Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, Happy Moon Homestay may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only list the kinds of items we use at our own homestay in Aldona, North Goa.

By Ulhas Polle, host at Happy Moon Homestay, Aldona, North Goa, since 2024 · Updated 3 October 2026

Our track record: Google 4.9★ (130 reviews) · Airbnb 4.88★ Guest Favourite (41 reviews) · Booking.com 9.8/10 Exceptional

Room rent is the main income of a homestay, guest house or villa, but it is not the only one. Guests need breakfast, laundry, a ride from the airport and a scooter to explore. If you do not offer these, they will pay someone else for them. Offered honestly and priced fairly, extra services also earn you better reviews, because they make the stay easier.

1. Breakfast and home-cooked meals

This is the biggest one. Guests regularly mention our home-cooked Goan food in reviews; the meals are cooked by my mother. Our current prices are a published menu so there are no surprises:

  • Breakfast with tea: ₹150; with coffee: ₹170
  • Lunch or dinner: ₹300 veg, ₹400 non-veg

Publish the prices, ask for orders the evening before, and cook what you know well. Simple, homely food beats an ambitious menu. If you serve food, check the FSSAI registration your local authority requires.

2. Laundry and washing machine use

Long-stay and workation guests need to wash clothes. Let them use the washing machine for a small charge per load, or offer a wash-and-fold service. Put the price on a sign next to the machine so nobody has to ask.

3. Airport and station pickups

Guests arriving at night would rather pay a known host than bargain with a taxi stand. We charge ₹1,200 for a Mopa airport pickup. Keep the numbers of two or three reliable local taxi drivers you trust, so you can arrange a ride even when you cannot drive yourself.

4. Scooter and car rentals, tours and travel agents

Most guests in Goa want a scooter. Tie up with one reliable local rental, a taxi service and a travel agent for tours. Many pay the referring host a commission. I do not take commissions at my place; I simply recommend people I trust. Whether you do is up to you. If you take one, make sure the guest still gets a fair price, because a bad scooter or an overpriced tour ends up in your review.

5. Small things that add up

  • Early check-in or late check-out for a fee, when the room is free.
  • Extra mattress or sofa-cum-bed for an additional guest (we charge ₹600 per extra guest per night).
  • Bottled water, snacks and basic toiletries for guests who forgot theirs.
  • Bike or cycle hire for village rides.

The rule: easier stay first, money second

Every extra service should solve a real guest problem. Price it on a printed card in the room or in your guidebook, never surprise a guest at checkout, and say no to anything you cannot do well.

What our guests say about this (verified Airbnb reviews):

“The homestay is very well equipped with all necessary facilities and even more, from a functional kitchen to washing facilities. Mr. Ulhas ensures all guest needs are met with care, and the cleanliness of the premises is excellent.”

— Ashutosh, 5★ on Airbnb, January 2026

“The rooms were clean, well maintained, and the facilities matched the description perfectly… The cherry on the cake was the homemade food they provided which was absolutely delicious.”

— Surbhi, 5★ on Airbnb, January 2026

See it working before you spend a rupee

Everything in this guide is running at Happy Moon Homestay in Aldona, North Goa. Book a consultation: two hours on site with me, walking through the security setup, power backup, rooms, kitchen and the systems that keep reviews at 4.9★, and then your own property and plan. ₹10,000 for 2 hours. Free for persons of Goan origin. Staying the night is optional and charged at our normal room rate, so you can experience it as a guest.

Book a consultation on WhatsApp →

Want us to set it all up for you? See our done-for-you Airbnb setup service.

Frequently asked questions

How can a homestay earn more than room rent?

Offer breakfast and home-cooked meals, paid laundry, airport pickups, and tie-ups with scooter and car rentals or tour operators. Publish all prices in advance.

Do homestay owners take commission from scooter rentals?

Many do; it is the owner’s choice. I do not take commissions, I only recommend people I trust. If you do, make sure the guest still gets a fair price.

Do I need a licence to serve food to guests?

If you serve meals, check the FSSAI registration your local authority requires.

The full homestay setup series

Start with the complete checklist with real costs, or go area by area:

  1. Security and outside the property
  2. Power, water and internet
  3. Kitchen
  4. Bedroom
  5. Common area and dining
  6. Bathroom
  7. Supplies and maintenance

Staying in North Goa? See our rooms at Happy Moon Homestay.