Home swaps are becoming very popular
Home swapping is booming as property exchanges more than double in 2012 and hotel popularity is on the decline as 55 per cent of holidaymakers choose to rent or home swap.
With more than half of the UK population (55 per cent) expressing concerns about being able to afford a holiday in 2013, social travel is one trend that is really striking a chord with would-be holidaymakers.
Research released by home exchange site Love Home Swap has found that home swapping more than doubled in popularity between 2011 and 2012 - rising from 1.6 million to 3.3 million Brits who are home swapping for their holidays. The sector is expected to explode as we move into 2013, with one in four saying they were keen to embrace this most collaborative of holiday solutions next year.
The research, conducted by OnePoll, also reveals that for the first time, the non-hotel sector has overtaken the more traditional hotel route as the top way to holiday, with more than half of those questioned (55 per cent) stating that they actively chose not to holiday in hotels in 2012, opting instead for a home swap or a rental property.
The key factor in the rising popularity of home swapping seems to be cost saving, with 61 per cent of consumers citing savings on accommodation as the main reason for choosing a home swap over a hotel stay. The boom currently taking place within Social Travel is another major trend, with a fifth of Brits saying that they would choose not to stay in a hotel because they are looking for a more ‘local Travel experience’.
Debbie Wosskow, founder of Love Home Swap, said: “Our members save an average of £2,202 per home swap, so I’m not surprised that social travel is growing so quickly, as families look to make big savings on their travel budgets.
“Local travel is the other hot trend we’re seeing. Love Home Swap members often share insider tips with each other on the best things to see, eat, visit and do in their neighbourhood – hand-picked insights you wouldn't get from even the best travel guide.”
Love Home Swap has seen the size of its property portfolio increase nine-fold in 2012 and is expected to have 10,000 stylish properties listed for exchange in 110 countries worldwide by the end of this year.
For more information visit www.lovehomeswap.com
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