Each year, millions of people worldwide exchange homes and enjoy a different type of holiday, saving a considerable amount on accommodations and also experiencing life in a foreign destination as a “local” instead of a tourist, according to the Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH).

Instead of staying at a hotel, you stay in someone else’s home while they stay in yours — for a long weekend, a week, or even longer. For budget-minded travelers, swapping homes is one of the best ways to experience a new place and save money at the same time. And who doesn’t prefer a spacious house to one room in a hotel?

Exchange properties can range from a simple studio in a busy cosmopolitan area to a more luxurious beachside property.

Most home exchangers swap their primary residence, and the exchange usually (but not always) occurs simultaneously: Both families vacation at the same time and stay in each other’s home during the same period.

SATH partnered with 1sthomeexchange.com to introduce this travel alternative to its members.

For more information, visit sath.org.