Remember when Airbnb felt like an adventure? These 5 services still do
November 8, 2026 · Rendezvous team · 4 min de lecture
Remember when Airbnb meant a spare room and a host who told you where to get breakfast? If you're looking for Airbnb alternatives that still feel like that, skip the usual lists of big booking sites.
These five services put you in someone's real home, and they can cut the cost of your stay. Each one asks for something in return: your own home, a bit of flexibility or some time with a dog. Prices below were checked in November 2026.
Kindred: host one night, earn one night
Kindredlivekindred.com
Kindred is a home-swap community built on credits. Each night you host earns a night in another member's home, and you don't have to swap at the same time.
- Where: about 200 cities in North America and Europe.
- Cost: no membership or nightly fees. You pay cleaning and a service fee per trip.
- You need: to apply and verify your home. Renters are welcome if it's their primary residence, and you can book up to 5 nights before you host.
- Best for: city people with a place to swap.
HomeExchange: swap directly or collect points
HomeExchangehomeexchange.com
HomeExchange is the flat-fee option. Swap homes directly with another member, or host and collect points for a stay later.
- Where: 155 countries.
- Cost: $235 a year for unlimited exchanges. The price can vary by region.
- You need: a profile and a home listing. There's no application.
- Best for: families and longer trips.
MeetCiao: rent a local's home while they're away
MeetCiaomeetciao.com
MeetCiao is a members-only community of people renting out their own homes while they travel. You're paying a local, not a property manager, and the rates reflect that.
- Where: cities like Paris, London, Lisbon, Berlin and Amsterdam.
- Cost: membership is about €22.99 for 12 months or about €12 for 3 months. Sample listings show about €50 a night in Lisbon. You leave a deposit with MeetCiao, which charges 5% of it, then pay the host on arrival.
- You need: to apply to join. New members are checked, and stays usually run from 1 week to 3 months.
- Best for: a month somewhere new.
TrustedHousesitters: free stays for pet lovers
TrustedHousesitterstrustedhousesitters.com
On TrustedHousesitters, you look after someone's dog or cat and stay in their home for free. You pay for the membership, and the dates and the pets are the owner's call.
- Where: worldwide, with most listings in the US and UK.
- Cost: from about $129 a year, plus about $12 per sit on the lower plans.
- You need: a paid plan, a profile and a real love of animals.
- Best for: flexible travelers who miss their dog.
Nomador: house sitting with a lower entry price
Nomadornomador.com
Nomador is another way to house sit and care for pets, and it's strongest in Europe. The short plan makes it an easy way to test the idea.
- Where: most listings are in France and the rest of Europe.
- Cost: about €89 a year, or about €34 for 3 months.
- You need: nothing to browse. You pay to apply for sits.
- Best for: trying house sitting without a full year.
Which one should you pick?
- You have a home to offer: start with Kindred or HomeExchange.
- You don't want to host anyone: MeetCiao works like a normal rental, at a local's price.
- You're flexible and love animals: try Nomador for 3 months, then move to TrustedHousesitters if you want more choice in the US and UK.
None of these is a good fit for a last-minute weekend. Members and owners decide who stays, so give yourself time to send a few requests. For more ways to stay cheaply, see our guide to saving money on accommodation, or browse our 50 favorite travel websites.
Going with friends?
Be honest about the size of the group first. Home swaps and rentals depend on one real home, so check the beds before anyone gets excited. House sits usually suit one or two people, so they're rarely the answer for a big group.
Sorted the stay? Now get your friends to agree. With Rendezvous, you share one link, everyone answers a few quick questions, and the group votes on dates and the city.
Questions fréquentes
What is the best alternative to Airbnb?
It depends on what you can offer in return. If you have a home to host in, Kindred and HomeExchange replace most of the nightly cost. If you don't, MeetCiao rents out locals' homes in cities like Paris and Lisbon, and TrustedHousesitters and Nomador offer free stays in exchange for pet care.
Can you swap homes if you rent?
Yes, on some services. Kindred says renters can join as long as the home is their primary residence, though members still need to apply and be accepted. Before you host anyone, check that your lease allows guests or short stays, because the rules vary by landlord and city.
Is house sitting really free?
The stay is free, but the membership isn't. TrustedHousesitters costs from about $129 a year and Nomador from about €89 a year, or about €34 for 3 months. In return you care for the owner's pets and home on their dates, so it suits flexible travelers best.
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