Have you ever done this? It’s such a great idea! 🙌
Instagram user Courtney Lynn Hunter recently shared some helpful insight for travelers: stay at a monastery or convent!
In this viral video, Courtney lays out what she believes are the pros and cons of staying with a religious order versus an Airbnb, hotel, or other accommodation.
“If I joined the convent, would you be surprised?” Courney writes in her caption. “Try monasterystays.com or monasteries.com or just search for a convent in the city you’re visiting.”
Here’s Courtney’s advice for staying at a monastery or a convent when traveling:
“Americans have bad reputations as tourists. So here’s my favorite travel hack to be a more responsible guest whenever I’m traveling,” she begins.
“Instead of booking an Airbnb, try staying at a convent. Airbnb may have started as a platform to help connect frugal travelers with a guest bed or couch, but now, it’s more often used to rent out someone’s third or fourth house for extra income. This has led to an increased burden on the local housing market, especially in the most touristy places.
“If hotels in your destination city are out of your price range, check out the local convents or monasteries. They are often located in the most beautiful neighborhoods, conveniently close to tourist destinations. And the room usually includes typical bed and breakfast amenities.
“The only issue you might have is that most have a curfew. They seem to have the original locks, and you have to drop off and pick up your key at the front desk when leaving or returning. Which, honestly, I think is ideal.
“There are a few different platforms to book your trip, but you might be able to call them directly if you prefer. My mom and I stayed at three different places in Italy and would highly recommend it.”
Courtney’s reel went viral with 587,000 views, over 46,000 likes, and more than 350 comments.
Here’s what some users said about staying in a convent or monastery:
“What a great idea, I had no idea it was so accessible!” one user said.
“I’ve stayed at both convents and monasteries in Italy,” another person added. “They are really great safe spaces for women travelers.”
“I love convent stays!” someone else expressed. “They're always in the best locations and they have pretty much the same amenities as a hotel (breakfast, bathroom, towels, hairdryer, etc.) but for a lot less. And compared to a lot of hotels, they are often very quiet. As a female solo traveler, this is the way to go! I've also been to convents with couples in my party, and we have never had anyone be turned away.”