Imagine waking up to the sound of a rooster on a New Zealand farm, or sitting around a Tuscan family’s kitchen table eating a home-cooked Italian meal. Does this seem attractive to you? If you’re tired of sterile hotel rooms and want to learn more about the local culture on your next trip, consider staying in a homestay or farmstay. Staying on a working farm or in the home of a local family can provide a unique insight into living in another nation. It can also be a low-cost (or even free) mode of transportation. But, because homestays and farmstays aren’t for everyone, it’s crucial to know what to expect before knocking on someone’s door. To assist you in planning your own homestay or farmstay, continue reading for tips, Web resources, and more information.

What is a Farmstay, exactly?

Farmstays, also known as agritourism or agriturismo, include everything from rural bed and breakfasts to functioning ranches and cattle farms. Some farmstays are rather luxury, with big rooms and handmade breakfasts every morning; your closest touch with the farm may be a leisurely stroll across a rolling meadow in this type of accommodation. Other farmstays include more hands-on experiences, such as learning about the inner workings of a vineyard or assisting with milking cows and feeding livestock.

Advantages

A homestay or farmstay is an unparalleled opportunity for cross-cultural contact if you want to interact with natives in the nation you’re visiting. You can practise a new language, learn to prepare traditional recipes, get the inside scoop on local politics, or see a neighbourhood through the eyes of someone who lives there by staying with a family for a few nights or weeks. Many people who have done homestays find that they feel less like a guest and more like a member of the family by the time they leave. Don’t be shocked if you stay in touch with your hosts long after you’ve returned home.

Disadvantages

Not everyone is a good fit for a homestay or a farmstay. If you like the privacy, personal space, and anonymity of a hotel, you might feel cramped in a tiny home with five or six other people sharing a bathroom. When you choose a homestay, you are agreeing to stay in someone’s home and follow a set of house rules that may differ from your own. This could include taking shorter baths, assisting with cleaning or cooking, sharing the television or computer, or becoming silent after certain hours. Expect less personal space and independence than you are accustomed to at home. Also, keep in mind that certain homestays may have a minimum stay requirement. (For example, HomestayAgency.com requires a two-week minimum stay.)