Venice needs no persuasion — the lagoon light, the impossible geometry of canals and campi, mornings before the day-trippers arrive when the city belongs to those who slept there. That last part is the point: staying overnight is Venice’s real luxury, and it’s priced accordingly, with hotels at €200-350 a night and short-let flats at €150-250.
If you’ve been looking at People Like Us as a way to travel more affordably from Venice, you’ve probably noticed some friction — a $159 annual fee, a network that remains small, and a community that lives mostly inside Facebook groups rather than on the platform itself. For Venice-based members specifically, the platforms treat Venetian homes as tourist inventory rather than what they are — increasingly rare lived-in apartments in a city fighting to keep its residents.
SwapSpace takes a different approach — it treats every home equally, so a flat in residential Cannaregio earns the same credits as an apartment two bridges from San Marco. For Venice members who know their neighbourhood is worth as much as any other, that fairness is the point.
What Is People Like Us?
People Like Us (PLU) is a fast-growing home exchange platform with thousands of members in over 100 countries. Founded with a strong emphasis on community and personal connection, PLU has quickly earned a reputation as one of the friendliest home swap networks. The platform operates on an annual subscription model at $159 per year for unlimited exchanges. PLU offers four types of exchange: simultaneous swaps, non-simultaneous swaps, hospitality exchanges where guests stay while the host is present, and points-based stays. The platform is known for its active Facebook community, regional ambassadors, and regular virtual meetups that foster genuine friendships between members.
Why Venice Travellers Are Looking for People Like Us Alternatives
People Like Us works well for some travellers, but it’s not the right fit for everyone — particularly for people based in Venice or hoping to visit it.
The network is small — and Venice coverage is smaller. People Like Us has a warm, genuine community, but it remains one of the smaller platforms. Venice appears only occasionally, and active listings are rare. Fewer members means fewer realistic matches, especially outside peak destinations.
The community lives on Facebook. Much of the platform’s activity — finding matches, asking questions, building trust — happens in Facebook groups rather than on the platform itself. If you’re not an active Facebook user, you’re locked out of the community’s real engine.
The $159 fee is hard to justify at this scale. Paying an annual membership makes sense for a large, deep network. For a smaller one, Venice members are effectively betting the right match exists before they’ve seen evidence of it. A free founding-phase model removes that gamble.
People Like Us vs SwapSpace: How They Compare
| Feature | People Like Us | SwapSpace |
|---|---|---|
| Membership cost | $159/year | Free during founding phase |
| Credit system | Multiple options — direct swap, hospitality, or points | SwapCredits – 1 credit = 1 night, all homes equal |
| Welcome credits | Included with membership | 7 SwapCredits for every new member |
| Verification | Community-based trust, profile verification | Invite-only, every application reviewed |
| Renters welcome | Yes | Yes – renters are first-class members |
| Damage protection | Limited | Coming soon |
| Venice listings | Available | Growing – founding community |
Why SwapSpace Works for Venice Members
SwapSpace is an invite-only home exchange community where verified members swap homes and travel affordably using SwapCredits. Unlike People Like Us, every member is vetted before joining, creating a high-trust community from day one.
The SwapCredits system is deliberately simple. One credit equals one night at any SwapSpace home, regardless of size or location. This means Venice renters with modest flats can access the same destinations as homeowners with large properties – something that not every platform offers.
New members receive 7 SwapCredits immediately after listing their home. That is enough for a full week of accommodation before you have hosted anyone. This solves one of the biggest frustrations with traditional home exchange – needing to earn points or arrange a simultaneous swap before you can travel.
SwapSpace is currently building its founding community across London, New York, and cities across Europe. Venice is a priority location, which means members who join now get early access to the community and the most attentive support as it grows.
Home Swapping Tips for Venice
Swapping a Venice home is different from anywhere else — you’re offering the rarest thing in the city: residence.
Sell the mornings and evenings. Your guests get Venice when the day-trippers are gone — San Marco at 7am, Castello’s passeggiata, bacari at dusk. Frame your listing around before-and-after hours; it’s the experience no hotel package can match.
Be precise about logistics. Nearest vaporetto stop, number of bridges from the station with luggage, which floor and how many stairs. Venice punishes vagueness — guests who know exactly what the arrival involves are guests who arrive happy.
Explain acqua alta calmly. If your calle floods in autumn, say so, note your floor height, and mention the passerelle routes. Honesty here builds more trust than any amenity — and most visitors find a managed acqua alta memorable rather than ruinous.
Point guests off the main drag. Your shortlist — the Cannaregio bacaro, the Castello squero view, Sant’Erasmo by boat, Torcello’s cathedral — turns a visit into the Venice residents actually love. It’s also the difference between guests who respect the city and those who consume it.
What Venice SwapSpace Members Are Looking For
Venice members are the city’s remaining residents — university and Biennale professionals, artisans, and families who’ve held on through the tourism tide. Outbound, they crave what Venice lacks: space, green, and anonymity — the Dolomites, northern capitals, London, and countryside anywhere.
Inbound demand is effectively infinite; the community’s job is selecting for the right visitors — people who want to live the city gently for a week, not sprint through it.
Vetting matters more in Venice than anywhere: members are trusting strangers with homes the city itself is struggling to keep.
How SwapSpace Works
1. Apply and get verified. Submit your home details and photos. We review every application within 48 hours to ensure quality and trust across the community.
2. Earn and use SwapCredits. Receive 7 credits when you join – enough for a week of free accommodation. Earn more by hosting other members. Each credit equals one night at any SwapSpace home worldwide.
3. Swap and travel. Browse available homes, connect with verified hosts, and start exploring. Whether it is a mutual swap or a one-way stay using credits, every exchange is between trusted, vetted members.
Ready to Start Swapping in Venice?
SwapSpace is currently accepting applications from homeowners and renters in Venice. As a founding member, you will get early access to the community, 7 SwapCredits to start travelling immediately, and a say in how the platform grows.
Looking for alternatives to other platforms in Venice? Check out our guides to the best HomeExchange alternative in Venice, best Kindred alternative in Venice, best Airbnb alternative in Venice.
