City breaks with a twist: the world's best homestay experiences

This feature has been made possible by Homestay.com, an accommodation marketplace connecting guests to local hosts in over 150 countries.

Why struggle as a stranger in a foreign land when you can opt to travel as a friend in a familiar city? Homestays offer a more intimate alternative to traditional hotels that, with the help of a friendly host, can showcase the soul of a city shielded beneath the mask of a modern megalopolis.

In our last feature, we revealed the best cities in Europe to try a homestay. Here, we look at the best cities from around the world, from Toronto to Tokyo, and what to look forward to when you're prepared to swap the hotel mod cons for a spare room in a local's home.

1. New York City

From Brooklyn to The Bronx, The City That Never Sleeps strikes an electrifying chord composed of the shrieks of sports venues, cries of concert halls, whines of office workers and the drunken babble seeping from the city’s bars. A homestay in the Big Apple can help you escape from the claustrophobic cluster of hotels surrounding Midtown Manhattan and have you dancing to your own beat. Options include the arty maritime neighbourhood of Red Hook, the bustling backstreets of charming Chinatown or slow-paced Inwood, home to acres of peaceful parkland where the city’s howl dims to a pleasant hum.

Are you planning to visit New York? Don't miss the opportunity to choose the best places to stay in the city.

2. Sydney

That iconic snap of Sydney – the sun spilling over cocktail-swilling crowds swarming the hallowed harbour that reflects the resplendent opera house in its calm waters – can promote an image of Australia’s largest city as somewhat one dimensional. Mixing with locals in a homestay can awaken guests to the city’s myriad of exciting activities. Visitors can sink into a salt-water swimming pool, swerve through the city on a Segway or attempt that most archetypal of Aussie activities: surfing (not barbecuing).

3. Toronto

Canadians are renowned for their hospitality, and in Canada’s largest and most multicultural metropolis it can be beneficial to have a host help cut through the city’s modern veneer. A recommendation for the best exhibits in the monolithic Royal Ontario Museum, one of the largest museums in North America, could very well turn into a day out that sees you sampling Queen Street’s sloppiest poutine and scoring rink-side tickets to witness the Maple Leafs, Toronto’s professional ice hockey team, carve up the ice. You’ve been warned.

4. Tokyo

Culture shock is Tokyo’s forte. From sumos to kimonos, the megalopolis revels in reducing even the most accomplished globetrotter to a trembling timid tourist. A homestay can really ground the experience and offer an intimate insight into modern Japan, with friendly locals keen to showcase their unique culture to visitors. Expect to be shown the correct way to slurp soba from stalls at Ameya-Yokochō market, debriefed on the history of the Meiji Shrine, Tokyo’s most renowned Shinto structure, and, come nightfall, encouraged to sip sake and sing karaoke – the newest of Japanese traditions.

5. Melbourne

A hipster nirvana, Melbourne is continually crowned one of the world’s most liveable cities, and its stylish streets, swarming with bearded gents and girls garnered in vintage threads, has started to attract an increasing number of tourists over the last few years, enticed by the city’s idiosyncrasies. Things change quickly here, and securing the expertise of a local means you’ll have a greater chance of sampling the town’s trendiest venues. A glampsite on a rooftop? No problem. A charitable whisky bar? Of course. A vegan coffee shop filled with owls? Probably coming soon.

6. Los Angeles

Part of LA’s appeal is the chance for the average traveller to rub shoulders with America’s high and mighty, and while your host is unlikely to be a movie star – at least a professional one – they are probably familiar with the city’s chief celeb hangouts. The Sunday morning Studio City Farmers Market is a good place to start, while a run around Runyon Canyon, popular with celebrity joggers, may result in sweaty small talk. If all else fails, see the stars of tomorrow at the excellent Upright Citizens Bridgade Theatre, where a number of America’s biggest comedic names started out.

Planning a trip to Los Angeles? Start preparing for your trip with our guide to the best accommodation options in Los Angeles.

7. Auckland

Sandwiched between two handsome harbours, the City of Sails manages to squeeze a cultural cornucopia into its concentrated centre. Displays of Maori culture are on offer at the Auckland Museum, while ever-changing contemporary collections span the Wallace Arts Centre. But it is in its outskirts that Auckland excels, and with the luxury of private transport, a plethora of pilgrimages awaits. Chief among these is a visit to the wild and desolate West Coast surf beaches (and its wondrous wineries), just one hour from the city.

If you are looking for some ideas for your city breaks in Europe, explore our guide to the best European city breaks with rural escapes.

Homestay.com is a global homestays booking platform with a community of hosts and guests from around the world. They aspire to provide authentic travel experiences, where the hosts at the heart of a homestay offer the chance to live and breathe the local culture, make friends as well as memories, and explore destinations in a truly authentic way.

This feature was sponsored by Homestay.com; all content is editorially independent.

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