By Mr. Deepak Chhabra,Founder, Holy Hotels.
Travel has started to feel a little different lately. It is not just about getting away or finding the best property anymore. There is a quiet shift happening. People are beginning to think about what their travel choices actually mean.
One of the simplest changes is choosing a homestay instead of a hotel.
It is not trying too hard to be green
Hotels, especially the bigger ones, run on scale. Central air conditioning, daily laundry, buffet spreads, constant lighting, it all adds up. Even when they talk about sustainability, there is only so much they can change when the entire system is built to serve large numbers of guests. Homestays feel different because they are not designed that way to begin with. Fewer rooms mean less electricity, less water usage, and less overall consumption. Meals are usually cooked in smaller portions, often using what is available locally. It does not feel like an effort to be eco-friendly. It just feels like everyday living.
You start behaving differently too
Something shifts when you stay in someone’s home. You become more aware of how you are using the space. You switch off the lights without thinking twice. You avoid wasting food.You become more mindful about water and noise. It is not because someone is watching or setting rules. It is because it feels like a home, not a service. That small change in behaviour matters more than it seems.
The money goes somewhere real
With hotels, it is easy to lose track of where your money goes. With homestays, it is much clearer. You are contributing directly to someone’s income. It could be a family renting out a couple of rooms or someone opening up their home to travellers. Either way, the impact stays local. When communities benefit directly from tourism, they are more likely to take care of their surroundings. Clean spaces and preserved culture become part of their everyday priorities.
It feels more like the place you came to see
Hotel rooms can feel the same no matter where you are. You could wake up in one city and feel like you never left the last one . Homestays carry the personality of the place. The food tastes different. The furniture is not perfectly matched. There is a lived in feeling that cannot be created artificially. Because of that, you do not need curated experiences to feel connected. The connection happens naturally.
It is not always perfect and that is okay
Homestays are not flawless. You may not get round the clock service. Things may not always be perfectly organised. Plans can shift. But that is also what makes the experience feel real.Eco conscious travel is not about finding a perfect alternative. It is about making better choices where you can, even if they are a little less polished.
You slow down without realising it
Hotels often come with a certain pace. Fixed timings, planned schedules, structured days. Homestays do not push you in the same way. You wake up when you want. Conversations just happen on their own. You end up spending more time simply being in the place instead
of trying to cover everything. And somewhere along the way, it stops feeling like you are ticking things off and starts feeling more real.
In the end, picking a homestay might seem like a small choice, but it does change how you experience a place and what you leave behind once you’re gone.
Cover image Courtsey: Aranyakam Homestay, Wayanad6
