Homestays

A homestay isn't not for everybody, but staying with a local family -- whether in your own country or abroad - can give you a unique perspective and instant entrée into local society. And of course it's very affordable!

Cover photo: Dedy Andrianto

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Staying with a hill tribe family in Sapa, Vietnam

Located in the country´s mountainous northwest, 3½ hours from Hanoi, the area surrounding this town of 61,000 is fantastic for hiking amid its mountains, jungles, streams, and rice terraces. Another highlight is an overnight stay at the home of one of the families from the local Blak H'mong, Red Zao or Day hill tribes, in which you can learn about their dialy life, customs, and traditions. You can either book a Sapa tour from Hanoi or arrive via rail or road, then book with a local homestay…

Why homestays are the best way for students to immerse in another culture

If you are a student and you don’t have much money to splash on fancy voyages but you wish to explore other cultures, there is a way – applying for a student exchange program! Apart from an opportunity to study in a different country and meeting new friends, this is a great chance to develop a global perspective and broaden your social horizons. Application is easy if your college takes part in the program. You will have to compose a personal statement that shows why you qualify as a best…

Responsible Tourism Philippines

Hi Everyone, I'm glad to join this group. So i just take this opportunity to introduce you our Tour Operator. Ecoconut Tours Inc. is a Tour Operator, located in Cebu, devoted to developing ecotourism and responsible tourism in close cooperation with the local communities and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines. The Ecoconut tours enable you to discover the island of Olango and its multiple facets, through various adventures and activities. Our tour circuits…

Comments

José Balido April 15, 2025 at 1:00pm

A bit on the dry/academic side, but some interesting takeaways nonetheless: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-84075-y

Assessing the impact of community-based homestay experiences on tourist loyalty in sustainable rura…
Max Pesling December 28, 2024 at 9:16pm

A useful article comparing two of the top homestay platforms, TrustedHousitters.com and Homestay.com: https://maptrekking.com/homestay-finders/

http://TrustedHousitters.com/
Ken Kok Lee November 16, 2023 at 12:09pm

An interesting look at all the diverse homestay options in Malaysia: https://www.euronews.com/travel/2022/11/21/from-tea-plantations-to-...

Experience Malaysia like a local at one of its 260 homestays

Malaysia is keen to attract more eco-tourists - here’s how it's planning to do it.
Jordan Simon January 16, 2023 at 10:39am

Time Out looks at the comeback of homestays in 2023, including what it calls "the next generation": https://www.timeout.com/news/why-homestays-are-set-to-make-a-comeba...

Why homestays are set to make a comeback in 2023

Despite the backlash to Airbnb, rentals will be bigger than ever this year.
David Paul Appell January 30, 2022 at 2:11pm

Here's a good overview on Rough Guides' blog of the benefits of homestays (although admittedly a bit biased,having been written in collaboration with Homestays.com): https://www.roughguides.com/articles/homestays-why-you-should-stay-....
James Morris January 20, 2010 at 7:03pm

We're totally into homestays/hospitality exchanges, so, if you're interested in visiting our region of Canada, please get in touch. Sincerely, Richard Maloney