Staying in homestays can lead to onward travel plans, hidden spots that only locals know, and real, long-lasting friendships! Homestay vs Airbnb & Hotels: Homestay Advantages and DisadvantagesĪs with everything, there are definitely advantages AND disadvantages to staying in a homestay. Homestays give rare access into the daily lives and happenings of locals, and expose you to things you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. In fact, if you really do it right, you should come away from a homestay feeling like it taught you more about the destination than anywhere else you’ve visited.īecause that’s the whole point. Photo: you want to tend to crops on a rural Spanish farm or discover every corner of South Asian city via Couchsurfing, there’s a host out there for you! Unlike hotels which often provide quite stale experiences, staying with a host family is guaranteed to be more than just a place to rest at night. Here’s absolutely everything you need to know about homestay accommodation. It directly immerses you into local life, and allows you to interact with communities in ways that aren’t possible otherwise.īut how exactly do you find these mystical homes that provide such unique travel experiences? In hopes to share the magic of homestays with other adventurous backpackers, I’ve put together this epic guide. We all know home is so much more about “who” than “what” which is why staying with a real family can be so impactful. Homestays give you a home away from home, and not just in the practical way that Airbnb does. Homestays aren’t common everywhere, and it’s not an experience you can seek just anywhere.īut once you have your first real experience in a family homestay, I guarantee you’ll see what all the hype is about.

Spending a night with a stranger? I get it. If you’ve never heard of them before, the entire concept of homestays might sound confusing.

They’ve taken place in local abodes, complete with home-cooked meals and heaps of connections. Some of my best nights spent travelling haven’t been inside of an Airbnb, a hotel, or even a hostel.

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