One woman and her husband have managed to save hundreds of pounds on accommodation for the Paris Olympics - by exchanging their home.
Penny Benford, 57, has chosen to swap her home to attend the Paris Olympics for two weeks this summer. Via the home swapping service HomeExchange, Penny will be attending a number of different events at the Paris Olympics having only paid for the tickets and flights.
Saving hundreds of pounds by choosing to swap her home in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, Penny has avoided the stress of finding accommodation in Paris, close to where the events are taking place and without spending a fortune.
Similar to Airbnb, users can search for different properties across 145 different locations and choose which property they would like to stay in by how good its reviews are. Penny explained how most users will then open a dialogue and communicate to allow the guest and homeowner to get to know each other.
Living her life similar to the concept in the film, The Holiday, Penny has been exchanging her home since July 2023. With her husband, Penny has visited multiple locations including Barcelona, Madrid and Malaga in Spain.
"You've got to be a good host as well. So maybe you'll leave a bottle of wine," revealed Penny. "You have to be a brave person, you have to be trusting, but it is about asking the right questions."
The couple will be at the Paris Olympics for two weeks, where they will see women's football, men's football and rugby sevens. They are also hoping that the Olympics will extend outside the stadium and onto the streets, to enjoy the atmosphere of the events taking place in the French capital.
When staying in different places, the couple have also enjoyed inviting family and friends to stay with them, with the homeowners permission. Penny expressed how this allows them to spend time with their family and friends, while no one has to spend huge amounts on accommodation.
Jessica Poillucci from HomeExchange said: "Understandably massive global events such as the Olympics and the host city, draw people from all corners of the world, putting significant pressure on accommodation and leading to astronomical prices out of reach for so many of us.
"What HomeExchange aims to do is give consumers wanting to attend these 'once in a lifetime' events, a very affordable accommodation solution all whilst giving individuals from the host city the opportunity to explore further afield at a time when the city is bound to be exceptionally busy.
"It's a win-win situation for everyone involved and ultimately means that people don't miss out on these spectacular global events, as a result of overpriced accommodation."
There are two types of exchanges available for members: reciprocal and non-reciprocal. A reciprocal exchange is when two members swap homes with each other, whether simultaneously or on different dates. But it is also possible to have a non-reciprocal exchange using GuestPoints.
"Home swapping offers a significantly more authentic experience than other forms of more traditional accommodation. For example, our members like to share recommendations on where to go, tips on the area and how best to explore the part of the world in which they've arrived," Jessica added.
"These are the things that you ultimately seek most when exploring a new town, city or country. Because our members share their real homes, you can live like a local in a home full of life with a unique identity which is a truly special experience."
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