Spoiler: People Like Us can be addictive!
I joined on a whim. Two months, four swaps, and countless new friends later… I’m never looking back.
I joined PLU just two months ago, and wow, what a ride it’s been!
Before I met a wonderful fellow PLUer somewhere in the middle of the Coral Sea on a cruise from New Zealand to Australia, I had never even heard of home exchanging. Since then, I’ve hosted three times, been a guest once, and each experience has been fun, rewarding, and reaffirmed that this is a brilliant way to travel and meet wonderful people. The PLU community really is something special.
Some highlights and lessons from my (still rookie) time here:
Start Local, They Said… And They Were Right.
One of the best pieces of advice from wise, seasoned PLU-ers was to begin with local exchanges. Especially in sprawling countries like the USA, this makes total sense. Exchanging locally means you can build reviews, gain confidence, and enjoy more frequent swaps without crossing oceans or time zones. My first exchanges were all within driving distance, and they were easy and absolutely lovely.
About Those Globes and Plutos…
Yes, I’ve seen the debates. But honestly? These little tokens are pretty magical. Not every exchange can be simultaneous or even non-simultaneous. Sometimes members just want to (or can only) go to a place at a specific time and that can happen with the help of a globe or a Pluto. They’ve already helped me make possible some exchanges that otherwise would’ve stayed in the “maybe someday” folder.
The Facebook Group: More Than Just Pretty Pictures.
If you’re not active in the PLU Facebook community, you’re missing out. It’s not only the best place to learn the ropes, but it’s also where many exchange opportunities pop up. Bonus: the dreamy travel photos and trip recaps will have you daydreaming of places you hadn’t even thought to put on your list (and suddenly need to go ASAP).
To Future Members Lurking Here…
Just join! Seriously, dive in and give it a shot. PLU members are warm, helpful, and full of wisdom. BUT (and this is a big one!) don’t make my rookie mistake: do not join with a travel calendar that’s already bursting at the seams. I did that, and now I spend my days wistfully reading amazing exchange offers I can’t accept because I packed my calendar tighter than a carry-on at the end of a three-week trip. Lesson learned: PLU will likely become my main mode of travel going forward. But for now, I’m squeezing what I can into the tiny cracks left in my 2025 and 2026 plans. Darn it!
Here’s to more swaps, fewer regrets, and someday actually using those Globes and Plutos I am accumulating! Until then, I promise to give them a good home.
People Like Us is the world's most trusted home exchange community. We believe in sharing, trust, generosity, respect, communication, equality, cooperation, honesty, hospitality, friendship, flexibility and adventure. We take pride in our homes and we care about the environment in which we live: our village, city, country and our planet. We care about the ethos of home exchange and we do it because we love the experience and the friendships that it generates.
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