Homestay Student FAQs

A homestay with a Canadian family in Vancouver, British Columbia (BC) offers you a unique opportunity to participate and immerse yourself in Canadian culture and the English language. Keep in mind homestay fees are 5 to 10 times less than if you had to stay at a local hotel and pay for all your needs. There are many hotels in Vancouver. The price per night at a local hotel, without meals, ranges from $70 to $300 dollars per night, depending on location, amenities, etc.
Your visit will be more enjoyable if you:

Be willing to embrace a new culture and habits.
· Get involved in activities in the homestay.
· Speak English in the homestay at all times even if you don't do it very well.
. Abide by all reasonable house rules.

Be polite and considerate to your host family.
· Tell your host family if you will not be home for meals or if you are going to be late.
· Ask your host family before you invite friends to your homestay.
. If you arrive home after hours, be quiet so you do not disturb anybody.
. If you sharing the bathroom with others, keep the bathroom clean after you use it.
. Turn off lights when you are not in the room.

You are responsible for your own expenses.
· Students pay for their own transportation to and from their homestays.
· You can pay for your long distance or international calls by purchasing a telephone card.

You should keep your room neat and clean:
· Make your bed in the morning and do not leave garbage on the floor.
· Do your own Laundry. Ask for instructions and respect the rules.
· When you leave your homestay, leave your bedroom tidy.

As a smoker you should make sure you are allowed to smoke inside the homestay or outside in the yard.
. Do not smoke inside your room if you were told not to.
. Do not throw cigarette butts on the yard grounds.

Homestay Families FAQs

A Few Reminders to deal with students when they contact you:
1. When exactly will the student be arriving/leaving.
2. Does the student require airport pickup/drop off.
3. Preapre some instruction how to get to your home when they decide to use public transportation (skytrain, bus #).
4. You should decide how much to charge for the airport pickup & drop-off. Please refer to our fees page as a guide.
5. You should always confirm the age of the student.
6. Homestay fees should be clear what they contain (how many meals per day). Some students may require only 2 meals or just roomstay.
7. It's recommended to charge a deposit when the student books their homestay with you.
8. If the student is sending you payment from another country, it should be either certified cheque or money order in canadian dollars.
9. Reminder: usually homestay fees include only room and board. Students are responsible for their own expenses: phone, transportation, etc.

From what locations/cities do you accept host family applications?
We accept host family applications all over the World

I live in a remote area. Can I still find students to my home?
Yes. Some students come to Canada to work as interns in local companies or to learn english by just communicating to people

What areas do the students come from?
The students come from all over the world

How old are the students?
We have students of all ages. The most common age is 15-25.

How long do the students usually stay with the homestay families?
Students can stay with the family from a few weeks to few months, or even a year. If you prefer to receive short or long term students, please specify that on your profile.

Can I get new students all year long?
Yes, we have students contacting us all year long. Of course the summer months are the busiest, but you should have your profile up all year long, as some students like to plan well ahead and book the room few months before they arrive

How do I become a homestay family?
Please sign up here