How I Save on Travel with Kindred: A Smart Home-Swapping Option for Frequent Travelers
After three full years of traveling full time; living out of suitcases, bouncing between Airbnbs, and navigating hotel check-ins—I finally decided to slow down. Spain’s digital nomad visa gave me the chance to set up a home base, and I chose Barcelona. (If you’re curious about that process, check out my post on how I got my digital nomad visa in Spain here).
But even with a home base, my travel cravings didn’t stop. I still wanted to explore new places just without spending thousands every time I left. I briefly considered subletting, but the logistics (screening guests, coordinating stays, the legal gray area) made it feel like more stress than it was worth.
That’s when I discovered Kindred, a home-swapping platform designed for people like me: frequent travelers who still have a place to come home to.
What is Kindred?
Kindred is a members-only home-swapping network for travelers who have a home base but still want to explore the world affordably. The concept is simple:
➡️ When you host someone in your home, you earn credits
➡️ You use those credits to stay in other members’ homes while you travel
✔️ You can also choose to swap directly with another member—but it’s totally optional
Kindred handles the logistics, vetting, and scheduling across the entire network, making it super flexible.
Why I Chose Kindred Over Subletting
I was initially hesitant. Hosting strangers? Letting someone stay in my home? But Kindred makes the process feel safe and seamless. They handle cleaning, linens, and even insurance with their host protection policy. You just set up your space, review requests, and get ready to earn travel credits.
Plus, you get to approve who stays in your home. I personally requested FaceTime chats with both of my guests, and it helped me feel confident about saying yes.
So far, I’ve hosted twice in my Barcelona apartment, and both experiences have been smooth and positive. In return, I’ve already used my credits to stay in Italy and London through the platform.
My First Taste of the Kindred Community
Before signing up, I actually attended a Kindred event in Barcelona to get a feel for the community. The event was hosted at a member’s beautiful home, and I met other people who had already been using the platform. Their stories, advice, and rave reviews really gave me the reassurance I needed to give it a shot. You can see my recent video on how it works here.
It honestly felt like a group of like-minded, thoughtful travelers—people I’d actually want to swap homes with.
Why It’s a Game-Changer for Frequent Travelers
If you’re someone who travels often—whether that’s for work, creative projects, or just because you can’t stay still—Kindred makes it possible to keep your travel lifestyle going without draining your budget. Even the most affordable hotels or short-term rentals start to add up quickly.
Kindred has totally transformed the way I travel. Not only am I saving money, I’m also staying in real homes, hosted by people who also live this lifestyle and know how to make a space feel welcoming.
✨ Want to Try Kindred?
You can sign up for early access using my referral link:
👉 https://livekindred.com?invite_code=nan.sev
Use code: nan.sev when you apply to get 5 nights of travel credit once you’re accepted into the network!
Whether you’re a full-time traveler like me or just someone who wants to travel smarter, Kindred is one of the best decisions I’ve made since getting my apartment in Barcelona.
