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Travel / Accommodation / Homestay
Staying in someone's private home while travelling in the UK or Europe
     
Sections:
 Introduction
  Hospitality websites
  HOST UK
  Links
   
Related pages:
 Bed and breakfast (B&B)
Hotel
  Self-catering
  Hostel
  Student room
  Campsite


INTRODUCTION
Some people are willing to offer accommodation to travellers in their private homes, as a type of cultural exchange.

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HOSPITALITY WEBSITES

There are some websites which can be used to find someone who is willing to let you stay in their house for a short time whilst travelling.
The reason that the hosts do this is usually because they are interested in the experience of meeting people from other countries.

The arrangement is usually free, but you would be expected to be a good guest. Depending on your personal situation, some examples of things which you might do for your host family are:
- buy a meal for your hosts
- give a gift to your hosts
- help to wash the dishes after a meal
- spend time socialising with your hosts
- offer similar hospitality if you visit their country

Two of the international websites which promote this kind of homestay are:
http://www.couchsurfing.com
http://www.hospitalityclub.org
You can use these websites to try to find someone near the places you will be visiting.

Guests should be careful about personal safety, and make sure that someone else knows where they will be staying.

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HOST UK

HOST UK is an organisation which allows international students who are studying at a UK university or college to make a day or weekend visit to a British home.

A charge may have to be paid to cover the administration costs of HOST UK, although in some cases this may be paid by the university or college. Students need to pay for their own transport to and from the host family.

For further information, see: http://www.hostuk.org.uk

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LINKS

Other types of short-term accommodation in the UK or Europe: Travel/Accommodation
Finding long-stay accommodation in the UK: Life/Accommodation

Home page: Home

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