Accommodation Options: Apartment, Host Family, Hotel or Hostel?

We know it isn’t easy to decide on the type of accommodation you want for your Erasmus+ or Turing internship and it’s important because the right accommodation helps you to get the most from your Erasmus+ or Turing experience. So in this piece, we are going to compare four lodging options and help you make a balanced decision.

We will compare the following for you; staying in an apartment, staying with a host family, staying in a hotel and staying in a hostel to see what advantages or disadvantages each of them have. We will also give you some information on all the different features of the options so you can decide which ones are possibilities and which ones definitely aren’t possibilities for you, depending on the type of person you are. Ask yourself, do you like being on your own and enjoy your privacy or do you prefer having somebody there to chat with and to share your experiences with during your Erasmus+ or Turing adventure?

Apartment

If you value your independence during your Erasmus+ or Turing internship most of all, then lodging in an apartment sounds like a reasonable option for you. In an apartment, you will have your freedom to choose when and what you cook, when you eat, what time you come back home, or if you want to invite somebody over to your place, etc. This can be essential if you eat a particular type of food (vegetarian, vegan, etc.) or if you have food allergies and you prefer cooking for yourself. Of course, the cost of your accommodation if you’re in a single-person apartment (especially in the long-term) can be pretty hefty.

There is good news though; there is an option of sharing an apartment with other student(s). You’ll still have your privacy (in your own room) and at the same time you share the costs of the accommodation and you can still enjoy your Erasmus+ or Turing experience, without worrying about spending too much money for your lodgings! Plus, you can chat with your flatmate who can also be a good support to you in a foreign country.

If you decide to choose the option of sharing an apartment, we recommend you find another international student rather than a student with the same nationality as you. This will make you step outside of your comfort zone (that’s where real magic happens!) and talk in a foreign language, growing and extending your communication skills. At the end of the day, that is what you are looking for when undertaking your Erasmus+ or Turing adventure!

Host Family

Another way to explore the country and the culture of your Erasmus+ or Turing mobility is to stay with a host family. It means you won’t be alone in a foreign country, you will get support or even help from your host family and you will gain insider information and tips about possible activities, nice places to eat, etc.

Don’t forget – being with a host family is a great opportunity to practice your language skills and do it in a relaxed, homely atmosphere. Think about those shared dinners with your host family and inviting conversations – it might even become one of the highlights of your Erasmus+ or Turing experience! Plus, if you don’t like cooking or just don’t want to spend your time cooking, you will be relieved that somebody else will be preparing local dishes for you. You can choose between half-board (breakfast and dinner) and full board (including a packed lunch) residential stay.

During your Erasmus+ or Turing mobility if you choose to live with a host family you have two options – double occupancy (where you have a roommate) or single occupancy (where you have a room to yourself). With a single occupancy, you have more privacy but also you have to pay more for your accommodation.

If you are wondering about costs of staying with a host family or in a rented apartment, usually you can expect a lower price for lodging with a host family but always take into consideration other things such as location or number of students staying in the same accommodation as you.

Hotel

This option is probably the most expensive one of all four but it gives you privacy and safety, much in the same way as a rented apartment for a single person does. It’s difficult to say which one has a lower price because it depends on the location, luxuriousness, etc. Don’t forget – you will have to pay extra for your meals, laundry and other things that are not included in the price of a hotel room. This will increase the costs of your Erasmus+ or Turing program substantially!

Hostel

A hostel is also a great option for your Erasmus+ or Turing mobility because that’s where you get to socialise with other international students. You can practice your inter-communicational and intercultural skills, you can share your experiences with other people, you can cook meals together (or by yourself) in an equipped kitchen, you can make new friends and much more.

You might be concerned about the privacy in a hotel but there’s good news - some hostels (most of them) offer private rooms with a shared bathroom. With this type of scenario, you get enough privacy and you benefit from the social environment of a hostel, so you get even more benefits from your Erasmus+ or Turing work experience!

What is another advantage of staying in a hostel is the facilities, such as laundry or a fully equipped kitchen – it’s a good way to keep your extra costs down, as you cook and do laundry by yourself.

If you want to see a more detailed comparison, check out our blog articles Hotel vs. Hostel and Host Family vs. Apartment.

You might find these sources useful when you search for an apartment, a room (in a hotel or a hostel) or a host family during your Erasmus+ or Turing internship: Airbnb, Homestay, World Homestay, Workaway, Booking, Hostelworld.

If it seems overwhelming, you are welcome to contact us, and we will be happy to help you as it’s part of our job and we enjoy doing it!

Are you ready to start looking for an accommodation for your Erasmus+ or Turing mobility?

For further information regarding the Erasmus+ application process you can check our guide for Erasmus+ funding applicants  or read our Handbook for Erasmus+ Project Management & Execution.