A new national survey reveals that in 2025, Canadians are travelling differently, driven by economic uncertainty and a desire to make their vacation budgets go further. With nearly half (46%) choosing to stay within Canada and 22% saying the Canadian dollar doesn’t go far abroad, travellers are getting creative to avoid rising costs – and for many, that includes rethinking where they stay.
Accommodation remains one of the biggest travel expenses, with almost half of Canadians reporting that lodging eats up more than 30% of their total vacation budget. For 17%, that figure rises to over 50%.
In response, more travellers are looking beyond hotels and vacation rentals to find affordable, values-based alternatives, including 28% saying they would consider using a home-swapping platform with no nightly fees, according HomeExchange, a global leader in the sector that has 240,000 members across more than 155 countries.
Based on a model of helping travellers eliminate one of the biggest barriers to vacationing – accommodation costs – the platform operates on a nominal annual membership model with no nightly fees, offering access to over 360,000 homes worldwide.
But, according to its survey, HomeExchange says only 6% of Canadians have tried a home exchange, though 64% are either aware of or open to the idea.
Trust, verified profiles, and flexible cancellation policies were cited as top factors that would increase comfort with using the model.
“Canadians want to keep travelling, but they’re smarter about how they do it,” says company CEO Emmanuel Arnaud. “HomeExchange lets people travel without compromising. They get the comfort of a real home, the joy of authentic experiences, and the freedom to redirect their budget toward what matters most.”
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