Choosing Partners for Teen Homestay Travel

Introduction to Homestay Travel Programs

In homestays, students spend time with a local host family instead of staying in a hotel or guesthouse. The family invites the exchange students into their home and shares their day-to-day life. The local family interacts with and gets to know the high school traveler at a deeper level than otherwise possible.

Homestay programs present unique immersion opportunities for teen travel programs. During homestay programs, teens can experience the local culture while fully immersed in a new country with a host family.

Many hosts do so to make friends with students from around the world. In some cases, a host offers accommodation in exchange for compensation.

Selecting the right host families is crucial for a positive experience. In this article, we will discuss how we choose the best homestay partners, what is expected of homestay program students, and what a program experience looks like.

Evaluating Homestay Families In Local Communities

We evaluate host family partners through a detailed vetting process. Accommodation on our homestay programs must meet our rigorous health, safety, and security standards.

Before identifying the best possible host family, we consider the local communities. We do research to ensure each destination has appropriate community support from the locals. We spend substantial time assessing the interest from community leaders about their desire to host.

After confirming the communities’ interest in becoming a homestay site, we conduct thorough site visits with each possible host family to discover the best accommodation for a possible homestay.

Guidelines and Expectations For Host Families

Homestay families must not have any family members with police records or histories of criminal and mental health behaviors. Homestay families must have strong language skills to communicate with the children and provide an authentic experience.

Homestay Accommodation Must Have:

• Private areas for guests separated from the rest of the home by a door or divider
• Access to a clean toilet and handwashing station in or near the homestay accommodation
• Access to make delicious meals for the teen to experience life in the country
• No signs of animal or insect infestation, and maintain basic cleanliness standards
• Filtered and/or clean bottled water for cooking and consumption

Before High School Students Arrive

After homestay program sites have been evaluated and selected, we meet with families to discuss expectations. We provide emergency contact information, address allergies, and other health issues that travelers could experience while staying in their host homes. Finally, we work with the homestay family to establish behavioral and cultural expectations during the homestay programs.

During and After the Homestay Experience

Throughout their stay, host families and students provide ongoing feedback. If a student reports any concerns with their host family, we promptly create an incident report and follow up appropriately. This feedback process helps us develop strong, lasting relationships with our homestay partners, often using the same families for multiple years, creating a unique and welcoming environment.

After the students leave, both host families and students continue to offer valuable feedback about their experience. Should any comfort or safety concerns arise, we again create an incident report and address the issues.

We maintain and strengthen our relationships with host families between visits, conducting two formal reviews with local community members to ensure the continued suitability of the homestay environment.

What are the Expectations For Homestay Program Students?

The expectations for homestay program students are to:

• Follow the curfew set by their program leaders
• Ask the host family before inviting any visitors into the house. Outside visitors aren’t allowed to spend the night.
• Carry their emergency contact cards at all times
• Report illnesses right away
• Report concerns to program leaders immediately
• Embrace an open mind to the culture and life of their homestay family

We also want to make sure our high school students respect our local hosts and their families. While we carefully review homestay sites and each host family, we want our students to remember that people are welcoming them into their homes and their lives.

Students should also keep the local culture and cultural norms in mind during their stays and when interacting with their host families. They should be respectful and flexible at all times and abide by any additional rules their host families may have.

What does a homestay experience look like?

A homestay experience typically involves international students visiting countries like Costa Rica to participate in a cultural exchange with a host family. Whether for a few days, weeks, or a full school year, students leave their home country and live with their host family, gaining a unique cultural perspective.

In most cases, a homestay student would live in their own room while sharing meals and other household amenities like laundry facilities. This setup provides the opportunity to fully immerse in the new culture. Long-term students on homestay programs might attend a local high school, where they will have more chances for cultural immersion and to improve their language skills.

The homestay program offers students the chance to live in a different culture and benefit from insider travel tips provided by locals, helping them discover the hidden gems of the country. Ideal homestays might include volunteering, enjoying traditional meals, and engaging in day-to-day activities.

By living in a fully immersed local environment instead of dorms or AirBnBs, students save money while gaining a richer experience. Additionally, international students can build meaningful connections with locals and leave with countless memories of their adventure.

While there’s no such thing as a perfect homestay, the goal is to create your own unique experience. With your host family, you can enjoy home-cooked meals, practice a new language, and develop positive and lasting relationships. Each homestay is an opportunity to embrace cultural differences and grow personally and academically.

Review our programs with homestays for high school students or teacher-led trips.