Accommodation

Homestay accommodation: a room in a local family's home

Homestay accommodation means renting a room from the people who live in the house. You get a bed, a door that closes and usually a seat at the dinner table — for less than a hotel and with someone who knows the city. Here is exactly what is on offer and what it costs.

See available rooms How booking works

What the accommodation includes

Every listing states all of this before you ask. No photographs of a room you will not get.

The kind of space: a private room, a shared room, a studio or an entire apartment — named on each listing, not implied.
The bed and how many people it sleeps, so a couple or a family knows straight away whether the room fits.
Bathroom: private or shared with the household, stated as an amenity rather than left to be discovered.
The internet: stable, unstable, or none at all. Hosts say which, because a bad connection ruins a working stay.
Whether animals live in the house — useful if you love dogs and essential if you are allergic.
The rest of the home you may use: kitchen, washing machine, garden or terrace, parking, air conditioning or heating.

Meals

This is the part that separates a homestay from a rented room, and it is the first thing worth checking.

Every room answers one required question: are meals included, yes or no.
When they are, it says which — breakfast, lunch, dinner, or all three — so "meals included" never means something vaguer than it sounds.
When they are not, you normally have the kitchen. Hosts list kitchen access among the amenities.
Food is cooked at home by the family, which is how most guests end up learning what people here actually eat.

What it costs

Hosts set their own prices; the platform does not mark them up. Four things decide the total.

The nightly rate

Set by the host for the room, shown on the listing and on every search card.

Extra guests

If more people come than the price covers, the host may add a per-night surcharge. The included number and the surcharge are both published.

Long stays

Many hosts drop the nightly rate from a threshold they choose — often a month. The discount and the number of nights that trigger it are on the room.

Minimum and maximum

Each room sets how short and how long a stay it accepts, so you can see at a glance whether your dates fit.

Homestay, hotel, hostel or a rented flat

They solve different problems. If you want a lobby and a key card, a hotel is the right answer — this is what a homestay gives you instead.

	Homestay	Hotel	Hostel	Rented flat
A room of your own	Yes	Yes	Often a dorm	Yes
Home-cooked meals	Often included	Paid extra	No	Cook yourself
Language practice daily	Yes	No	With travellers	No
Someone who knows the city	The family	Front desk	Other guests	No one
Lower rate for long stays	Common	Rare	Rare	Yes
Privacy on demand	Shared home	Complete	Little	Complete

Where you can book a homestay

Each destination below has published, verified homes right now. Open one to see the rooms and the nightly prices.

Ecuador 12 hosts Colombia 7 hosts Cuenca 5 hosts Medellín 3 hosts Baños 2 hosts Quito 2 hosts Villavicencio 2 hosts Riobamba 2 hosts El Chaco 1 host Envigado 1 host Hochiminh 1 host Imel 1 host La mesa de los santos 1 host Slovakia 1 host Viet Nam 1 host

Questions about homestay accommodation

What does homestay accommodation include?

A private or shared room in a family home, plus whatever the listing names: bathroom, kitchen access, laundry, internet, outdoor space. Many homes include meals as well — each room states which ones.

Is a homestay cheaper than a hotel?

Usually, and the gap grows with the length of the stay, because many hosts cut the nightly rate for long bookings and because meals are often already in the price. Compare the room's total, not just the nightly figure.

Can I cook for myself?

In most homes, yes — kitchen access is one of the amenities a host can list, and it is shown on the room. If meals are included you may find you rarely need it.

Do I have to share a bathroom?

It depends on the home, which is why each listing says so explicitly. Filter for a private bathroom if it matters to you.

Is there Wi-Fi?

Hosts answer this directly with one of three options — stable, unstable, or no Wi-Fi — rather than simply ticking "internet". If you need to work, look for a stable connection.