Can-I-Change-My-Payment-Method
Click on “Payment Cards”.
Faq-How-Can-I-Change-My-Payment-Method-1
Click on add new card.
Click on “Payment Cards”.
Faq-How-Can-I-Change-My-Payment-Method-2
Lastly, enter your credit card information.
Click on add new card.
Click on “Payment Cards”.
Faq-How-Can-I-Change-My-Payment-Method-3
You can see your saved cards in the top right corner.
Can I finalize an exchange for a friend/extended family member using my account?
It’s advised to book and swap only on your behalf through your own account. Bookings/arrangements made for other people may not be covered by Terms and Guarantee.
How and why should I report a member?
If they are asking for your bank account information, payment outside the Holiday Swap app, detailed personal information. Please contact support@holidayswap.com .
How can I be sure this email is from Holiday Swap?
If you are not sure if the e-mail you received came from Holiday Swap, send the email to support@holidayswap.com forward it to our e-mail address. Our official emails will always end with @holidayswap.com
What do I do if a member asks me to pay outside of the Holiday Swap platform?
You should never make or accept payments outside the Holiday Swap app for your safety.
What do I do with my valuables during an swap?
  • Locking up your valuables is a great way to keep them safe.
  • If you have basement, an office, or a store room that can be locked, it is best to keep your belongings there for your peace of mind.
  • You may choose to keep small valuables on your person, such as jewelry.
  • The biggest risk with bigger valuable items that are difficult to transport is that your guests will break them. You can tell your guests ahead of time not to touch or use them, or you can put a "Do not touch" note or wrap them with a blanket.
What is the verification process?
You will be asked to verify your email and phone number for your own account security and so that we may contact you regarding your bookings. We also provide Know Your Guest procedures to verify the identity against a global database so that you have peace of mind with your Guests.
What are considered violations in Holiday Swap?
Please refer to the Acceptable Use policy located in our Terms and Conditions policy on the app. This can be found in the Help section.
Is my data and personal information safe?
Yes. We never store credit card information, and your address and personal information is secure. Please review our Privacy Policy for more information.
Will my chats be private?
With the exception of our Support Team, your chats will be private between yourself and the party you are chatting to or proposing to swap with. We will not sell or offer the information in private chats to third parties. Our Support Team will have sole access to user data and chat history in the scenario of a dispute between users or the breaching of Holiday Swap’s Terms and Conditions.
What do I do in case of damage?
You represent and warrant to us to take reasonable care to secure your valuables and obtain relevant insurance. The Company is not responsible for any damage, loss or theft during your trip.
What happens in the case of damages or disagreements?
See our Terms and Conditions to learn more. Users are strongly encouraged to subscribe to our Premium plan.
Guest: the home does not match the information from the listing?
Submit a claim for reimbursement under the Guarantee (a “Claim”), Subscriber must submit a Claim to support@holidayswap.com and provide evidence of their claim.
What to do in case of theft?
Report any incidences of theft to local police and to support@holidayswap.com and with any photographic evidence of the items within 7 days of the trip.
How can I cancel a swap as a guest / host?
A user is permitted to cancel a swap, but if they cancel within 7 days they will forfeit any service fees paid. If the User cancels without a valid reason, we reserve the right to make the Property unavailable or blocked for the dates of the canceled booking. A genuine and legitimate concern of the Impacted User’s behaviour will be deemed as a valid reason, in addition to any of the hereunder extenuating circumstances. See our Terms and Conditions to learn more. Users are strongly encouraged to subscribe to our Premium plan
What happens when I am a guest and I have to cancel?
A user may cancel a swap or booking, but if they do so within 7 days, they forfeit any service fees paid. We reserve the right to make the Property unavailable or blocked for the dates of the canceled booking if the User cancels without a valid reason. In addition to any of the extenuating circumstances listed below, a genuine and legitimate concern about the Impacted User's behaviour will be considered a valid reason. For more information, please see our Terms and Conditions. Users are strongly encouraged to subscribe to our Trip Cancellation Guarantee. Please see our Guarantee Terms for more information.
What happens if my host cancels?
You can contact support@holidayswap.com to make a claim.
In case of cancellation, can I get a refund for any payments I made to Holiday Swap?
You need to provide true reasons for cancellations and proof of reasons. After the subscriber has properly and fully submitted a Claim, including all documentation and information, we will determine, in our sole discretion, if the Subscriber has suffered an Approved Loss. If we determine that Subscriber has suffered an Approved Loss, we will accept the Claim, make reasonable efforts to notify Subscriber via the email associated with Subscriber’s account or otherwise through the App of our acceptance of the Claim within forty-eight (48) hours of such acceptance.