Planning a trip to Vancouver means figuring out how much you can spend on hotels and booking accommodations that can run into hundreds of dollars every night, depending on which part of the city you're staying in.

What if you could skip the hassle and expense of researching hotels, bed and breakfasts or hostels and just trade spaces with someone else?

House exchanges have been popular with travelers for years as a way to see the world – or stay within their own borders - at a much lower price.

The benefits of a house exchange are:

› You're simply swapping homes with someone else, so your entire stay is free.

› You'll have more space than you will in a hotel room.

› You get to become immersed in another culture, and enjoy living like a local.

› You'll often be able to use the homeowner's vehicle to get around.

Whether you live in the French Quarter of New Orleans, or in an rural locale in Malaysia, you can find a willing exchange partner from Vancouver who is looking for an exotic vacation in your city or town.

One of the most popular house exchange sites is Exchange Zones, which lists homes from all over the world. It's a free, no-commission site that allows you to find homes by country or city, see photos and read informational articles on homestays. The one drawback of the site is that it's free, which is ideal for homeowners on a budget but may also attract scammers.

Global Pacific Vacation Homes has similar features to Exchange Zones, but there's also a section for long-term house exchanges. If you want to work or study, or simply want an extended vacation, you can find home exchanges for up to six months. Membership packages range from $19 for a basic listing to $99 for a lifetime listing on the site.

CHECtravel is a social networking site for house exchanges that verifies every member's address, offers mediation if there are any disputes, and even has a “Rogue's Gallery” of homeowners who have caused trouble in the past. Membership is $24.95 per year.

If you're considering a house exchange, make sure that:

› You're extremely cautious about giving out any personal info and paying deposits to the homeowners before you've made sure that the offer is legitimate.

› Your homeowner insurance will be valid if people stay at your home. Some insurance companies will consider your insurance invalid if you don't notify the company before your holiday.

› Make sure you have a contract that covers things like damages to your property and any responsibilities of the guests who are staying in your home, such as cleaning or mowing the lawn.