Homestay Vs Hotel? Which Is Better?

All homestays are unique, distinctive & has a different story to tell

Today, lets discuss the argument homestay vs hotel. We might have spent most of our childhood frequenting hotels in every new city that we visited. We wondered each time how is this hotel any different from the one we visited before, but we go along for the ride nevertheless. Within this cycle, we tend to leave out a major competitor that might just be a much more preferable option, homestays.

You can’t really blame your parents or elders for not taking you there. In terms of publicity, it is extremely difficult for a homestay to compete with a mega corporation hotel franchise. And in their essence, they aren’t meant to compete with hotels. They present their own niche characteristics that hotels simply cannot provide.

What Are Homestays?

So, what are homestays? A homestay is, very simply, part of someone’s home converted into a hotel. A homestay is similar in concept to that of a bed and breakfast. Guests are either accommodated in the family home, or in separate quarters nearby. Nowadays, most homestays provide their guests with just as much comfort as a reputable hotel.

There’s a saying that goes, “Athithi Devo Bhava”, which means “The Guest is God”. Indians consider it a huge honor to have guests in their home, and go out of their way to please them. There’s nothing like Indian hospitality. Now lets talk about why homestay vs hotel is such a one sided argument.

Best Way To Live

No one knows a place better than the local occupants, and by staying with someone local you have access to the best information on the place. There are things about locales you would never be able to find in guides and brochures. Even online, most information on exploring a place is repetitive, as sites copy from each other, so trust your host to tell you where to go and what to do. Plus, homestay owners make it their business to know more about the local area so that they can point out shortcuts and scenic routes to their guests, making exploring all the more convenient.

Authentic Home Cooked Food

This is one of the most important aspects for me because you get to eat what the local populace eats on a regular basis. In hotels, the food you get is usually not as bona fide and regional since it is typically westernized to suit the fundamental taste of visitors. The best part about staying in a homestay is undoubtedly the delicious home-cooked food. It allows you to understand local cuisine and even learn what goes into the preparation as most hosts willing share secret recipes with you. Every five miles the taste and texture of the staple dish of the state changes–and this is your chance to try something new. This is why homestay vs hotel is such a one sided argument.

Homestay gives you personalized services

Hotels tend to be highly professional with high-end managers, reception desks and too many visitors. Like tutors, the scope of receiving personal care is reduced. If you are not feeling well, the lady of the house would happily take care of you nursing you to health. If you need some tailored adjustments in the stuff you like to eat, it’s easy to work that out. You are treated as guests, not as clients. There is a sense of togetherness with the “staff” that you would find at these homestays.

They’re cheaper when compared to the experiences and services they offer

Hotels can get pretty darn expensive and if they’re the low-priced ones, they are usually not too clean and hygienic. Hotels have become prohibitively expensive. Especially during peak season, hotels could charge you an arm and a leg. Homestays, however, offer a clean and affordable alternative and come with better experiences. While you might pay the same price in some places, you do so for the personal care and service that you receive in return.

The most pragmatic reason to choose a homestay over a hotel is, of course, that it’s cheaper, often by half, and doesn’t come with hidden costs and a million types of taxes. Food is mostly included and your hosts can point to cheap eating options in the area. Your money goes for longer at a homestay, so you can afford that extra sightseeing excursion or trek that you might not have done if you were spending more on just accommodation. So yes, this is a great reason, but one hopes the others are more of a deciding factor for you.

The experience adds on to the number of travel stories that you’ve built

Guests are treated as family and thus are invited to various family functions and local ceremonies. You’d actually make much more memories while residing in a home-stay than you could have imagined whilst staying at a hotel. Most people still continue to frequent hotels. None of them would have particularly exciting or distinguishable stories either. Homestays provide with a level of personal experience that will stay with you for very long as even you begin to promote this less flashy but wonderful practice.

Homestays generates income for locals

Homestays are simple establishments run by local families to augment their family income. These families tend to open their homes to locals for want of company or for the sheer passion for hospitality. While this is not a factor people usually consider before traveling, it is equally important to note that the money spent on these homestays is many a times utilised with the aim of making the women in the families more independent. By staying in these homestays, you contribute to their income. As Modi Ji puts it, Make in India. This is why homestay vs hotel is such a one sided argument.

