Homestay vs. Lodge — What's the Difference?

A type of accommodation where guests stay in a local family's residence.

A standalone, commercial accommodation providing lodging and services.

Includes meals and interaction with the host family.

Offers varying levels of comfort, privacy, and amenities.

Limited guest capacity, ensuring personalized hospitality.

May provide guided tours and outdoor activities.

Offers a unique perspective on everyday life in the destination.

Typically located in or near scenic or remote areas.

Promotes cultural exchange and understanding.

Can be small, boutique setups or large resorts.

Homestay (also home stay and home-stay) is a form of hospitality and lodging whereby visitors share a residence with a local of the area to which they are traveling. The length of stay can vary from one night to over a year and can be provided for free (gift economy), in exchange for monetary compensation, in exchange for a stay at the guest's property either simultaneously or at another time (home exchange), or in exchange for housekeeping or work on the host's property (barter economy).

A small house on the grounds of an estate or a park, used by a caretaker or gatekeeper.

A system whereby students, visiting a foreign country to study, board with a local family at an affordable price.

An often rustic building used as a temporary abode or shelter

A house used primarily as the residence of the owner but with the business of accommodating paying guests.

An inn.

Any of various Native American dwellings, such as a hogan, wigwam, or longhouse.

The group living in such a dwelling.

A local chapter of certain fraternal organizations.

The meeting hall of such a chapter.

The members of such a chapter.

The den of certain animals, such as the dome-shaped structure built by beavers.

To provide with temporary quarters, especially for sleeping

To rent a room to.

To place or establish in quarters

To serve as a depository for; contain

To place, leave, or deposit, as for safety

To fix, force, or implant

To register (a charge or complaint, for example) before an authority, such as a court; file.

To vest (authority, for example).

To beat (crops) down flat

To live in a place temporarily.

To rent accommodations, especially for sleeping.

To be or become embedded

A building for recreational use such as a hunting lodge or a summer cabin.

: a building or room near the entrance of an estate or building, especially as a college mailroom.

A local chapter of some fraternities, such as freemasons.

(US) A local chapter of a trade union.

A rural hotel or resort, an inn.

A beaver's shelter constructed on a pond or lake.

A den or cave.

The chamber of an abbot, prior, or head of a college.

(mining) The space at the mouth of a level next to the shaft, widened to permit wagons to pass, or ore to be deposited for hoisting; called also platt.

A collection of objects lodged together.

An indigenous American home, such as tipi or wigwam. By extension, the people who live in one such home; a household.

(historic) A family of Native Americans, or the persons who usually occupy an Indian lodge; as a unit of enumeration, reckoned from four to six persons.

(intransitive) To be firmly fixed in a specified position.

(transitive) To firmly fix in a specified position.

(intransitive) To stay in a boarding-house, paying rent to the resident landlord or landlady.

(intransitive) To stay in any place or shelter.

(transitive) To drive (an animal) to covert.

(transitive) To supply with a room or place to sleep in for a time.

(transitive) To put money, jewellery, or other valuables for safety.

(transitive) To place (a statement, etc.) with the proper authorities (such as courts, etc.).

(intransitive) To become flattened, as grass or grain, when overgrown or beaten down by the wind.

(transitive) To cause to flatten, as grass or grain.

A shelter in which one may rest;

A small dwelling house, as for a gamekeeper or gatekeeper of an estate.

The space at the mouth of a level next the shaft, widened to permit wagons to pass, or ore to be deposited for hoisting; - called also platt.

A collection of objects lodged together.

A family of North American Indians, or the persons who usually occupy an Indian lodge, - as a unit of enumeration, reckoned from four to six persons; as, the tribe consists of about two hundred lodges, that is, of about a thousand individuals.

To rest or remain a lodge house, or other shelter; to rest; to stay; to abide; esp., to sleep at night; as, to lodge in York Street.

To fall or lie down, as grass or grain, when overgrown or beaten down by the wind.

To come to a rest; to stop and remain; to become stuck or caught; as, the bullet lodged in the bark of a tree; a piece of meat lodged in his throat.

To give shelter or rest to; especially, to furnish a sleeping place for; to harbor; to shelter; hence, to receive; to hold.

To drive to shelter; to track to covert.

To deposit for keeping or preservation; as, the men lodged their arms in the arsenal.

To cause to stop or rest in; to implant.

To lay down; to prostrate.

To present or bring (information, a complaint) before a court or other authority; as, to lodge a complaint.

English physicist who studied electromagnetic radiation and was a pioneer of radiotelegraphy (1851-1940)

A formal association of people with similar interests;

Small house at the entrance to the grounds of a country mansion; usually occupied by a gatekeeper or gardener

A small (rustic) house used as a temporary shelter

Any of various native American dwellings

A hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers

Be a lodger; stay temporarily;

Fix, force, or implant;

File a formal charge against;

Provide housing for;

A homestay involves staying with a local family, while a lodge is a commercial accommodation often in a natural setting.

Requests can be made, but homestays often have limited amenities compared to commercial lodgings.

Yes, many lodges cater to families or groups, offering a range of room sizes and services.

Yes, most homestays provide private rooms, but guests share common areas with the host family.

Generally, homestays include meals, often offering guests traditional home-cooked dishes.

Lodges often provide activities like hiking, fishing, wildlife tours, or spa services, depending on their location.

Homestays offer cultural immersion, personal connections, and insights into local customs and cuisine.

Some lodges follow sustainable practices, like eco-lodges that minimize environmental impact.

Yes, most lodges have professional staff trained in guest services.

Yes, homestays can be safe, but it's important to research and choose verified, reputable hosts.

Gifts are not necessary but can be a nice gesture of appreciation.

Some lodges provide all-inclusive options covering accommodation, meals, and activities.

Many lodges offer internet access, while it varies in homestays, especially in rural areas.

This varies by homestay, but many require a minimum stay to ensure a meaningful experience.

Many lodges offer transportation or guided tours to nearby attractions.