Now that you’re retired, you want to see the world. Visiting all the places that have been waiting patiently on your bucket list. Being retired also means living on a fixed income, which doesn’t typically coincide with expensive travel plans. So how can you live out your dreams without overshooting your budget? ChatGPT shared this travel hack that could save retirees hundreds of dollars on vacations.
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What House Swapping Is
One of the biggest travel costs you’ll encounter is hotel accommodations. In the United States, a one-week hotel stay costs an average of $1,197, according to BudgetYourTrip. But what if there was a way to skip a pricey hotel stay and live like a local in your desired destination? Enter: house swapping.
You can list your home and arrange simultaneous or non-simultaneous exchanges with people worldwide. So, instead of paying for lodging, you stay in someone’s home while they stay in yours. The only recurring cost is the membership fee of the home exchange platform you decide to use, which is often a flat annual fee. For example, the Home Exchange platform has an annual membership fee of $235, which allows you unlimited exchanges throughout the year. Even if you only did one week-long home swap, that would save you approximately $962.
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Why It Makes Sense for Retirees
Compared to other “cheap travel” hacks like last-minute flights and credit card reward churning, home swapping is low-stress, low-upfront cost and scales especially well for longer stays. In terms of the travel experience, it’s similar to booking an Airbnb, but at a fraction of the price. Plus, you may already own a home that’s attractive to swappers. These communities love to see stable neighborhoods, full kitchens, Wi-Fi and locations near popular tourist spots.
However, that doesn’t mean your home has to look like it belongs in Architectural Digest. As long as it’s clutter-free and accurately represented on the site, you may still find a good level of interest. You also don’t need to own your home to participate. If you’re leasing, you’ll need to get your landlord or leasing company to sign off on an agreement that allows you to use the property for this purpose.
How To Get Started
If you’re interested in using this travel hack to cut the cost of your vacations, there are a few steps ChatGPT suggested you do to prepare:
- Price out insurance. Check whether your homeowner’s policy covers swaps or buy a short top-up policy
- Do a maintenance check. Service your HVAC, appliances, smoke alarms and Wi-Fi before guests arrive to prevent mid-swap headaches
- Declutter and secure valuables. Tidy up around the house and make sure there’s a secure place to store sentimental items or valuables at home or off-site.
- Vet the other party. Use platforms with reviews, verified IDs and clear messaging. Suggest a video walk-through before committing.
- House rules and emergency info. Put together a small guidebook for guests, complete with house rules, points of interest and emergency information.
- Accessibility and medical needs. Make sure the swapped home suits mobility, meds storage and other considerations before solidifying plans.
There are several home swapping platforms you could use to try this travel hack for yourself. However, you don’t have to start swapping homes with total strangers yet if that’s too far out of your comfort zone. Start small by swapping homes with your family or friends to test it out. If you want to try home swapping for yourself, check out the reputable platforms below.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: This ChatGPT Travel Hack Saves Retirees Hundreds on Vacations
