1. AN INFORMAL PLACE
A home stay is simply a part of someone’s home converted into a stay. It is less intimidating than a large impersonal hotel. You feel so much comfortable in a home stay.
2. PERSONALIZED ATTENSION
Once at Lansdowne, I just mentioned to my host I am missing my bike in these fabulous hilly roads. Without a second thought he took out his bike’s key and hand it over to me. Will a hotel staff do the same? Never. On another occasion one of my friend’s stomach was upset so he demanded for Khichdi. The lady of home stay cooked and served it with pleasure. You don’t get this type of hospitable gesture in a hotel.
3. EXPERIENCE A PLACE
No one knows a place better than a local. He can expose you to local sights, streets and foods which probably you won’t get in a travel guide. Online research is good but it can never beat local information.
4. GET THE BEST HOME-COOKED FOOD
India has rich cuisine. Every few miles the food gives a new aroma and flavor. Staying with local gives you a chance to try something new. Most of the time, you have access to the kitchen and you can learn their secret recipes from the host.
5. MAKE NEW FRIENDS
Staying in a Home Stays gives you a chance to meet people from different culture and habits. It becomes more enjoyable as it is like a social gathering with only a few people to interact. It makes your vacation a great fun and gives you some good friends probably forever.
6. LEARN NEW THINGS
When you choose to stay in home stays, you get a better chance to mix with the local people and know more about their cultures and traditions.
7. IT’S PEACEFUL
Home stays are typically located away from the noise and clutter of cities. They rarely have more than 4 rooms. So even it is full, you don’t see much people around. Just being there is great as these unfrequented, less populated areas offer a restoring solitude.
8. GIVES A SENSE OF SAFETY
Since you are staying with a family, your safety is a big concern for the host because his personal reputation is on stake which is very important for them. I remember how once I got late to reach back home and he sent all his team to find me because there was a leopard roaming in the area with her cubs.
9. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
By staying at a home stay, you contribute to the livelihood of the local community. In places like Lahaul-Spiti, Sikkim and Ladakh you mostly depend upon local stays and it’s a way of some extra income for them apart from farming. At the end of the trip you also buy local handicrafts as a thanking gesture. This help them a lot to make their life better and gives you immense satisfaction.
