Loads of accommodation options are available to travellers these days, where cost and convenience usually outweigh other considerations. But if it hasn't already crossed your mind, I encourage choosing homestays over the more obvious accommodation types when the opportunity arises. Homestays are not only budget-friendly cultural experiences but also serve as a soul-soothing salve for the loneliness that can accompany solo travel.
Along my travels, I've noticed trends in where travellers choose to stay. Vacationers with limited time and energy (and presumably more money) opt for the classic hotel room. Those working remotely with a preference for privacy or solitude might prefer to stay alone in an Airbnb apartment (I'm generally in this category). Social butterfly backpackers without any work obligations typically enjoy mingling with fellow travellers in hostels, and more seasoned travellers on strict budgets might routinely crash for free on the couches of Couchsurfing hosts. And then there are the travellers who defy categorization. I once met an Australian dude in Ladakh, India, who didn't pay for accommodation at all, pitching his tent wherever he ended up come nightfall and accepting random hosting offers from generous locals.
Everyone is free to choose, of course, but I've found that travel becomes more meaningful when you stay with locals from time to time. Couchsurfing is a great platform for meeting them, but as a Westerner with a job, I feel that it's ethically responsible to pay for accommodations if my stay exceeds a day or two, especially because I tend to travel in low- to-middle-income countries where hosts are living modestly. There's a fine line between free and freeloading.
Homestays—where local families share their home with guests for a fee—are a happy medium. The cost per night is nominal and the experience invaluable. Not all homestays are advertised online and might take some on-the-ground asking around to find, but Airbnb is a good start, and it's where I've found several of my most recent homestays.
In February, I hopped on a six-hour marshrutka (minibus) ride from Bishkek, Kyrgzystan's capital, to live with a family in a tiny village called Orgochor, near Karakol. It turned out to be one of my favourite travel experiences ever.
My host, Kayyr, a retired English teacher, warmly welcomed me into her home, which also housed her husband, son, daughter-in-law, and three granddaughters. For two weeks, I felt like part of her family, with the added perks of home-cooked, traditional food (which she even made vegan for me) and a snowy mountain view from my bedroom window. Kayyr not only shared her knowledge of Kyrgzstan and its culture with me but her own life story. I even visited the school she had taught at for decades, which led to me volunteering as a guest speaker/impromptu English teacher every morning for a week (at that school and another in a neighbouring village). I left Orgochor feeling joyful, grateful, and fulfilled.
More recently, in April, I stayed in a homestay in a back alley of Hanoi, Vietnam, for a week. Again, I was met with nothing but kindness and hospitality. My "surrogate" grandmother was especially doting, knocking on my door to check on me every so often and bringing me fruit to snack on while I worked away on my laptop.
The longer I travel, the more I crave these kinds of meaningful interactions.
Top reasons to choose homestays
Authentic experience
Homestays give travellers the opportunity to live like locals while ensuring hosts are fairly compensated.
Safe haven
Staying with a family may be safer than staying alone, particularly for solo female travellers. If you're navigating unfamiliar territory and are concerned about safety, a family could offer guidance, and their home can be a refuge.
Budget friendly
Like I mentioned, the cost of a homestay is typically much less than other types of accommodations. I've always had my own bedroom in a homestay with shared common areas. Food is not usually included in the price, but hosts may offer to cook for you for a low fee.
Escape from loneliness
Feeling welcome and part of a family can be much needed when you're on your own most of the time. Having lost both my parents, I find it comforting to have temporary "surrogate parents" in a different country.
Keep in mind
Embrace the language barrier
Travelling outside tourist hotspots in countries where English isn't widely spoken usually comes with a language barrier. I'm often asked if it's challenging to deal with this part of travel, and my answer is always no. With translation apps and a bit of patience, the language barrier is always surmountable and the experience worthwhile. It's also an opportunity to learn a few words in a foreign language and is a great way to bond with your host family.
Be gracious
Someone is trusting you by welcoming you into their own home, which is a privilege and should be respected. This mutual trust can also be a catalyst for bonding with your hosts.
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