WudStay takes on AirBnB: Adds homestay options starting at Rs 500

**WudStay** , a startup working with accommodation owners to ensure an end-to-end solution for its customers, has forayed into the homestay space. This means it will now allow travelers to live in the homes of local people and experience new cities from the comfort of a standardised accommodation. WudStay home stays will range from Rs 500 to Rs 3500 per night. WudStay has already partnered with 2000 homestays across 15 popular holiday destinations such as Ladakh, Manali, Goa, and Kerala, to name a few. The company claims to provide complete guarantee to its accommodation partners and also ensures a safe and comfortable stay to the traveller. In a press release, it says that there will be on ground teams to ensure quality at these homestays. It aims to add standardisation, the lack of which is said to have led to the failure of the homestays model in India so far, according to the company. WudStay is a profitable startup and last month when we spoke to its founder and avid traveler Prafulla Mathur, he said, “We strongly believe that luring customers through heavy discounts is a race to the bottom. Eventually, when funds dry up, companies that have create no real value but offered high discounts lose out on the customer base.” Commenting on the launch, Prafulla Mathur, Founder and CEO, WudStay said, “A significant portion of travelers today look to experience a new city like a local. They want to stay at the homes of the local people. Unfortunately, the poor quality and lack of standardisation has made living at another person’s house very troublesome. With our Home Stays, we work towards ensuring quality so that travelers can now enjoy the local flavor of staying with local people without having to worry about safety and comfort.’’ Users can book homestays on the WudStay website, and will soon be made available its Android and iOS apps.