Whenever I’m doing a trip somewhere like rural Burundi, my local partners arrange the on the ground accommodations unless otherwise noted. This often means I don’t know where I’m going to stay until I get there.
Cell signal, Wi-Fi, hot water, electricity are all question marks until I get there. Some places I’ve stayed at were basically camping. Others were surprisingly cozy.
What I love about these field hotels, especially the ones I stayed at on this trip in Burundi, is that the people running them cared for them with such pride. Some places don’t see international visitors too often, but it was amazing- moving, even- to pull out every stop in trying to make you feel welcome.