Frequently Asked Questions

It is a unique accommodation arrangement to stay with local host families and individual hosts in their fully furnished homes while attending school, internship, or simply relocating from another city or country. Homestay is ideal for guests who would appreciate being in a supportive environment that offers lots guidance. Following is a list of typical individuals who would like homestay:

• Students from other cities or countries.
• New Comers with "working holiday visa, permanent residence, and temporary work permit"
• Visitors who would like to longer to discover and enjoy the beauty of the land, culture, and meet new friends.
• Relocating individuals or couples in search who would need temporary long term accommodation for few weeks or months.

Yes, when students and new comers spend time with those who speak the language at the homestay, they are able to learn it faster and acquire more confidence.

Our minimum age is 18 year old. You also must be 18 years or older to complete a homestay application with us.

The minimum stay is two weeks and our daily rates will apply instead of monthly rates for those stays that are less than one month. Review homestay rates/costs page for more details.

Housing is available in the form of single room, or shared rooms in apartments, town houses, or houses.

Each homestay guestroom contains a bed and bed linens, a desk/study area and chair, and dresser/closet.

Yes, electricity/hydro, heat and hot water.

Internet access is included if you have your own computer or laptop with wireless connection. However, if you would like to insure that you have wireless High-Speed or DSL access, you will need to select Semi-deluxe or Deluxe type homestay when you apply. You may wish to review the homestay rates page and get further information about types or levels of homestay and what they usually offer.

Some Host families in the deluxe homestay range offer the visitor their own bathroom, subject to availability, and most offer bathroom facilities that are shared by the family. Please note that your bathroom supplies are not included; like your own shampoo, soap, towels, tooth paste, brush, shaving gel, raiser, and toilet paper.

No. You are expected to be independent and be able to use public transportation. Most hosts will assist you with information and show you how to travel around the city especially on the first week after arrival. Some hosts will also offer you a free or paid rides with them, like car pool, if it convenient in terms of time and daily route.

If a host family has more than one private guestroom available, there may be several students in the same Homestay.

No. You select the daily meals that you want at the time of the application. Our meal plans are as following:

1. No meals
2. Breakfast only
3. Breakfast and dinner

No. The host family will shop groceries for an extra person shopping. In most cases, they will provide you with food items to prepare your own breakfast or dinner. Some families prefer to offer you a cooked meal for dinner.

Yes. However if there is an "increase" in meals, an additional fee may be required to accommodate additional grocery cost's. If you request to reduce your meals, hosts will understand when you may have late hour schedule or wish to eat outside at your leisure, or simply homesick to your home country meals and wish to prepare your own meals. However, the original costs associated with the original contract shall remain the same. If you request additional meals, you should ask your host if it is possible. Some hosts may not be able to offer additional meals due to work schedule or other personal reasons. Some students find it comforting to shop on their own for special delicacies native to their originating country.

Yes. Most host families will allow you to prepare or cook your own food, when you are normally careful and follow their kitchen hygiene and safety habits of doing things. You can easily take the time with your host to go over using kitchen equipment and utensils after arrival. Same with laundry facilities and security system if available...

Yes, your Agent/Homestay coordinator will try to assist you in specific needs according to availability. We will approach a host family for you and find out availability. If the requested host family is not available, we will try to contact a similar one for you.

Yes, indeed. Your Agent/Homestay coordinator has many years of experience and may become a great resource of information and options when available.

Yes, you do. Options are only subject to available host families with vacant room in the requested city or neighborhood.

Yes. Please note that a key is responsibility and point of trust in you by your host. Ensure that you ask your host when you wish to invite a stranger, your friend, or school mate to the house.

Yes, only at suitable hours. TV is usually shared TV in a common area or living room. If you want your own private TV, you should consider the deluxe type option at application time.

You may make local telephone calls from the Homestay, if local calls are free, or you have obtained an International calling card. All long distance calls must be made using a calling card. Please ask your host if you are going to receive calls and what are the best times for people to call you. Consider your own prepaid cell phone number, since telephone line is not usually in your homestay rate and it could be more convenient for you.

No. This is for the protection of both the Host- Family and the Student. Hosts are not required to offer a computer; therefore, we urge you to your laptop with you. However, Host-Families are required to provide internet access, either wired, or wireless.

No. Majority of hosts refuse that anyone would smoke inside their home, some also do not like the smell, or cause them a health reaction to an allergy. Majority of hosts will ask that you smoke outside the house in a designated area using an ashtray. You are kindly required to respect their request the sake of good health and well being of all. Few hosts will allow you to smoke inside if they do. Please note that in most cities and towns in Canada, USA, New Zealand, and Australia, smoking is banned by laws inside buildings, restaurants, airports, hospitals, or public areas.

