At first glance, what founder Wade Shealy came up with in 2010 with Thirdhome sounds a bit like Airbnb 3.0. In a nutshell, it's a platform that features over 14,000 properties in 1,700 destinations in 98 countries. And waiting for temporary residents. What sets the platform apart from other providers, however, is not just the fact that only luxury properties are represented. The concept is also a bit different. Because here you vacation for free.

The key to happiness

In fact, vacation in a Thirdhome costs almost nothing. Each club member posts his or her own vacation property on the platform. During the time it is empty, other club members can use it for a small exchange fee. The more weeks in the year one's own vacation home is available to others, the more "keys" one earns as a member. The keys are considered credits in which you pay for your own stay in someone else's vacation property.

Beach, Mountains & Sea

The vacation homes are located in the most beautiful places in the world. They range from beach getaways and chalets in the mountains to yachts and city hideaways. What the accommodations have in common is that they offer luxury. The concept, which already enjoys great popularity in English-speaking countries, is now becoming known to a larger market in Europe. Especially for owners of chalets in the Alpine region, the concept should be quite interesting.

"We are the leading private travel club for second home owners who share a passion for luxury and exclusivity," says Niki Christian Nutsch, vice president of Thirdhome International. "There has been an increasing interest in luxury vacation property exchange in recent years, even in German-speaking countries," he said, confirming the company's reputation. Now Thirdhome is to become more widely known in German-speaking countries as well.

thirdhome.com