'I’ve saved £50k with a clever travel hack – I basically see the world for free' Andre Hellstrom has visited around 20 cities, resorts and islands Andre Hellstrom A flight attendant said he 'travels the world for free' and has saved £50,000 with a 'clever' travel hack. Andre Hellstrom had visited around 20 cities, resorts and islands. ‌ The 56-year-old has been using the home-swapping platform HomeExchange for more than a decade, completing 42 exchanges to date. ‌ Andre often chooses long-term exchanges which last about three to five months. He has travelled to a number of countries, including Australia, Italy, Mexico, Indonesia, Spain and France. The platform allows users to exchange their homes or a guest can offer GuestPoints to thank them for their hospitality if the swap is not reciprocated. Article continues below READ MORE: Lucy Letby hospital 'left man's body to rot so badly he couldn't be dressed for funeral' Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the BirminghamLive newsletter here. As a flight attendant, Andre said he is about to work during the exchanges and said home-swapping is 'literally opens doors around the world'. ‌ He said: "HomeExchange definitely is a clever way to travel. "Since I fly cheaply, I have lots of flexibility with my schedule, so if I get an offer from Bucharest in Romania – somewhere that’s maybe not top of my list – I’ll think "OK, why not?". "Then I’ll move around my days and I’ll go for a short weekend or something, so it’s quite exciting sometimes." ‌ Andre lives near Westbourne Park station, in London in a one-bedroom flat in London, which boasts 'hard to beat' views overlooking the canal. The dad-of-two said he heard about HomeExchange from a friend while in San Francisco years ago but he initially thought the concept was 'strange'. He said: "I met him in San Francisco and they checked into this home, and I just thought "oh my God, this is strange to live in someone else’s home". ‌ "But then I started thinking and it makes a lot of sense… it’s all built on trust. "It’s quite extraordinary because everybody on the site is very respectful and you feel like you’re part of a secret community." Andre joined the platform around 2010 and has since completed 42 exchanges, visiting places such as Stockholm, Paris, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Maui, Bali and Sydney. ‌ He has stayed at The Westin Maui resort for two weeks and spent a month in Chamonix skiing. Andre said he thinks he has saved around £50,000 to date. He said: "I basically travel for free and exchanges are almost free too. ‌ "It just requires a lot of planning and a wish to be a good host to your guest. "I’m surprised that not more people do it." Andre said one of his first exchanges was in Barcelona and he had 'the best summer of his life'. ‌ In his own home, he has welcomed a journalist and an author and will soon be hosting two film producers who live in 'mansions in LA'. Recalling one of his most memorable stays, he said: "There are so many different ones, but the one in Rio, I have to say, that flat is amazing. "I mean, you just wake up and you have amazing views of the Christ the Redeemer statue, and I love Rio. ‌ "That flat, if it was on Airbnb, for a whole month it would probably cost £8,000." Andre said he has made new friends on HomeExchange and continues to stay in touch with them. One member who lives in Bali – where Andre had an 'amazing experience' in a property with a pool – even helped him ship juju feather hats to his London home. ‌ Andre said: "That was a really good exchange because she was an interior designer, and I’m really into interior design. "I wanted to buy a juju hat – it’s something with feathers – and she helped me find people to make them and she shipped them to the UK. "It was a bit of a nightmare… so she did me a huge favour." ‌ This August, Andre is planning to return to Madrid for three months and he will continue using HomeExchange for the foreseeable future, with hopes of going skiing in Switzerland or Austria. He said he has never had any negative experiences using the platform and would encourage others to try it, particularly if they enjoy solo travelling. Andre said those wanting to join HomeExchange should pay for a 'good cleaner' and ensure they have a 'passion for hosting people'. ‌ He said: "You have someone sleeping in your bed, but think of the money that you’re saving and you’ll forget about that. "I feel so lucky, it literally opens doors around the world and that’s why it’s a no-brainer. "For me, it’s just perfect. I love it." ‌ Jessica Poillucci, PR manager of HomeExchange, said: "HomeExchange advises people considering home-swapping to check the legalities of working remotely from your intended destination. "Some countries may require specific visas or permits if you’re planning to work, even if it’s just remotely for your home company. "It’s also worth noting working from a different jurisdiction can also have tax implications. Article continues below "With regards to both visas or permits and tax, it’s important to bear in mind the length of your stay as this can have an impact on both of these areas."