Chi siamo e perché lo facciamo
Un'introduzione amichevole per i nuovi membri e un gentile promemoria per chi è qui da un po'
Drew
17 giu 2026 · 3 min di lettura
C'è qualcosa da dire nel fermarsi ogni tanto per chiedersi che tipo di viaggio si desidera davvero di più. Non solo dove andare dopo, ma come vuoi viverlo. Chi vuoi essere quando ci arrivi.
Se hai scoperto di recente People Like Us, benvenuto. Siamo felici che ci abbiate trovati. E per i nostri membri che sono qui da un po': anche questo è per voi.
È iniziato in modo semplice
PLU non è nato da una grande strategia o da un pitch deck. Tutto è iniziato con due persone - Kathy ed io - che amavano viaggiare, volevano farne di più e hanno scoperto che lo scambio di casa non era solo un modo per ridurre i costi. Era un modo completamente diverso di vivere il mondo.
Quello che era iniziato come qualcosa che pensavano potesse aiutare qualche amico a viaggiare più facilmente, è diventato qualcosa che nessuno di noi si aspettava: una comunità di persone che condividono una genuina convinzione nella fiducia, nella generosità e nella vera curiosità... Di luoghi, sì, ma più di tutto delle persone.
Cosa rende la PLU diversa
Quando scambi casa con un altro membro, non stai solo risolvendo il problema dell'alloggio. Stai entrando nella vita di qualcun altro per un po'. Prenderai il bar dove vanno a piedi il sabato mattina. Il vicino che saluta. La scorciatoia attraverso il parco. Il ristorante che non ha cartello ma ha sempre una fila.
È un tipo di viaggio diverso. E tende a lasciare un'impressione diversa.
La parte che succede dopo
La connessione non finisce quando il viaggio finisce. I membri tornano e condividono ciò che hanno trovato. Passano consigli, si scambiano raccomandazioni, a volte formano amicizie che durano di anni oltre lo scambio. Ciò che inizia come un piano di viaggio spesso diventa parte di una storia più lunga.
PLU funziona perché i nostri membri sono generosi, non solo con le loro case, ma anche con il loro tempo, la loro conoscenza e la loro disponibilità a fidarsi abbastanza di uno sconosciuto da consegnare la chiave della porta d'ingresso.
Un tipo di viaggio più tranquillo
Non mancano i contenuti di viaggio disponibili. Piattaforme, classifiche, raccomandazioni - tutto ottimizzato per i click. PLU è sempre stata qualcosa di più silenzioso. Un posto dove i migliori consigli arrivano da qualcuno che ci è passato davvero, che è rimasto come si deve, e vuole raccontarti onestamente com'è stato.
Meno sul consumare viaggi. Più di come viverlo.
Ovunque tu stia andando
Che tu faccia parte di questa Comunità da anni o che tu stia appena iniziando, questo è un dolce promemoria di ciò per cui siamo qui: viaggiare con attenzione, connetterci onestamente ed esplorare con mente e porte aperte.
Siamo davvero felici che tu sia qui. 🏡
Il nuovo feed PLU è qui — ed è il nostro
SuccessivaHo incontrato un membro della PLU su una banchina ferroviaria. Mi piacerebbe trovarla
Commenti (28)
Accedi per unirti alla conversazione.
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 ❤️