Forming unlikely friendships

An ex-hunter, a reformed extremist, an old Naga lady, a recovering maharaja, you never know whom you encounter on your travels, whose home you end up staying at. Homestay owners tend to be chatty folk (people who don’t like to meet other people are unlikely to open up their home to strangers), so the conversations are entertaining and enlightening, and you might just form a new friendship for life. These people are as welcoming as some of your closest friends and are usually never hesitant in sharing their experiences with you too. This is why homestay vs hotel is such a one sided argument.

More peace and quiet

If you are travelling to get away from the noise and clutter of cities, this is a good choice. Because they are small, at any point you won’t have more than 10 people around at a homestay. This means peace and quiet and more quality time spent with yourself, or your family and friends. These properties also give you access to the more remote areas of the country, where infrastructure or a lack of vision has come in the way of building hotels, and just being there is great as these unfrequented, less populated areas offer a restoring solitude.

Homestays

There’s a saying in India, “Athithi Devo Bhava”, which means “The Guest is God”. Indians consider it a huge honor to have guests in their home, and go out of their way to please them. There’s nothing like Indian hospitality. Sadly, most visitors who come to India and stay in hotels never get to experience true Indian hospitality. The good thing is that all this is changing as a result of the growing popularity of homestays in India.

A homestay is similar in concept to that of a bed and breakfast. Guests are either accommodated in the family home, or in separate quarters nearby. Nowadays, most homestays provide their guests with just as much comfort as a reputable hotel.

Benefits of Homestays in India

There are a number of reasons why staying at a homestay can be preferable to staying in a hotel. The benefits include:

1. 1. Distinctive and Characterful Accommodations — Tired of sterile hotels? Homestays offer an unparalleled opportunity to experience the incredibly diversity and delights of India. The options are almost endless and include plantation bungalows, historic havelis (mansions), forts, and remote rural cottages. One on hand, it’s possible to stay with a royal family. On the other, a tribal family. There’s no better way to interact with Indians from all walks of life!
   2. Personalized Service — In contrast to a hotel, a homestay usually only has a few rooms. The family who resides there runs it, and acts as host. This guarantees that guests receive plenty of individual attention. You can spend as little or as much time with the host family as you like. Some guests choose only to dine with them, while others spend hours chatting to them. Regardless, staying with an Indian family is the easiest way of finding out about Indian culture. Many guests and hosts find that they bond with each other so much, they keep in touch long after the vacation is over.

1. 1. Safety — If you’re a solo female traveler who is visiting India for the first time or are simply concerned about staying safe, you’ll have a family who looks after you at a homestay. They’ll provide you with advice, and may even pick you up from the airport or provide a car and driver.
   2. Local Knowledge — The wealth of information that the hosts have about their local area makes deciding what to see and do a breeze. Such local knowledge is extremely helpful in getting the most from your visit. Many hosts are delighted to show their guests around their local area, providing them with invaluable insights that simply aren’t available from a guide book. Hosts usually have reputable contacts and can assist in making travel bookings too.

1. 1. Home Cooked Food — There’s a huge difference between the Indian food served in restaurants and hotels, and the food that’s cooked in an Indian home. By staying at a homestay, you’ll be able to taste authentic Indian home cooked food, made to order. It’s a lot lighter, and has more variation and flavor than restaurant food. Some homestays even welcome their guests into their kitchen, and let them watch and participate in the cooking process.
   2. Unique Activities — As a guest at a homestay, the focus is on you, and your likes and preferences. The hosts are typically very accommodating and will put a great deal of effort into arranging activities that are of interest to you. These activities will vary depending on location. Exploring a coffee plantation in Coorg, watching a polo match in Rajasthan, herding animals in remote northern India, village visits, picnics, and temple tours are just some of the options. Guests are often invited to attend weddings as well.

1. 1. Celebrating Festivals — The ideal way to celebrate India’s many festivals is with an Indian family. You’ll gain a deep appreciation and understanding of what the festival is about, as well as get to participate in the rituals associated with it. This is particularly the case during Diwali, which is a special family festival.
   2. Getting Off the Tourist Trail — Homestays are commonly located in residential neighborhoods, rather than tourist areas. This means you’ll be away from all the tourist traps, touts, scams and other hassles.

Staying at a homestay in India is all about immersing yourself in India, rather skimming over it.

Choosing Your Homestay in India

While the idea of a homestay might sound quaint and alluring, it’s important to choose your homestay wisely. As with most accommodations in India, the quality is very variable. Those who prefer their privacy may feel more relaxed at a homestay that has separate accommodations for guests, rather than rooms in the family home. Also be aware of the type of food that’s served. Some homestays only prepare vegetarian cuisine, which may be an issue for hardcore meat eaters!