It’s true that the best spots are only known by the locals. Guests often turn to their host family or homestay provider for inspiration. There can seem too many, or sometimes not enough, places to visit. Other than the obvious, zoos, museums, markets and shopping meccas it’s worth considering exposure to some of the less common experiences. Observe fairy penguins or kangaroos in their native habitats. Take a ferry, a daily thing for some commuters

I love these! More commonly referred to as slang, the definition of which is; (n)A word or phrase that is not formal or literary and is used in ordinary or familiar conversation. We have some stellar ones down under; Crikey, Dunny, Drongo, Fair dinkum, the list goes on. I’ve seen some ripper merchandise with these (and their explanations) which I reckon make fabbo souvenirs. If nothing else the use of these and, the conversations to

Do you have a guest who loves animals? Perhaps they chose your homestay for that fantastic pic of your pudgy pooch? Well, even if you don’t, a trip to the pet shop is a free way to observe some of the local pets on offer. Not everyone has seen a green tree frog, or king quail, or cockatoo (mind your fingers!) It certainly costs less, and requires less effort than a trip to the zoo!

Another pleasant little discovery for my guests is Bunnings! What was recently intended to be a quick pop in, turned into an epic journey of interest recently. Find the best Homestay place for Guests. Australians are very ‘handy’ people. Many of us enjoy the odd project, even if we haven’t mastered the skills to successfully accomplish it we still have an attitude that allows us to ‘give it a go’. Some Asian countries barely have

At dinner last night I was infuriated when my guest told me of the inappropriate conduct the car service driver had provided. During the course of her trip, he put pressure on her to become his ‘friend’. Clearly this chap has been using his position of power, as the driver of the vehicle, to exploit individuals. My guest was both intimidated and concerned for her safety. Our lengthy conversation journeyed through everything from women’s rights

Today is a day to spark conversation of interest to host family homestay providers and homestay accommodation seekers alike. It is the UN commemorated International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. There are an estimated 370 million indigenous people in the world, living across 90 countries. Speaking the majority of the world’s estimated 7,000 languages and representing 5,000 different cultures. Hosts and Guests alike are naturally inquisitive about other cultures, which leads them to travel

We’ve just welcomed a new host student, Ellen, into our host family homestay. Upon arriving in the morning, she asked if we had anything planned for the day. I admit, I kinda freaked out, I immediately thought I should have planned something! Then I remembered, guests often find magic in the mundane. The kids needed some stuff from Kmart, so we headed off to the local shopping centre. Here I pointed out recognisable brands such

Host family homestay providers are a wealth of information and support when it comes to local public transport. Guests can easily become overwhelmed by feelings of confusion, embarrassment and frustration in attempting to decode and navigate the system. In our homestay accommodation we often provide our guests with a map and brochure, obtained from the local train station free of charge. Some are more capable than others and, with this brief introduction are able to

It’s inevitable when providing homestay accommodation, taking an extra person into your home, that your housework will increase marginally. Don’t let this put you off, just employ some, or all of the below tricks I use, to absorb it! 1/Consider being a ‘shoes off’ host family homestay. Lots of wet dirt and stuff gets stuck to the soles of those shoes then walked around your whole house! Going shoes off makes a HUGE difference to

One thing I really enjoy about our host family homestay experience is celebrations. This week we celebrate our guest Ghala’s birthday. This event might otherwise go unnoticed if she weren’t in homestay accommodation. I don’t make a big deal out of it and, it doesn’t cost a lot of time or money. It’s just so easy to grab a supermarket cake and pop (pardon the pun) into the local party shop for some balloons. I

When hosting an international Guest your children will also benefit from the host family homestay experience. Homestay accommodation provides children in the family, with valuable exposure to other countries, cultures and languages. They build on their communication skills through natural enquiry and conversation. Hosting can assist in developing children’s patience and resilience, while enhancing social understanding, and acceptance. Life skills they acquire can be advantageous to them in all environments.

In a house share arrangement every member of the house does their own cooking and cleaning. Often homestay Guests, who have experienced a house share, say the house is dirty or it’s difficult to use the kitchen. In a homestay arrangement the Host does all the cooking and cleaning. Guests are often willing to assist and become involved, especially with cooking, as it is a great learning opportunity for them. However, the role is that

As a host family homestay provider of about 13 years, we’ve learnt that it’s far simpler than a lot of people expect. Essentially, all you’re doing, is adding an extra place setting to the dinner table and, including another person in the conversation. That’s it in the simplest form, obviously ground rules need to be laid for your guests. Perhaps there are times in the evening that you need quiet or, the duration of their