This Members-Only Vacation Rental Platform Is Taking On Airbnb With Million-Dollar Properties

The high-end getaways include a desert oasis in Joshua Tree, a stunning Spanish villa and a baller Bali hideaway.

There are locales and vacation destinations that are seemingly aspirational, and only glimpsed rarely from afar. And then, there’s HomeExchange Collection, which offers tantalizing and exclusive access to high-value properties via its own private community — and what’s on tap speaks to the idea that the luxury real estate market shows no signs of slowing down.

At its core, it’s a home rental service, but here’s where it gets interesting: The membership-based platform only boasts homes with a value of $1.5 million or greater (certainly a step up from a typical AirBNB property).

Members within the community exchange their homes on mutual dates of their choosing, or else earn GuestPoints to be redeemed later, without exchanging properties.

The roster of homes, from Antwerp (shown above) to Paris, Guatemala, San Allende and the American West, is available more than 70 countries and 4,000 distinct properties, each seemingly the stuff of a high-class travel mood board.

There’s a desert oasis in Joshua Tree, a stunning villa in Altea, Spain (shown above), and a baller Bali hideaway with an infinity pool (full details are available to approved members).

However, signing up isn’t quite as simple as submitting an AirBNB listing: Prospective members submit detailed photos and other home info, which is then carefully reviewed by the HomeExchange team for approval. Membership fees ($1,000/year) are also part of the equation.

Design, location and amenities are part of the selection process, and HomeExchange Collection keeps its member and property info private to fellow members only.

HomeExchange Collection also recently debuted an even more exclusive search process for members, an option that selects only the “most luxurious home exchange possibilities worldwide.”

Features like private pools, wellness services and high-tech features are also prized, be it in a city penthouse or a countryside villa.

As HomeExchange Collection notes, “the real luxury is to feel at home, anywhere in the world, where you can fully enjoy your trip and make lasting memories with complete peace of mind.”

It’s a new way to look at travel that goes beyond five-star hotel properties, and while its exclusivity might not be for all, it’s certainly another option for those who value a luxe travel experience.