What Homestay has that most Airbnb users miss is the guaranteed genuine local hosted experience. With Homestay, travelers get to stay in the house of the host, giving them better opportunities to live just like the locals would (instead of having the typical, touristy feel). It’s a pretty unique way of experiencing a new place (or one that you’ve been to before), and it’s almost always a wonderful experience.

The only downside with Homestay is that they keep to a very limited market. There aren’t really as many hosts willing to offer guests a hosted experience. Most property owners rent out their spots like they normally would on Airbnb. But if you’re lucky enough to book a place for one of your trips, it’s definitely worth a try.