Traveling with kids is always an adventure, and finding accommodations that cater to a family’s needs can be challenging. Enter Kindred, a home-swapping platform that offers a unique, community-driven approach to travel. Imagine exploring a new city but instead of ending your day in a random hotel room, you find yourself home with everything you could need. Parents: that means high chairs, cribs, and even strollers to use! That’s exactly how we felt on our recent trip to Atlanta and staying in a Kindred home, and honestly, it was our best family vacation to date!
Kindred: Redefining Family Travel
Traveling with kids means there is extra baggage, especially when they’re young! We have been traveling since our oldest was four months old. I remember that first trip trying to pack all the things: car seat, stroller to check at the gate, travel crib, sound machine, toys, extra diapers, it seemed like it never ended! With Kindred, you can actually filter for homes that have exactly what you need so you can travel lighter!
Kindred operates on a reciprocal model, where members earn credits by hosting others in their homes and spend those credits to stay in fellow members’ homes aka “give a night to get a night” policy. It really thrives on community and mutual respect for each other’s homes. It’s not a 1-for-1 swap, either. Use your credits when you want to travel, even if no one selects to stay in your home while you’re gone.
Do you have to swap to stay? No! You can actually try Kindred for FREE with 5 nights, just use my code: ALY.BOL1 to see how this community works for yourself. There are homes all over the world waiting to welcome you and your family!
A Weekend in Atlanta: Immersing Ourselves in Culture and Community
Our Atlanta stay was the perfect fit for our family. We were in a walkable, family-friendly neighborhood, just steps from Piedmont Park! Our Kindred home, a gorgeous bungalow that had kids bunk beds for the boys, toys, books, and games too!
We were welcomed with these toiletry kits from our Kindred host that had everything we needed for the weekend. It’s that thoughtful touch that reminds you how amazing being a part of this community is. After long days exploring the city, it was so nice to come home to, well, a home! Once the kids were in bed, we didn’t have to stay quiet with the lights off like if we were in a hotel sharing a room. Instead, we watched tv, we made a snack in the kitchen, and totally fell asleep on the couch! We felt right at home.
Exploring Atlanta was easy! We visited the Georgia Aquarium, Zoo Atlanta, our personal favorite the Fernbank Museum, and tried different food stalls at Ponce City Market. Having a comfortable home base made our excursions more enjoyable, especially with young kids in tow.
Aligning with Kindred’s Core Values
Kindred’s principles resonate deeply with families like ours seeking meaningful travel experiences:
- Trust and Safety: Every member undergoes a thorough verification process, including identity checks and home evaluations. This vetting ensures that families can feel secure in their accommodations.
- Community and Connection: Kindred fosters a sense of belonging among its members. By staying in real homes, travelers can immerse themselves in local cultures and communities, creating authentic experiences.
- Affordability: With no membership fees and only nominal cleaning and service charges, Kindred offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional lodging, making travel more accessible for families.
- Accessibility: Filtering for family friendly homes and amenities like cribs and strollers means you can travel lighter, and thus easier with kids! No more worrying about excess baggage or overpacking when your Kindred home has what your family needs.
Looking Back on Our Trip
Atlanta is such an amazing city to explore with kids! We did so much in a short weekend away which attests to Atlanta’s accessibility and ease to travel around the city. We had easy options near our Kindred home, like the MARTA and e-scooters.
We love to immerse ourselves in local culture when we travel, and staying in a Kindred home was the perfect way to do that! Staying in a neighborhood (vs. a hotel) let us live like a local, support small businesses, and make memories that felt so authentic to the city. Staying in a Kindred home also shows our kids the value of community and sharing. So give your family the world and stay with Kindred on your next adventure.
Currently, there is a waitlist of over 70,000 people, but use my code ALY.BOL1 to skip the waitlist AND receive 5 nights, free! Try Kindred before you swap and see the difference this immersive community has to offer.
Questions about Kindred or our stay? Leave a comment below or send me a message!
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