Authentic Homestays – How To Pick Them To Avoid Tourist Traps

Many travelers opt for homestays because they come with many advantages, especially if you travel far from home. However, picking authentic ones can be tricky if you don’t check them out first. Read on for a few tips.

Misleading Advertizing

For about a year now, I’ve mulled over social media videos and photos. Actually, it wasn’t a homestay, but an entire home rented for a crowd of us. The videos and promos showed a river, a jetty for the boat, lots of lovely bedrooms and a large entertainment and dining area.

Only when we arrived, did we discover that the river was down 142 steep steps. And, the bedrooms were all up a steep hill, quite impossible for our elderly relative to negotiate. But, chatting with other travelers, it seems that many people looking for homestays also run into similar problems.

Why Pick A Homestay?

Staying in a homestay can actually give you a nice vacation. Sometimes, the family who owns it helps you integrate into the local lifestyle. Plus, it’s generally safe and you can pick up the local customs. It’s also a great way to meet people. But sometimes, folks don’t get what they look for.

Some places that seem like authentic homestays are simply guesthouses marketed as a homestay. Meanwhile, others offer lots of local experiences, but don’t really deliver deep immersion in local culture. Meanwhile, others don’t deliver what you had in mind at all. Fortunately, spotting the more authentic ones might be easier than you think.

Check Beyond The Promo Material

You simply can’t judge by a quick glance at the photos and videos as I found out the hard way. Sometimes, beautiful pics can actually be very misleading. When you look at them, check to see if there’s anything remotely family oriented in it. Like a photo of a family on the wall, or evidence of a pet outside. Plus, it’s unusual to see a kitchen area that’s pristine if a family’s been using it.

Look out for signs that the place isn’t actually a small hotel. How? Well, do the rooms all look the same? Does the decor look normal in a home, or would it better suit a boutique guesthouse? While they might be nice enough to stay in, if you look for local culture, they might not fit the bill.

Reviews Are Vital

Don’t just check for the star rating of a homestay. Well, you can, but you’ll more likely get the real value by reading what other folks said about it. See if you can find comments that talk about meals, conversations with the hosts, or even being included in family activities.

Is it likely to be an authentic homestay if the reviewers only say things about it being a “good location,” or that the rooms are “nice”? Often, that points to a more formal arrangement. Be wary of reviews that don’t mention learning a lot about the local life, as they might point to a less immersive experience.

Test The Hosts before Booking

Often, when booking online, there are automated replies. Try and message the host directly if you can. If you don’t get an automated reply, you might be on the right track. You could always ask a question about the local culture or something and judge the reply.

An authentic host might reply with a personal tone and seem keen to tell you more. On the other hand, if the reply comes back loaded with rules, standard scripted replies, or bangs on about check-in times, then it might be wise to take that as a red flag.

Check The Street Maps

Very often, a homestay might be in a residential area rather than close to all of the tourist traps. Some street maps might show you how far you need to travel to get to places. If the place is right there close to everything, it might be a somewhere to avoid if you look for a genuine stay.

After all, souvenir shops cater to tourists rather than families almost anywhere you go. So, it might not be a genuine place for cultural immersion if it’s geared towards the foot traffic of visitors to the country.

The Bottom Line

If you look for authentic homestays, then don’t expect room service, a lot of privacy, and nobody wanting to chat with you. If you do want that, then you just shouldn’t choose a homestay. Rather, choose a boutique hotel. After all, a real home brings shared spaces, sticking with family schedules, and learning about cultural differences.

Did you ever book a place that didn’t turn out the way it looked in the promotional material? Let us know in the comments below, and come back here often for all your travel news and updates.