A homestay is much more than just a holiday. As a homestay host, you play a defining role in another individual’s travel experience, crafting an immersive, culturally-focused and educational language learning journey.
From the moment guests step into your home to the minute they leave, you want to ensure that they are getting all they can out of your experience, expertise, and insight. Designing a great homestay program isn’t easy, however. As each guest is so unique, homestay hosts can’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. There are several steps you can take to ensure the homestay experience you deliver is up there with the best.
As a leading platform specialising in language exchange holidays, we connect guests from all walks of life with great homestay hosts. Presenting travel experiences with a difference, we’re able to see the homestay from both sides to provide the advice and support all parties need to make the most of these unique opportunities.
We’re back with guidance for budding and established homestay hosts, revealing our top tips for designing the perfect program for guests.
Lay down the law
Entertaining guests from all parts of the globe is exciting. But when living under the same roof, you may become more aware of cultural differences and how things vary from individual to individual. Every household operates differently, which makes it vital to set some ground rules and expectations for your guests. One Life Log explains the importance of setting house rules for exchange students, guidance that is equally applicable to those hosting homestay guests:
‘Written rules help the exchange student to integrate more quickly into the family. They aid the student in learning the normal routine of the home and the unwritten rules of the household. Additionally, exchange students usually arrive with a much stronger command of written language rather than spoken.’
Your house rules can be as in depth as you like, covering everything from the basics to the finer details that will impact your family life. Include your feelings on smoking, home security, cleanliness, pets, and visitors. Make sure your guests have the information they need to treat your home as their home whilst still being respectful.
Extend the experience
For many hosts, the homestay involves language lessons for guests. Going beyond purely language learning and letting guests into other areas of your life is recommended, however. Make sure your homestay program is varied by inviting guests to sample local cuisine when joining you for meals, experience local culture by attending events within the community with you, and generally get a taste for your enviable lifestyle by spending some quality time with you and your family.
As a homestay host, you are giving your guests the gift of a cultural travel experience. Integrating them into each area of your home life will also give you a unique insight into their culture and customs.
Personalise their journey
Just one of the many advantages of having a presence as a host on Lingoo is the ability to connect with guests and get to know them before you meet in person. With Lingoo, you can find out all about your guest, discovering the details that will make a big difference to the homestay program you’re able to offer.
It may be important to ensure that many parts of your homestay program are set in stone, such as your house rules, but the perfect program is also flexible. Thanks to your flexible homestay program, you can cater to the unique requirements of each and every one of your guests to guarantee a truly unforgettable experience.
From ensuring a warm welcome courtesy of a tailor-made welcome basket to going the extra mile with a fully personalised itinerary, there are many things you can do to make the homestay unforgettable for guests.
Are you a guest looking to enjoy a homestay program in a country you’ve always wanted to visit? Living with a host family is a real experience and one that should be relished. Sign up with Lingoo today and find the perfect place to call your home away from home right here.
