Londoner Marie Draxler had all the time dreamed of the proper day in New York Metropolis — not as a vacationer, however as somebody who truly lived there.
So when the adventurous Brit discovered herself strolling via Bushwick, grabbing breakfast in Williamsburg and placing up heartfelt conversations with colourful Washington Sq. Park habitués, it felt surreal — particularly as a result of she was doing it from a stranger’s condominium she’d swapped for her personal, again throughout the Atlantic.
Draxler and Brooklynite Lohanny Santos, each of their twenties, pulled off a modern-day model of “The Vacation,” buying and selling houses — and day by day routines — between the Large Apple and the Large Smoke for 2 weeks, after connecting on social media.
No lodge concierges, no sightseeing checklists and no whirlwind romances for this pair — simply two ladies residing inside one another’s lives and documenting all of it on-line.
“It felt proper from the very starting,” Draxler informed The Publish of agreeing to the swap after simply two FaceTime calls. “I trusted her immediately. It by no means felt dangerous — simply thrilling.”
The journey started in late August, when Santos, an influencer with practically 300,000 followers on TikTok, posed a easy query to her followers: “I reside in NYC!! Does anybody in LONDON wish to swap locations with me for 2-3 weeks??”
She paired the video, which snagged greater than 11 million views, with the immediately recognizable theme music from the 2006 Nancy Meyers rom-com — and hundreds of feedback poured in, together with one from Draxler.
“I’ve all the time had this concept of swapping houses with somebody, and I like London,” Santos informed The Publish. “I often go every year, and I assumed, ‘What if I truly switched residences with somebody and lived their life for a bit?’”
Draxler’s provide stood out from the group — a comfortable Notting Hill flat full of private touches, together with photographs of her and her canine. The Large Apple-based content material creator reached out, flights have been booked, and the real-life rom-com was set in movement.
Whereas the pair have been wanting to lean into the fantasy, they have been clear-eyed about what they wished.
In contrast to Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet’s characters, neither was looking out particularly for love overseas. As an alternative, they wished to flee stiff lodges and vacationer traps in favor of one thing extra intimate.
“Marie’s dwelling wasn’t like some common Airbnb, and I liked seeing the photographs of her and her canine on show,” Santos stated.
“I bought to see extra of her fashion via her winter coats, blankets, mugs and different private particulars. It felt lived-in and appeared so stunning.”
Draxler felt the identical about New York. “We each left our jewellery, magnificence merchandise and private objects out, which made every part really feel heat and lived in. It felt like staying with a buddy quite than in a lodge room or a stranger’s condominium.”
In NYC, Draxler dove headfirst into Santos’ Brooklyn-and-beyond routine, ticking off buzzy neighborhood favorites alongside quieter moments that shocked her most.
She was “so excited” to attempt Pop Up Bagels in Williamsburg — which she confirmed lived as much as the hype — bought tickets for Broadway’s “Dying Turns into Her,” which she known as “completely unbelievable,” had her aura learn on the viral Magic Jewellery store in Chinatown and snapped photographs on the SomethingSoft Picture Sales space on the Decrease East Aspect.
However one factor impressed her most within the metropolis that by no means sleeps — the folks, with whom she stated she had “pretty conversations.”
Draxler wasn’t solely on the lookout for romance, she stated, however the metropolis’s males — and residents total — stood out for his or her openness and willingness to attach.
“New Yorkers actually shocked me with how heat and open they have been,” she recalled. I sat down with a stranger in Washington Sq. Park and informed him my life story.”
In contrast to Santos, Draxler isn’t an social media whiz by commerce, however she pushed herself to spend extra time documenting her expertise than she ever would at dwelling.
“One factor I like about Lohanny is how confidently she movies wherever with out worrying about who’s watching,” she stated. “I attempted to channel that power. I got here dwelling extra assured and fewer afraid to be seen.”
And Santos was happy with Draxler for getting out of her consolation zone.
“It was surreal seeing her movie in my condominium — even noticing the angles she selected,” Santos stated.
“These are locations I’ve filmed so many occasions, so seeing them via her eyes made every part really feel new.”
In the meantime, throughout the pond, Santos embraced Draxler’s London life with the identical off-the-beaten-path strategy.
She spent hours looking classic outlets in Marylebone, biked via Notting Hill and adopted Draxler’s native suggestions — from steak and fries at The Parlour in Kensal Inexperienced to espresso at Layla.
Their parallel lives performed out day by day on TikTok throughout their journeys, the place tens of hundreds of viewers adopted alongside — cheering on the swap, commenting on outfits and neighborhoods, and rooting for the friendship unfolding in actual time.
“I acquired solely type and supportive messages,” Draxler stated. “So many ladies stated they felt like they have been touring with me.”
That response displays a rising and well-documented obsession with screen-inspired journey, significantly amongst youthful vacationers.
A latest examine by home-swapping platform HomeExchange discovered that 56% of People have chosen a journey vacation spot after seeing it in a film or TV present — with Gen Z and millennials particularly influenced.
The development, dubbed “set-jetting,” a time period first utilized by The Publish in 2007, has surged due to pop-culture hits like “The White Lotus” and “Emily in Paris.”
Practically twenty years after “The Vacation” hit theaters, HomeExchange — which famously impressed the movie’s premise — continues to be serving to vacationers reside the magic, not too long ago saying a contest to win a keep in a near-exact duplicate of the film’s cozy Cotswolds cottage, underscoring the enduring pull of the fantasy.
For Santos and Draxler, the magic turned actual — if solely briefly.
“What I like about ‘The Vacation’ film is that it’s about two ladies selecting change,” Santos stated.
“Being in Marie’s place made me admire my life in New York much more. While you go away, you notice how fortunate you’re — it offers you this wave of gratitude.”
On Draxler’s ultimate day in New York, the 2 managed to fulfill in individual for one hour earlier than their timelines crossed once more.
“It felt like catching up with an previous buddy,” Draxler stated. “It actually did have a movie-like high quality.”
The ripple impact hasn’t stopped. Santos says the duo is now tagged day by day in movies from ladies pitching their very own swap concepts — from Seattle to Norway to Vienna.
“It clicked when folks began making movies simply to maintain up with ‘The Vacation ladies,’” Santos stated.
Buoyed by the response, Santos is already planning mini swaps inside New York — and each ladies say one other transatlantic reunion isn’t off the desk.
“We hold messaging about it,” Draxler stated. “Hopefully one thing enjoyable is on the playing cards for 2026.”
