GuestPoints, often referred to as GP, are the internal credits that fuel most stays on HomeExchange. Although GP has no official monetary value, it functions like a currency within the platform. This internal economy makes home exchange far more flexible because you can host at one moment and travel at another, without requiring a direct swap. Members earn GP by hosting or by completing key actions such as finalizing their profile or receiving bonus points from the platform. The more active you are, the more GP you accumulate, and the more travel opportunities you unlock.
Inside the HomeExchange ecosystem, GP behaves like a form of purchasing power. Since GP lets you stay in homes that might otherwise cost hundreds of dollars through traditional accommodation platforms, users naturally assign a value to it. The perception of value comes from comparing a GP stay to what a similar stay would cost on Airbnb or a hotel. When a two night visit to a major city might cost 300 dollars or more, a GP based booking delivers real world savings and creates an internal sense of currency.
For this reason, many members estimate an unofficial value per 100 GP based on their experiences and the savings they achieve.
GuestPoints deliver value by replacing paid accommodation. A stay valued at 350 GP in a popular destination might easily translate into several hundred dollars of savings compared with traditional lodging. Although no official conversion rate exists, members rely on these comparisons to understand how far their points can go.
👉 Factors influencing a home’s GP valuation:
• Destination desirability
• Seasonality and local demand
• Home size, capacity, and amenities
• Community trends and popularity
These factors explain why some homes require more GP than others and why hosting in peak season can generate a strong GP balance for future travel.
A strong listing increases hosting requests and boosts GP earnings. High quality photos, clear descriptions, updated calendars, and responsive communication encourage more guests to choose your home. This creates a virtuous cycle that multiplies your available GP for future trips.
Many travelers plan their GP usage with specific goals in mind. Instead of spending points on spontaneous short trips, they save for special destinations or high season periods. Treating GP like a travel budget helps members maximize long term travel value.
Reciprocal exchanges require no GP at all, making them ideal for preserving points. GP stays, on the other hand, offer unmatched flexibility. Balancing both types of exchanges gives you wider travel options while keeping your GP reserve healthy.
Officially, GP has no monetary value and cannot be sold or purchased. However, experienced members often use a perceived internal value when planning trips. By comparing prices with similar stays on booking platforms, many estimate that 100 GP can represent anywhere from 50 to 150 dollars of real travel value depending on destination, timing, and home quality.
This variation shows that GP acts as a flexible currency whose worth depends on how and when you use it. While not a financial asset, GP plainly generates measurable savings and plays a central role in trip planning.
HomeExchange is ideal for travelers seeking to cut accommodation costs while staying in comfortable and authentic homes. The GP system is especially beneficial for people who can host regularly, travel during flexible seasons, or target high value destinations where accommodation is expensive.
If you enjoy community based travel and want to maximize your budget, GP delivers exceptional value. Over the course of a year, many members generate enough points through hosting to fund multiple trips that would otherwise be costly.
GuestPoints do not have a formal price, but they create real world value every time they replace paid accommodation. Understanding how GP works, how members perceive its market value, and how to optimize your usage helps you travel more while spending less. With strategic hosting and planning, GP becomes one of the most powerful tools for low cost, high quality travel inside the HomeExchange community.
Travel Expert
Caitlin Boylan is an American travel writer who’s lived abroad since 2011 in Ireland, Vietnam, Australia, Czechia, England, and now Portugal. She writes about long-term living overseas, cultural immersion, and the messy, honest reality of a life built far from home — usually with a glass of wine in hand and a horse somewhere in the background.
