Who We Are, and Why We Do This
A friendly introduction for new members and a gentle reminder for those who've been here a while
Drew
Jun 17, 2026 · 3 min read
There's something to be said for pausing occasionally to ask yourself what kind of travel you actually want more of. Not just where to go next, but how you want to experience it. Who you want to be when you get there.
If you've recently discovered People Like Us, welcome. We're glad you found us. And for our members who have been here a while: this one's for you too.
It started simply
PLU wasn't born from a grand strategy or a pitch deck. It started with two people - Kathy and me - who loved to travel, wanted to do more of it, and discovered that home exchange wasn't just a way to reduce costs. It was a completely different way of experiencing the world.
What began as something they thought might help a few friends travel more easily grew into something none of us quite expected: a community of people who share a genuine belief in trust, generosity, and real curiosity .. about places, yes, but more so about people.
What makes PLU different
When you exchange homes with another member, you're not just solving the accommodation problem. You're stepping into someone else's life for a little while. You're getting the coffee shop they walk to on Saturday mornings. The neighbour who waves. The shortcut through the park. The restaurant that doesn't have a sign but always has a queue.
That's a different kind of travel. And it tends to leave a different kind of impression.
The bit that happens after
The connection doesn't end when the trip does. Members come back and share what they found. They pass on advice, swap recommendations, sometimes form friendships that outlast the exchange by years. What starts as a travel plan often becomes part of a longer story.
PLU works because our members are generous, not just with their homes, but with their time, their knowledge, and their willingness to trust a stranger enough to hand over a front door key.
A quieter kind of travel
There's no shortage of travel content out there. Platforms, rankings, recommendations - all of it optimised for clicks. PLU has always been something quieter. A place where the best advice comes from someone who's actually been there, stayed properly, and wants to tell you honestly what it was like.
Less about consuming travel. More about living it.
Wherever you're headed
Whether you've been part of this Community for years or you're just getting started, this is a gentle reminder of what we're here for: to travel thoughtfully, connect honestly, and explore with open minds and open doors.
We're really glad you're here. 🏡
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Comments (28)
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I'm very excited to see what comes from this international roll of the dice and new field of interaction....What a great concept! Lots of gratitude for the company visionaries that began this...and for all of you who have been doing this and have brought it to where it is today! Thank YOU!!
Thank you, Catherine!
Wonderfully said! This is the vibe we picked up when we started following the PLU Facebook page. It felt warm and welcoming, so we took the plunge and joined. We’re so glad we did!
It’s really a unique community. For example, we are going to Montreal for the jazz festival. Our PLU host had no plans to not be at their home. However, when they got my request, they made arrangements to be away so they could accommodate our requests. So much is accomplished with just friendly communications and PLU family generosity. Thanks Drew and Kathy for creating this community.
Tout a été dit dans les commentaires précédents avec lesquels je suis en parfaite accord. Quoi dire de plus qu’un GROS MERCI grand comme l’univers. à Drew et Kathy ❤️
We have been PLU members since the early days. We have only completed one simultaneous exchange, and a 2nd family will be staying in our home next week. We had planned to travel much more, but life got in the way. I still value being part of this amazing community, and I know our time will come. I can't wait to exchange more, be part of a meet-up, and contribute more too! Thanks for everything all of our members do to take care of each other during disasters, wars, AND good times too.
It’s good that you put up these little “why we do it” reminders every now and then. Helps us remember the big picture. It’s about people like us.
Thank you for creating and curating this safe space for exchanging our homes, and lives, with each other. I am proud to be among all of you, ambassadors of aloha. The more we trust, we more we receive. I am grateful!
Couldn’t be truer Kathy & Drew! It’s such a privilege to stay in someone’s home and for others to enjoy our home. We’re so pleased to have found PLU ❤️
I've really enjoyed this platform! Thank you for the thoughtful way you have approached it!
And so much more. A little bit of clothes detergent, a potato peeler, a tiny splash of oil, a café recommendation, a secret little beach, a comfy chair in a sunny spot. The trust we share, the love we feel … it’s all about the the personal touches❣️ And all this love and generosity and trust starts from the top. Thanks for sharing your dream Drew and Kathy❤️💛👏
And I am glad to be part of it. Thank you!
What a lovely message, Drew! We’re founding members too, and since joining PLU we’ve enjoyed so many wonderful swaps. Along the way, we’ve met some truly kind and caring people who have become real friends over the years. We stay in touch even when we don’t have a swap planned, simply because we enjoy sharing life’s happy moments together. To us, PLU feels like one big family — a family where everyone has a special place in someone else’s heart. Thank you for creating such a warm and amazing community!
After making connections years ago on PLU, there are faces in this photo that I’m still looking forward to meeting in person one day. Such a great community you’ve created Drew & Kathy
Great article and PLU has enabled us to meet some amazing friends in many places in the last 2 yrs. We’ve only done 2 actual home exchanges but have been grateful for local “tours”, meals, and the friendships in over 10 locations - just honest people all sharing their cities/towns little gems. Absolutely love the concept. PLU for the win. Now, if only I could retire and do more travel!!
Exactly as home exchange should be. Thanks Drew and Kathy. Our journey over 25 years of home exchanging is only enhanced by PLU.
Yes We are thankful for the opportunities that this community shares,. Really love the way people help others when there’s suddenly a problem. We even change /repair some things in our home , saying „ this will be good for our future guests „.
In the short time since we joined we’ve found exactly what you’ve highlighted Drew. Friendly, inclusive and trusting I will be recommending PLU far and wide. Well done, Tania and I are very grateful for this wonderful site
Well said Drew and Kathy! All true and meaningful. Something else I'd say is that a large piece of the experience is seeing your home and area through other people's eyes, the delight of sharing your life. It's not just enjoying your experience of living somewhere else. It's thinking about someone else sharing your place and what we have made for ourselves here
So glad you had the idea and ran with it all those years ago Drew and Kathy. PLU truly is unlike anything else out there and we are immensely grateful to be a part of it. Thank you
What a beautiful post! Reflects everything we feel about PLU and humanity at large. I suggest you guys be presented with the Nobel Peace Prize 🏆. Long live our noble Drew and Kathy!
Yes, all of the above. PLU has truly enriched our life. And about those friendships? Yes, we had a lovely meeting very recently, with three friends we made through exchanging, and within two weeks we'll have friends staying for the weekend. We exchanged with them in South Korea many years ago. What more proof does one need? So many that we still chat with, meet occasionally, are in touch with.
I've found PLU in th early days and jumped on board staight away. I'm a Founding member and though I was already on another platform, PLU is my Go To place. I've had amazing travel adventures, meet amazing people and gained invaluable friendships over the years. Travelling with home Exchange has change things fosr my in so many ways and as a mentor i'm happy to help new members of to a good start that will get them hooked in the same way I am. And no matter how ctazy a lot people think i am for opening my home, trust strangers etc. I honestly don't care, as home exchanging is such a rewarding way of life on all accounts <3 So am grateful for Drew and Kathys dream they dared to pursue and fullfill <3 <3 <3
So true about friendship that span years. I still regularly chat to past exchangers. They are still very much part of life . I'm immensely grateful for the enrichment PLU has brought.
PLU has changed the way we travel forever. I love stepping into someone’s world and making relationships for life. Thank you Drew & Kathy ❤️
So glad to be a part of this community. Here's to many more years of travel and friendships to come.
Love this and love being a part of this community! Thank you Drew, Kathy, and team!
So well said Drew and so very true ❤️