Written by Claire Sweeney
Watch our new video... Hello Homestay!
We're excited to share with you our brand new video offering a glimpse inside the worlds of our hosts.
Claire Sweeney
Claire has a long love affair with travel that began as a school student when she travelled to Angouleme in France on an exchange program. Since then she has travelled all around the world, often putting down roots as an expat and living with the locals. Her adventures include climbing volcanoes in Bali, sky-diving in New Zealand, exploring temples in Cambodia, drinking cocktails in Manhattan, crossing the Karoo in South Africa, snorkelling in Fiji, diving in Thailand, wine-tasting in Provence, eating tapas in Madrid, volunteering in Sri Lanka and 12 years as a local in beautiful, sunny Sydney. For Claire, travel is as much about the people you meet as it is about the places you see.
Posts by this author
Written by Claire Sweeney
Adventure and culture on a family holiday in Sri Lanka
By van, train and tuk-tuak, Belinda and Rob Murrell spent nearly three weeks travelling around Sri Lanka with their three teenage children - Nick, 18, Emily, 16 and Lachie, 14. Wanting to really experience the local culture, they decided to avoid big hotels and luxury resorts and instead stay with local families.
Written by Claire Sweeney
Toronto hosts Tim & Nick welcome you to their home
Tim and Nick signed up as hosts on Homestay.com to meet new people and learn from their experiences. They are proud of their city, Toronto, and eager to show their guests around.
Written by Claire Sweeney
Staying in a homestay on a solo travel adventure
With her camera in tow, Jasmine from the USA, is on a solo travel adventure in Bali and beyond. Staying in a homestay has offered her a true insider experience and smooth adjustment to travelling alone, while her hosts have done all they can to make her feel a part of their family during her time with them.
Written by Claire Sweeney
Visiting Toronto? Stay in leafy High Park neighbourhood
Hosts Larissa and Julian live in a beautiful Edwardian home in the leafy suburb of High Park in Toronto. Both enjoy meeting people and sharing what they love about Toronto with visitors.
Written by Claire Sweeney
Around the world in 8 homestays: two travellers share priceless experiences
Seasoned travellers George and Dee have been all around the world in the last year, staying in homestays along the way. They enjoy the personal nature of a homestay, meeting people and getting a 'real life' insight into the local culture.
Written by Claire Sweeney
2014 Homestay Report shows Homestays are on the rise
Homestays are on the rise. Traditionally and educational only form of accommodation the profile of the homestay traveller is changing significantly. Nearly half of all homestay guests are on holiday. Students only account for 29% of homestay guests in 2014
Written by Claire Sweeney
Where to Stay in Cuba: Experience the Culture in Casas Particulares
Casas Particulares in Cuba offer an authentic Cuban experience in a real family home. If you're wondering where to stay in Cuba, meet some of our top hosts in Havana, Trinidad and Viñales.
Written by Claire Sweeney
Homestays the alternative accommodation choice for major Philadelphia event
Next year will be an enormously exciting time for the city of Philadelphia when more than a million people from all over the world are expected to visit for a major event attended by Pope Francis.
Written by Claire Sweeney
How to book a homestay for your next trip
When Megan Jerard discovered that the experience of traveling to far off lands and living with locals in their family homes was available for not only high school students, but travelers of all ages, she couldn't wait to find out more.