Your Worldschooling Journey: Accommodations

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If you aren’t bringing your mobile (RV, van, or boat) “home” with you when you worldschooling, you’ll need to figure out where to lay your lovely heads each night. Accommodation options are plentiful, so it can help to think through your family’s criteria before you start making bookings. Some factors might include the following:

  • Budget: Some families set a daily accommodations budget, knowing they can flex up or down per night depending on local costs and options.
  • Location: Do you want to be near tourist attractions or off the beaten path? Are you interested in a particular site or neighborhood?
  • Length of stay: Many families find they are able to negotiate down the per-night price for weekly or monthly stays; you might consider this in your itinerary planning and then reach out to properties to inquire about options.
  • Amount and type of space: How many beds do you need, and will you be sharing bedrooms or have a separate one for the kids? Do you need a kitchen, a quiet work area, or outdoor space? Do you want a private bath, or is a shared one okay?
  • Comfort level: What is your tolerance for roughing it versus desire for the comforts of home? Can you handle spiders in a campground so you can sleep under the stars? Can you wear the same clothes four days in a row so you don’t need to do laundry at each stop?
  • Amenities: Do you want meals included with your accommodations? Fast Wi-Fi? A front desk you can go to for assistance? Are any other services essential for your family?
  • Other assurances: What is your tolerance for risk versus cost on other aspects such as cleanliness, safe locations, and noise level?

 

You’ll also need to decide whether you are booking all, some, or none of your accommodations ahead of time. While there’s comfort in knowing where you will sleep, you might enjoy the flexibility of finding places once you’ve arrived and can move around or change dates. Some families find better pricing by booking in advance, whereas others are able to secure last-minute deals once on-site. Still others like to see accommodations in person before committing to a stay.

 

Here are some thoughts on several accommodation types:

Hotels

Hotels and inns are often the most straightforward to book because you are dealing with a large company or local business owner, and third-party booking sites may make it even easier. Offerings are more standardized, and customer assistance is usually available on-site. Some families we’ve spoken with note that when they need a break, getting a hotel is nice because many things (food options, laundry, excursion planning) are offered or taken care of for the guest(s). The key downside is usually cost, as duration discounts aren’t common, and many hotel rooms don’t have kitchens that allow you to cook at “home” and save money.

Hostels

It’s a myth that hostels are just for twentysomethings. Few facilities have an upper-age limit, and families can mix in nicely. Some even offer dedicated family rooms with their own bathrooms (which are otherwise usually shared). Hostels are often well located near bus and train stations, and they are great for making connections and getting the scoop on local places to see. They can be quite low cost compared to other options and often have kitchens and laundry rooms, providing further ways to save money and meet other travelers in shared spaces. Potential downsides are the relative lack of privacy, noise levels, and increased risk of theft.

House/Apartment Rentals

For families planning to stay in one place for a while, the advantages of long-term house/apartment rentals are many. They allow you to unpack your bags, settle into your own bedrooms, and have a kitchen to save on food costs and accommodate special diets. They can also feel more like a home and allow you to really connect with the community by visiting local groceries, shops, and parks.

 

Longer-term stays can help you slow down a little, stretch your budget, and avoid travel burnout. They’re typically more cost-effective than per-night accommodations, sometimes dramatically so. Owners may be willing to negotiate pricing for longer stays, so don’t hesitate to send a message on Vrbo, Airbnb, or private listings.

Homestays

Homestays are when you stay together with local residents in their homes. Stays can offer the opportunity to live like the locals, observe and partake in their cultural and family traditions, and enjoy their traditional foods. Participants may get to practice language learning, ask questions, build relationships, and hopefully make new friends. Homestays are often booked through third-party organizations; search online by destination and read reviews to ensure you are working with someone reputable. Then go in with open minds and enjoy the experience.

Other Lodging Options

In addition to homestays, there are other economical accommodations that help you connect with the local culture, such as mountain-trekking huts, Bedouin tents, monasteries, camping along pilgrimage routes, and jungle treehouses. These, too, are usually coordinated by third parties.

 

If you are feeling even more adventurous, you don’t have to limit yourself to online reservations. Although the safety vetting and oversight filters will be missing from your search, renting accommodations directly on the ground, without the internet, can save you money. And you just might find a hidden gem.

 

Where your family chooses to rest and restore truly matters, and we encourage you to stay open to trying different styles of lodging along the way. You may find that your needs shift over time—shaped by your budget, your energy, or your desire for greater connection, comfort, or convenience. Our hope is that wherever you land, it offers a sense of home until you’re ready to move on down the road.