When staying in any new place, you’re faced with a selection of choices. One of the biggest ones is where you’ll sleep.
When it comes to foreign students staying in Singapore, the answer to the accommodation conundrum is usually a hostel or a homestay. But which is best? While they both have their own advantages, we kind of prefer the homestay. Here’s why….
Homestays are often cheaper (Singapore’s living cost is extremely expensive!)
The reason many student homestay adventures are successful is because of the reduced cost associated with them. For example, with a hostel, you pretty much get a bed for the night. With a homestay, however, you’ll usually find meals, laundry and utilities are included in the price. If you itemize these costs, you’ll find they add up significantly every week.
Homestays are just more cultural
When staying in a hostel, you’re likely to meet people from all corners of the globe. While this can be great, it’s probably not going to give you the taste of Singapore you’d have hoped to receive.
By staying with a local family, you’ll be immersed in the local culture. You’ll eat with locals, converse with locals, and hear tales from those who make this country their home
Homestays help you develop your language skills
Homestay accommodation is popular all over the world because it can be a great way for a person to improve on their current language skills. Even teenagers will usually spend a month or so in a foreign country as part of an exchange project in order to improve their command of a certain language.
While in Singapore, your language skills will improve dramatically too if you choose a homestay over a hostel.
Comfort
All of the reasons offered above are highly practical. They suggest a homestay can help you budget better and enjoy a more authentic experience in Singapore. While all of these things are true, one great reason to opt for homestay accommodation is for comfort. A homestay, you see, is like a home away from home.
You’ll likely be able to enjoy having your own bedroom. You’ll get to enjoy home-cooked meals eaten around a table. You’ll get to just chill out and watch TV. All of your belongs will be safe. You’ll have friendly people around you. The importance of these things really can’t be overstated!
Conclusion
Hostels and homestays both offer unique opportunities for a person to see and enjoy Singapore. What an individual must decide is what they want out of their stay in the country, and which of the two options meets their desires best.
You’re like to have a lot of fun visiting the country regardless of where you stay, but if you have special preferences or a desire to live in comfort, you’ll find a homestay probably suits you best.