Yes. The host family will show you where the laundry facilities are and how to use operate the laundry machines without damaging your clothing.

Yes. Your host will show you how to go shopping after arrival, but if wish, you could ask your host to go out shopping with them. It could save you time, effort, money to accompany your host. Most hosts know where to buy things cheap or have memberships that can save you money.

Yes. When hosts have free time and if offered, but not required; however, your admission ticket to attraction is your own cost. Also, if you do trips or excursions with your host family, usually hotels and restaurants costs are not included. Please inquire with your host in advance about such costs before.

This may depend upon the Host-Family. However, it is customary that you tell your host family if you will miss dinner, or will return to the house after midnight. Hosts usually worry about their guests and students if all of a sudden they do not come back home as usual. It is commonly so in big cities where crime rate could be high. In general, hosts want your safety and may give you valuable tips. Communication is key!

Only with the host family's agreement.

Yes. Let your host family that you will be staying outside and how you can be contacted should someone ask about you.

Yes. Please include that request in your application and complete flight details. You still can add the flight information at a later stage by updating your online application profile. Or you could contact your homestay coordinator if wish to request the airport pick up arrangement.

Yes. Please inform your host family well in advance of your departure information to travel to airport.

House Rules are the rules of the particular host family with whom you are staying. These rules may include requests by your host to lock the doors of the home when you leave, turn off the lights of your room or bathroom before you leave, or avoid receiving phone calls after a certain time at night. These rules usually apply to members of the family and guests. Homestays that accommodate more than one student at once find it easy to make such a list and leave it in the guestroom. House Rules may vary from family to family.

Contact your homestay coordinator or school admission department for special group or student rates and benefits offered by popular insurance providers. Consider that cost of medical attention and emergency healthcare can be very expensive beyond comprehension International students and guests. You better be prepared for the unexpected. Usually, insurance cost less than a cup of coffee per day but may save you thousands of dollars. For international guests, please consult with your own insurance broker or travel agent in your country of origin before travel.

You may obtain an application on this site. Please be sure that it is the guest or student application. The one-time application/placement fee is $300.

No, only when your homestay coordinator regrets for not being able to provide you with a suitable homestay due to high occupancies in the city. Please note that 50% off the refund will be deducted due to administrative, work hours, and online transaction costs.

Yes. We accept applications at all times. However, please keep in mind that "The earlier, the better"...especially for summer classes. Kindly allow a minimum of two to four weeks for best results, contacting host for you and reserving a homestay room.

Yes please. You may certainly apply anytime up to a year in advance. We prefer early applications and we give them good priority in terms of options and availability. Early applications allow as us to help you better, but if you have just found out about us, we still would love to assist you.

The homestay fees vary according to level of accommodation and number of meals required. We have put together a table of rates based on going homestay market rates on our website and on your application. Review the homestay rates/costs page for more details.

Yes. You need to account for additional homestay rates, at least one and half time of the regular homestay rate when your relative, or friend will share the same room with you. Companion arrangement must be decided upon in advance at the time of application and detailed information about the companion must be submitted on the same online application, in the comments and special requests section. These requests are taken on a "case by case" basis and based upon availability.

It all depends on when you are arriving, your requirements, availability homestay, and city occupancies. There is no estimated time, but it could be right away. Please check your email inbox regularly and reply to your homestay coordinator immediately. You are always welcome to check on that status of your application at anytime. As soon as a suitable host family is found, we suggest direct e-mail correspondence and or Skyping prior to your arrival.

When you selected a homestay and wish to book the guestroom and wish to stay for a month or less, you will need to pay at full payment in advance, if you were to stay less than a month. If you are staying longer than a month, and in order to reserve the room, you need to make a down payment of one month. The balance, you will be required to pay, regularly on time, directly to host family.

At the final stage of homestay placement, your homestay coordinator will email to you the airport pick up instructions and your host family details. The Host or an Agent will meet you directly in the airport at your Luggage Carrousel, with a sign with your name on it.

It is best to consider arriving in the afternoons and evenings, or anytime all day on Saturday on Monday. Avoid late night arrival if you can, but most host families are accommodating if you experience delays.

Please contact the host family by telephone and your airport pick person or service that will be waiting for you. We will provide you with their telephone numbers in advance. Note that airport pick person or service may only wait for you up for two or three hours maximum. If you experience flight delays or cancelation, we urge to call if come close to a public telephone. However, families are urged to use "FlightTracker.com" to track all incoming flights in order to avoid any inconveniences.

Yes, we would be happy to assist you. Ask your homestay coordinator regarding possible temporary homestay, or provide you with a list of hotels, B&B, or hostels that offer reduced rates for our clients. No extra agency fee for this service.

No. Please ask your school's counselor/coordinator for any additional assistance regarding school issues