One of the many great things about traveling is having the chance to experience and learn about another culture, but when you’re on a short trip it can be difficult to break down the traveler’s wall and truly become immersed. Planning your trip around homestays gives you the opportunity to instantly overcome that wall by living with locals in your destination and having a truly unique travel experience.
When doing a homestay abroad, you stay in a private home with an individual or family instead of a hotel or other similar accommodations. Hosts provide a room and meals, and as locals they can offer the best advice on what to do, how to get around the city, and how to find the best deals so you can get the most of out your trip. For the linguistically inclined, homestays also provide a great opportunity for language exchange. Even a short homestay provides a unique opportunity to communicate with native speakers of your target language freely in a home environment.
There are many services and organizations — for example, Responsibletravel.com — that can help you plan a trip to do a homestay in your destination city, but another great way to enjoy this experience — especially if you’re on a budget — is by finding your own hosts on sites that track reputations like Airbnb. No matter how you go about finding a host family to stay with during your travels, remember that mutual respect, honesty and open-mindedness are key to making any homestay trip a great experience.
Read This Next
#TrazeeTravel
Insta FeedHotel
Jul 17, 2025Travel with Artfarm Around the World
Founded in 2014 by the Swiss owners of international gallery Hauser & Wirth, Artfarm is a hospitality group known for art- and design-forward hotels, restaurants and bars spanning various vibrant cities.
Sponsored Content
Seoul: Your Next MICE Destination
Seoul has rapidly become a leading global MICE hub, known for its rich culture, advanced technology and strong economy. As the capital of South Korea, it offers a strategic location in East Asia and a booming cultural influence through K-pop, K-movies, Korean cuisine and K-dramas. With its vibrant atmosphere and business-friendly environment, Seoul is increasingly the top choice for MICE organizers and corporate travelers seeking connection and collaboration.
Surveys
Jul 16, 2025Survey Finds Travelers Prefer Skipping Front Desk Check-In
Do you look forward to checking in at your hotel, conversing with front desk staff and maybe getting a few local travel recommendations? Or do you just want to get to your guestroom as quickly as possible? A new survey from hospitality platform provider Mews found, if you’re in the former camp, you might be alone.
Hotel
Jul 16, 2025What’s New at Guarda Golf, an Alpine Switzerland Resort
There’s plenty of reasons to visit Guarda Golf, an alpine resort in Switzerland. Where alpine meets golf boutique, this resort in Crans-Montana offers a space to relax and unwind this summer, as well as a variety of exciting happenings and new experiences.
Hotel
Jul 16, 2025The Revolution Hotel Introduces Two Packages for USA’s 250th Anniversary
As the country prepares for the American Revolution’s 250th anniversary, Boston’s The Revolution Hotel recently launched two offers honoring the city’s founding legacy. History buffs, especially, will enjoy the new packages pairing immersive tours with thoughtful details.
Cruises
Jul 15, 2025What’s New on Cunard’s Recently Revamped “Queen Elizabeth”
Cunard recently gave iconic Queen Elizabeth a bit of a refresh, gearing her up for her first season homeporting in Seattle and offering cruises to Alaska.
ShareThis