How We Turn One Palm Springs Condo into a Year of Travel with HomeExchange
When we first joined HomeExchange, we simply wanted to make better use of our Palm Springs condo while we were traveling.
What began as “Let’s try one exchange” quickly became an important part of how we plan our trips. In less than two years, we completed 23 exchanges as both hosts and guests.
By welcoming travelers into our Palm Springs home, we earn GuestPoints that can later be used for stays in other members’ homes. This has helped us enjoy Southern California road trips, longer visits to the Twin Cities, and repeat stays in places that already feel familiar.
Why we joined
We love our Palm Springs condo, but we also love traveling.
Rather than leaving our home empty while we were away, we wanted it to help create new travel opportunities. Palm Springs is especially popular during the winter, making it a great place to host HomeExchange guests.
By hosting travelers, we earn GuestPoints that can be used later. The exchange does not always need to happen between the same two households or on the same dates.
We can host someone in Palm Springs during one part of the year and use the points months later for a completely different destination.
Our home became more than the place we returned to after traveling. It became part of how we traveled.
From one exchange to 23
Our first exchange was an experiment.
We wanted to see whether we would feel comfortable welcoming guests into our home and staying in someone else’s home instead of booking a hotel.
The process was easier and more personal than we expected. Clear communication, accurate listings, helpful instructions, and respectful guests made each exchange feel comfortable.
One exchange soon became several. In less than two years, we completed 23 exchanges.
Some were short road trips. Others allowed us to spend more time near family or return to cities we already loved.
Instead of always asking, “Which hotel should we book?” we began asking, “Where could HomeExchange take us next?”
Being both hosts and guests
We believe being guests has helped us become better hosts.
When welcoming travelers to our Palm Springs condo, we describe it honestly as our single-story slice of heaven. Guests can enjoy mountain views, convenient access to the pool and hot tub, and a location close to downtown Palm Springs.
We focus on comfort, cleanliness, and location rather than trying to make the property sound more luxurious than it is.
As guests, we appreciate hosts who do the same.
We look for homes that match their descriptions, clear arrival instructions, and friendly communication. We treat every home as something borrowed from a friend, not as a free hotel room.
What a typical year looks like
Winter is one of the most popular seasons in Palm Springs.
Visitors come for the sunshine, hiking, golf, architecture, outdoor dining, and local events. When we are traveling during this period, we may welcome HomeExchange guests and earn GuestPoints for future stays.
During Southern California’s shoulder seasons, we enjoy destinations that are close enough to reach by car.
Our exchanges have helped us visit places such as:
- San Diego
- Santa Barbara
- San Clemente
- Escondido
- Paso Robles
- Sugarloaf
Sometimes we stay in one location for several nights. Other times, we connect a few shorter exchanges to create a longer road trip.
Staying in a home allows us to prepare breakfast, shop at neighborhood grocery stores, find local coffee shops, and experience each destination at a slower pace.
If HomeExchange is not the right fit for a particular trip, or we simply prefer a hotel, we may also consider The Saguaro Palm Springs on Klook.
Longer visits and repeat stays
HomeExchange is especially helpful when we want to spend more time in places we visit regularly.
Minneapolis and the Twin Cities remain important to us because of family, long-term connections, and the familiarity we feel whenever we return.
Hotel costs can quickly add up during longer visits. A HomeExchange stay gives us more space, a kitchen, a living area, and the opportunity to settle into a neighborhood.
We have also used exchanges for trips to Denver and returned to hosts and areas we already know.
Over time, repeat hosts can begin to feel less like strangers and more like neighbors in another city.
Our simple rules for five-star exchanges
Successful exchanges depend on trust, respect, and good communication.
Before every stay, we make sure arrival details, check-in instructions, and expectations are clear.
We believe homes should match their descriptions, without unpleasant surprises.
As guests, we treat every home with care and leave it as clean as we found it—or cleaner.
Small gestures also make an exchange feel more personal. As hosts, we may leave a bottle of wine, cold water, a few starter groceries, or a welcome note. As guests, we often leave a short thank-you message.
Turning one home into a year of travel
HomeExchange has helped us travel more often, stay longer, and experience places from a more local perspective.
Our Palm Springs condo is still our home and our single-story slice of heaven. But it has also become part of how we travel throughout the year.
If you’ve been thinking about trying HomeExchange, we’d love to have you join the community. Use our referral code roderick-15918 when you sign up.