Quiénes somos y por qué hacemos esto
Una presentación amistosa para los nuevos miembros y un recordatorio amable para quienes llevan aquí un tiempo
Drew
17 jun 2026 · 3 min de lectura
Hay algo que decir sobre hacer pausas ocasionales para preguntarte qué tipo de viaje quieres realmente más. No solo a dónde ir después, sino cómo quieres experimentarlo. Quién quieres ser cuando llegues.
Si has descubierto recientemente People Like Us, bienvenido. Nos alegra que nos hayas encontrado. Y para nuestros miembros que llevan aquí un tiempo: esta también es para vosotros.
Empezó de forma sencilla
PLU no nació de una gran estrategia ni de una plataforma de pitch. Todo empezó con dos personas —Kathy y yo— que adoraban viajar, querían hacerlo más y descubrieron que el intercambio de casas no era solo una forma de reducir costes. Era una forma completamente diferente de experimentar el mundo.
Lo que empezó como algo que pensaban que podría ayudar a unos pocos amigos a viajar más fácilmente se convirtió en algo que ninguno de nosotros esperaba: una comunidad de personas que comparten una creencia genuina en la confianza, la generosidad y la curiosidad real... Sobre lugares, sí, pero más aún sobre personas.
Qué hace diferente a PLU
Cuando intercambias casa con otro miembro, no solo estás resolviendo el problema del alojamiento. Estás entrando en la vida de otra persona por un tiempo. Vas a la cafetería a la que van andando los sábados por la mañana. El vecino que saluda. El atajo por el parque. El restaurante que no tiene cartel, pero siempre tiene cola.
Eso es otro tipo de viaje. Y suele dejar una impresión diferente.
La parte que ocurre después
La conexión no termina cuando termina el viaje. Los miembros vuelven y comparten lo que han encontrado. Transmiten consejos, intercambian recomendaciones, a veces forman amistades que duran años más que el intercambio. Lo que empieza como un plan de viaje suele convertirse en parte de una historia más larga.
PLU trabaja porque nuestros miembros son generosos, no solo con sus hogares, sino también con su tiempo, su conocimiento y su disposición a confiar lo suficiente en un desconocido como para entregarnos la llave de la puerta principal.
Un tipo de viaje más tranquilo
No faltan contenidos de viajes. Plataformas, rankings, recomendaciones: todo optimizado para clics. PLU siempre ha sido algo más tranquilo. Un lugar donde el mejor consejo viene de alguien que realmente ha estado ahí, se ha quedado bien y quiere contarte con sinceridad cómo fue.
Menos sobre consumir viajes. Más sobre vivirlo.
A donde vayas
Tanto si llevas años formando parte de esta Comunidad como si acabas de empezar, este es un recordatorio suave de para qué estamos aquí: viajar con reflexión, conectar honestamente y explorar con mentes abiertas y puertas abiertas.
Nos alegra mucho que estés aquí. 🏡
El nuevo feed de PLU está aquí — y es nuestro
SiguienteConocí a un miembro de la PLU en un andén de tren. Me encantaría encontrarla
Comentarios (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 ❤️