Homestay in FranceHomeStay International

By HomeStay International

HomeStay - Boost your income thanks to some friendly visitors!

Many people have considered boosting their income through hosting visitors, but are also wary of the hassle, and fear they won't have the space or the 'mod cons' that they feel visitors expect. Fortunately, these aren't an issue if you offer HomeStay accommodation.

HomeStay is more like having friends come to stay. Instead of booking in to an anonymous hotel, your visitors enjoy the relaxed informality of sharing a real home and gaining a genuine insight into life in the country you've chosen to make your home in. And you can earn some extra income without turning your home into a hotel.

British and American expats in France make ideal HomeStay hosts. They enjoy receiving visitors from 'back home', and their guests enjoy having an English-speaking local to give them a way in to the country without having to struggle with a foreign language.

But how do you go about attracting visitors you know you'll get along with?

The way HomeStay works is simple. The HomeStay International website connects people with space to spare in their homes with visitors looking for a place to stay. You start a conversation with your visitors before they arrive so that both you and they get to find out a bit about each other and establish an understanding of how it's going to work. You decide who comes to stay and when, and you decide how much to charge.

"Visitors love staying with real people, and our hosts really enjoy meeting interesting guests," says Craig Priestley, one of the founders of HomeStay International and a British expat himself. "HomeStay guests are genuinely interested in sharing their hosts' lives. They're looking for the conviviality of staying with real people, getting a taste of how they live, and an understanding of what it actually means to make your home abroad. You might even find yourself going to stay with some of your guests in their homes for your holidays!"

It's free to register as a host on the HomeStay website, making it a simple way to attract visitors interested in sharing your lifestyle for a few days, or perhaps a week or two. Maybe you could also offer a longer stay for someone who wants to move abroad and would appreciate a little help from an English speaker who already knows the ropes. There can't be a more enjoyable way of earning a little extra!

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