HomeExchange News

Plainfield, New Jersey advanced a third short-term rental ordinance in ten months, capping stays at 15 a year and barring non-owner-occupied rentals.

Portsmouth, Virginia currently has no rules for short-term rentals. A draft ordinance would require owner-occupancy and a zoning permit for the first time.

Congaree National Park has never charged an entrance fee, yet it remains America’s 10th least-visited park. The NPS turns 110 on August 25, 2026.

Pensacola Beach, Florida, just topped a nationwide ranking of the 100 most accessible U.S. vacation towns, scoring 91.3 out of 100, ahead of Gatlinburg.

Franklin Township, NJ adopted Ordinance 4516-26 on August 11, 2026: a $250 permit, $500,000 insurance, and a 3% tax on every short-term rental stay.

Merrillville, Indiana has zero local rules for Airbnb and Vrbo hosts, just the state’s 7% sales tax and innkeeper’s tax. That changes on August 18, 2026.

Metamora, Michigan celebrates 45 years of its Country Days & Hot Air Balloon Festival on August 28-29, 2026, with more than 20 hot air balloons filling the sky.

A WhatsApp scam using real hotel names, stay dates, and confirmation numbers from an April 2026 Booking.com leak is still active, Spanish authorities warn.

Townsend, Tennessee just hosted its 8th Great Smoky Mountains Hot Air Balloon Festival, only 7 miles from Cades Cove and the peaceful side of the Smokies.

More than 150 travelers arrived in Italy this summer only to find the seaside home they’d paid for didn’t exist. Now Booking.com itself faces scrutiny.

Southwest launched its first nonstop service between Las Vegas and Hilo on August 6, 2026, opening direct access to Hawaii’s quieter Big Island side.

Cambridge’s Planning Board wants to cap short-term rentals at 90 days a year. Here’s why a home exchange never has to count the days, register, or pay a fine.

American Airlines now connects Philadelphia to Prague nonstop in just over 8 hours. Here’s why a home exchange beats a hotel room in Prague’s Old Town.

Fifth Circuit upholds New Orleans' short-term rental law, rejecting Airbnb's takings claim and forcing platforms to verify listing permits before charging fees.

Founded in 1714, Natchitoches, Louisiana's "mini New Orleans," hosts the Cane River Zydeco Festival & Poker Run over Labor Day weekend 2026.

Nova Scotia's 298-km Cabot Trail is closer to New England than it looks - and 2026's new Skyline Trail parking rules make it worth more than a day trip.

On August 12, 2026, mainland Europe's first total solar eclipse since 1999 sweeps across Iceland and Spain.

Baytown, Texas approved a $350 annual short-term rental permit by a narrow 4-3 vote, adding fire inspections, occupancy caps, and a 30-day stay limit.

Quishing scams jumped 146% in the US in 2026, with fake QR stickers hitting hotels, airports, and restaurants in Miami, Dallas, Seattle, and Philadelphia.

South Dakota's Black Hills are having a moment: a viral 73,000-view video, America's 250th at Mount Rushmore, and the 86th Sturgis Rally pushing hotel prices up 50-100%.

Founded in 1852, Coupeville is Washington's second-oldest town, and in 2026 it's landing on travel lists from Fodor's Go List to Livability's Top 100.

Route 66 turns 100 in 2026. The 2,448-mile Mother Road crosses eight states - the perfect excuse to string together multiple home exchanges along the way.

Travel scam losses hit $297 million in the US, nearly tripling since 2021 - a risk that simply doesn't exist when you exchange homes with verified members.