Why Home Exchange is a Game-Changer for Women Traveling Solo

Home exchange offers unique benefits for solo female travelers—ones that can make travel not just more affordable, but also richer, safer, and more connected.

Home exchange is often seen as a perfect solution for families—and for good reason. It offers the comfort of a real home instead of a cramped hotel room or impersonal rental, lets you experience life in a local neighborhood, and helps save on accommodation costs while ensuring your home isn’t left empty while you travel.

But what about women traveling solo? It turns out, home exchange offers even more unique benefits for solo female travelers—ones that can make travel not just more affordable, but also richer, safer, and more connected.

Not Alone, But Not in a Tour Group Either

Solo travel doesn’t always mean wanting to be alone. But not everyone enjoys joining group tours, where you spend every moment surrounded by fellow travelers—many of whom come from your own country. Home exchange offers a perfect middle ground. You get the freedom and independence of solo travel while tapping into a built-in local connection: your exchange partner.

 

Don’t Just Visit Like a Local—Live Like One

Home exchange is a doorway to more meaningful travel. Your exchange partner will be happy to share insider tips that guidebooks and travel websites miss. What’s the best café where locals start their mornings? Which festivals, concerts, or hidden beaches do residents love? What hiking trails, bike routes, or community events shouldn’t be missed?

Rather than experiencing a destination from the perspective of a tourist, home exchange helps you become part of the local rhythm—creating opportunities for deeper interactions and a more authentic experience.

 

Safety First: A Community That Has Your Back

Safety is a top concern for many. In fact, according to the Solo Female Traveler 2024 Survey, 70% of respondents expressed concerns about staying safe while traveling alone.

Home exchange offers a reassuring alternative. You’ll stay in a real home, in a neighborhood chosen by a fellow traveler who values safety just as much as you do. Before committing, you can communicate openly with potential exchange partners about safety in their area. Reviews from past guests and active Facebook groups—like People Like Us’ dedicated member communities—also provide insights and support.

And when you’re away? You won’t be leaving an empty house behind. Your exchange partner will keep an eye on things, water your plants, and even take care of your pet if arranged in advance. Many PLU members are pet lovers who see home exchange as an opportunity to enjoy a furry companion while traveling. 

No More Solo Traveler Price Penalty

One of the biggest challenges for solo travelers is cost. The Solo Female Traveler 2024 Survey found that 65% of respondents cited higher expenses as a major barrier to traveling alone.

Hotels rarely offer significant discounts for solo guests, and vacation rentals charge the same price whether one person stays or a whole family does. Home exchange eliminates this issue entirely. Once you’ve set up an exchange, accommodation costs you nothing. Your biggest expense is simply getting there.

The Comfort of a Real Home

Home exchange properties vary from seaside villas to cozy city apartments, but they all have one thing in common: they’re real homes, designed for everyday living—not generic, impersonal rentals.

That means books on the shelves, spices in the kitchen, artwork on the walls, and often a warm welcome note waiting for you. Unlike hotels or short-term rentals, where the experience can feel transactional, home exchange fosters a sense of connection. By the time you finalize an exchange, you’ll be on a first-name basis with your exchange partner, chatting like old friends.

And that? That’s priceless.

If you want to connect with fellow Solo Women Travelers, join our friendly community.



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Alexandra

My husband Patrice and myself are experienced home exchangers and we love it. We are dreaming of a time when we will be able to travel the world and home exchange... all year round. We are starting slowly, one exchange at a time
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