Testimonials. They exchanged their accommodation for the holidays: "It's a huge saving."

Thomas, 33, from Riedisheim (Haut-Rhin), hesitated before taking the plunge and embarking on a home exchange: "It was a bit strange to think that strangers would come and spend a few days in my house, while I was away. But ultimately, travelers are kind and take care of the home they are staying in," he confides. Véronique, 59, from Redon (Ille-et-Vilaine), also hesitated for a long time: "I had to overcome the anxiety of giving up my space to strangers. But very quickly, the fear of theft and damage evaporated to make way for the exchange in all its dimensions," says the woman who has since done 42 exchanges!

As for Pascal, 64, from Dizy (Marne), he's a regular at the formula he's been using for 25 years with Intervac. "We've done 63 exchanges all over Europe and also in France. What motivated us was the economic aspect, the comfort, as well as the fact of being completely immersed in people's lives and not in a center where all the tourists are grouped together," he explains. For Hélène, 65, from Lyon (Rhône), this type of stay has simply allowed her to take off. "We would never have been able to travel so much without this formula," says the woman who has been using it for 10 years. The same goes for Thomas: "We've made huge savings and we can find accommodations we wouldn't have been able to afford, like a super-well-located apartment in Miami," he explains.

Some have been to the four corners of the world, like Véronique: "From New York to Reykjavik via Berlin, Prague, Amsterdam, Vienna, Salzburg, in a house or an apartment, each place was a discovery. This summer we are going to Spain to Alicante by the sea for a house with a swimming pool," she rejoices.

Besides being a good economic option, home exchange is also a unique experience, according to Denis, 67, from La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin (Loiret): "It's a real immersion in another environment! Houses tell the story of a country, its way of life, its daily life better than any guide or blog," he believes. "Finding yourself in a house is not like being in a hotel. It's living in a place, going shopping as if you lived there, interacting with the neighbors. It's putting on the slippers of this new space for a given time," summarizes Véronique.

And sometimes, connections are made between hosts and their guests. "I appreciate all the little touches, the information on what's interesting and what's a tourist trap, the sharing of favorite places, the tips...", says Yanne, 64, from Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône). "We've had some wonderful encounters, some of which have turned into friendships," says Pascal, already quoted. "Each time we've met respectful and very friendly people," says Vincent, 47, from Dijon (Côte-d'Or), who intends to repeat the experience!