7 nights in NYC for free?

We just spent a glorious Christmas week in NYC and it did not cost us $$!

We have rented our primary home a few times and loaned it to friends who were renovating, so we knew we were capable of exchanging houses.  After a friend shared that she has done 20 exchanges around the world, we decided this was our path to a NYC Christmas that we have always promised to our 2 daughters. My husband and I grew up just outside of NYC, but each time we'd visit, it was always about NJ, grandparents, malls and cousins - maybe only spending a few hours in NYC occasionally. This year we dove in! Purged, cleaned and touched up items on our house to-do list and swapped homes with a great family in NY through the Home Exchange platform. We exchanged our 3+2 Spanish Home for a 3+3 renovated brownstone 2 blocks from the train, TJs and Target. I would rate our experience a 10/10.  Since we were not spending upwards of $800 a night on lodging, this freed up money to explore fantastic cuisine and experiences in Manhattan and Brooklyn. And we used the TURO app to rent a car for 24 hours for a fun evening with 30+ cousins in NJ, so as not to upset anyone. This is a week I will cherish forever. Please contact me if you want more details and tips on this great way to travel!