Coliving naturally promotes slow travel and deeper connections—not just with fellow guests but also with the places we visit.
Unlike tourist resorts curated solely for visitors, coliving offers an authentic and intentional experience. It’s about forming meaningful bonds, embracing the local culture, and re-learning how to live in a community.
So, here is why we think choosing a coliving place with a local host makes this experience even richer and more rewarding.
A deeper understanding of local lifestyle
If you truly want to get to know a place—not just visit, but experience it—having a local coliving host can add a huge value.
There’s something special about someone who is on a mission to share their love for their own city with others.
A coliving host who grew up or spent most of their life in the area brings the history and culture alive through their personal lens.
They can share stories of family traditions, local hangouts, and what life was like in different stages of their journey. Through them, you see how history and culture shape everyday life, from what’s served at the dinner table to the values cherished by the community.
So, a local coliving host can be an invaluable asset in a coliving. And of course, this role carries a lot of responsibilities:
- It shapes the experience of the visitors directly impacting their impressions of the area and its people.
- It takes on the role of becoming a trusted “messenger” of the local experience for its visitors. This means carrying the responsibility of the story their visitors will take with them—how well they educate and represent their home to the world.
Better connection with the local community
One of the best things about having a local host is their ability to connect you with the local community.
The coliving host acts as a bridge between you and the locals, creating a beneficial exchange. In some areas, locals may be part of a close-knit community that could enjoy fresh perspectives. And for us as guests, these connections make a difference in a deeper understanding of the area and its people.
Sometimes it can be hard for locals and foreigners to connect on their own, especially in areas where tourism has done a lot of damage. There can be a lot of mutual stereotyping and negative assumptions, so having a person who can introduce both sides in a trusted and friendly way can do wonders.
A local coliving host can connect you with the community on different levels.
Some hosts may welcome you into their circle of friends, neighbors, or even family. Others might focus on connecting you with local businesses, events, or organizations while keeping a balance between their personal and professional lives.
On top of that, a local coliving host can provide “insider” guidance on cultural norms and traditions, which can later help you to further create and navigate new connections with locals.
A better understanding of local issues
Somebody who spent their life in the area understands the deeper challenges facing the local community. This is especially important when you want to contribute and leave a positive impact. In one of our previous articles, we talked a bit more about the ways you can contribute to the local community while traveling, so feel free to check that out for more info.
But, if you already read it – then you know how important it is to understand that deeper layer of what the community you joined truly needs.
A coliving host who is a local is a great resource for these matters. They can educate you on pressing local issues and even be a good resource to further explore what you can do about it. But, sometimes even being aware is already a big step.
If your local coliving host is also the owner of the coliving, then you can trust they align their business with the needs of the community. A local will inherently care about protecting their land, resources, and community. So, they will make sure they create a mutually beneficial relationship between visitors and locals.
Better true local experience
Finally, the benefit that was most likely the first one to cross your mind: a local host will be your best resource for an authentic experience.
When someone loves their city or region (which is almost always the case for those who become coliving hosts), they naturally become your ultimate guide to discovering the best the area has to offer.
Their recommendations can vary from simple ones to deeply personal, offering more than just a typical restaurant tip.
A local host can help you experience life through the lens of the community—fishing in hidden spots, camping in untouched areas, or visiting taverns not on Google Maps. This is not only going to give you a much more profound experience, but you will know that your actions align with local values and leave no negative tourist impact.
Beyond the recommendations, local hosts often add to your experience with personal stories about various landmarks or city spots. These anecdotes make the area come to life and add layers of depth and meaning to your explorations.
Bonus reason
By choosing a coliving with a local host, you directly support local employment and small businesses. This is especially impactful in rural or lower-income areas.
If the host doubles as the owner, then they will often reinvest in their communities by hiring further and creating a ripple effect of economic benefit. Supporting them means empowering locals to grow their economy and preserve their heritage, which is already a huge reward.
How this looks like in practice – an example from EcoIsleta
EcoIsleta is fortunate to have an incredibly involved local owner who takes the coliving experience to the next level.
Jonatan and Rita, the owners and hosts of EcoIsleta, are proud representatives of La Isleta, one of the most iconic neighborhoods in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. While many tourists visit this area for its beachfront, vibrant boardwalk, and lively social scene, Jonatan invites his guests to experience La Isleta on a deeper, more authentic level.
Raised in this working-class seaside neighborhood, Jonatan grew up surrounded by the docks, the sea, and the tightly-knit community of La Isleta. His deep-rooted connection to the area shapes everything he does at his coliving.
Bringing guests into the heart of La Isleta and La Isleta in the coliving
The local community of La Isleta is a part of the broader coliving community – or – it is the other way around. But, the point is – Jonatan pays great attention to creating opportunities for the locals and foreigners to meet.
Jonatan’s neighborhood walks are a great example of this. This is a staple activity at EcoIsleta that connects hiking and getting to know the neighborhood. Along the way to the hilltop viewpoint of the sea and the sunset, Jonatan stops to chat with longtime neighbors, shares anecdotes and speaks about history.
Also, EcoIsleta’s doors are open to La Isleta’s community for most coliving events, regularly bringing locals for family dinners, workshops, or just connection gatherings.
Giving back to the neighborhood
Jonatan also tries to give back to his community whenever he can. So, for example, he often collaborates with the local high school or gets involved in other local initiatives, transparently addressing the neighborhood’s needs and struggles.
He often tries to include his visitors when they are interested, having already a few of these engagements behind him.
Education and promoting La Isleta
Lastly, Jonatan’s efforts extend beyond the coliving space. Even before the coliving, Jonatan was very involved in preserving his area’s heritage. For over 15 years, he has been writing a personal blog about La Isleta, documenting its history, culture, and pressing matters. Over the years, those words, commitment, and research have even been incorporated into a book, which Jonatan published recently.
Through his coliving website, he continues to share his love for La Isleta with his guest, focusing the storyline on topics more relevant for his visitors. However, for those curious to dive deeper, his original blog and now his book can be a great resource.
As the epitome of the local host we described above, Jonatan ensures that his guests not only stay in La Isleta but truly get to know it.
Should I avoid colivings with non-local operators/hosts?
The short answer is no! We’re not saying that at all. The long answer is…
In small businesses like colivings, the owner often doubles as the host—at least in the early days—and there are plenty of cases where the owner isn’t a local. Sometimes, people fall in love with a foreign place and decide to create an experience that shares their love for the area.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that!
That said, when the owner isn’t a local, there are a few clues you can look for to ensure they still check all the boxes we’ve discussed:
- They openly and passionately share their love for the area.
- They know the history of the region.
- They shop locally and encourage their guests to do the same.
- They build connections with locals and help their guests do so as well.
- They contribute to the local community.
- They support conscious, respectful, and meaningful tourism.
- They partner with a co-host who is a local.
- They are honest about not being local and share how much they learn from the community.
- They speak the language and respect local traditions and culture.
A good coliving host can be local or not – what matters is that they are trying hard to be the bridge between the local community and the coliving community.
Ultimately, a local coliving host is not imperative for a great experience, but it is an undeniable asset.
Written by… Gala from MCS: Spain, she and Marko spent a wonderful 2 months in Ecoisleta, closely living and collaborating with the Ecoisleta community…
