My homestay in Tokyo taught me to avoid 'local experiences'

The added fees and curfews made it more expensive than a hotel.

4 comments

4 Comments

Remember my buddy thought he'd save money with a homestay in Osaka. He got hit with a surprise "air conditioning fee" every night, plus a charge to use the washing machine. The family also locked the door at 10 pm sharp, so coming back from a late train meant waking everyone up. He said the stress of calculating extra costs and missing the curfew ruined the whole vibe. Ended up spending way more than a budget hotel for way less freedom.

valschmidt1mo ago

They had a curfew?

skyler_jackson271mo ago

Oh yeah, curfews in homestays are no joke... I had a place once where the host locked up at 9 sharp, so if my train was late I'd be stuck outside. Really makes you wonder why you didn't just get a hotel instead.

victor7791mo ago

That's wild, @skyler_jackson27. A 9 pm curfew is basically a bedtime for grown adults. Sounds like the host wanted a guest but also wanted to pretend they lived alone. The whole point of paying for a place is to have access to it, right? Locking you out turns it from a stay into a stressful chore.