Butterflies, Bucket Lists, and a Decade of Travel: Renu’s Story
Renu B.
Member Since 2015 100+ Exchanges
Renu Bonner is a loyal Member who has been on over 100 trips with ThirdHome. She was referred by a friend in 2016 and was admittedly a little hesitant about the program at first but soon realized that having a community of like-minded travelers with common standards for travel put her at ease. Then, after her first stay any worries, she had were gone for good.
When first traveling with ThirdHome Renu went on one or two trips per year. Now in 2026 she spends 200-250 days per year traveling, and she attributes this growth to ThirdHome’s flexibility, availability, and destinations. With all of the travel she’s been able to build up airline points and used in tandem with her Keys she’s always ready for spontaneous travel.
With so many amazing stays under her belt it’s hard for her to choose a favorite, but of course we had to ask… She raved about the Ritz-Carlton in Aspen as well as a penthouse in New York City. In Valle de Bravo she was greeted not only by exceptional staff but also a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with Monarch Butterflies. She’s seen many destinations from Pigeon Forge to Costa Rica, New Orleans, Woodstock, and beyond.
Renu keeps a ThirdHome “bucket list” so she knows a multitude of homes she’d love to stay in. That way, when one of these has weeks added, she’s ready to book then and there. Recently she spent the most Keys she’s ever spent on an exchange, but because her sights had been set, she knew it was worth the splurge.
Time of year rarely matters to Renu, especially with the quality of homes she’s witnessed in her ten years with the Club. She says if there’s a home that you’ve been dreaming of, then just go. According to our veteran traveler, there are ThirdHomes where she’d be content reading a book in a new room each day if the weather required.
Not only has Renu visited amazing homes, but she’s also built lasting relationships through ThirdHome’s community. She met Leo and Linda P. through a booking. Later, they met for drinks in California and when it was time for Leo and Linda to visit India, Renu provided them with recommendations and when they got there even had lunch with Renu’s sister. On a ThirdHome Adventure to New Zealand early in her membership, she met Jeff and Karen V. from Tennessee and immediately hit it off. Now the group takes trips together, stay at one another’s homes, and even have an Africa trip in the works.
ThirdHome has given Renu and her family opportunities to accomplish things they hadn’t dreamt of before. She even visited all 50 states without meaning to! However, for Renu going on 100 ThirdHome trips is not the most important part of her Member story. It’s all of the distinct experiences, properties, and opportunities the exchange has provided her, her family, and her friends. ThirdHome has changed the way she and her family experience the world, and she is very grateful for that gift.
