Behind the Scenes with Homestay.com

With 100,000 nights booked on our website in under two years live, we at Homestay.com are proud of how our company has grown. The response to our website has been incredible: from the reviews and testimonials lefts by guests to the feedback we’ve had from our host community, our customers are passionate about homestays being a unique form of travel.

The other side of the Lens

To best capture the excitement we feel about our brand, we decided to create a new video to convey what it is that makes a homestay experience so special. Working with the Irish-based digital agency, In the Company of Huskies, we wanted to create a video that captured the fun and warmth of a homestay no matter where you are in the world.

The best spokespeople for this of course, are those who know our product best- our hosts. Choosing guests in Dublin and Barcelona we decided to ask them why they host and what a guest can expect when they come and stay with them in their homes. There were a lot of phone calls, emails, translations and communications, but we finally managed to track down some top hosts who were delighted to show Ben, Kate and Raquel from In the Company of Huskies around their homes. Take a look at them hard at work below and don’t forget to check out the finished product!

Mick and Liz in Dublin

Mick and Liz relaxing at home.

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Liz and her husband Mick live with their four children in the south Dublin suburb of Leopardstown, along with their two friendly Labrador-retriever dogs, Miley and Izzy. They were the first port of call for our videographers who had a chat with them about what makes a homestay different from other types of travel accommodation. The family are big into their food and it’s important to them that their guests feel part of the family and are as Liz herself says “in a home away from home.”

Ben and Kate from In the Company of Huskies set up shots with Liz and her family.

Sarah in Dublin

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Sarah and her family live in a stunning, modern home in the north side of Dublin city. Located just next to the Phoenix Park, home to the Irish President, the American Ambassador to Ireland and the animals of Dublin zoo among others, her home offers the peace of the countryside, while being only minutes from the city centre. The house itself was originally a nineteenth-century stable yard but has since been converted into a stylish home, complete with its own sauna, swimming pool and hot tub. Sarah and her family have been hosting guests since 2007 and think that their location is one of the key reasons they have received so many guests.

It was all a bit much for Sarah's dog who decided to take a nap during filming.

Enric in Barcelona

Enric at home with his pet pug, Rufi

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Enric lives with his pet pug Rufi in the San Antoni district of Barcelona. His apartment reflects his own interest in the Modernist architecture of the city and is ideally located to explore the buildings and artwork for which the city is so well known. To help his guests settle in Enric takes them on a tour to some of his favourite places in the city and to the little café close to his house which he claims serves the best coffee in the city. Enric told us that “the best way to get to know a city is through its people,” which is why he is so enthusiastic about hosting.

Modern designs in Enric's home.

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Street art in Sant Antoni close to Enric's home.

Carla in Barcelona

Carla's vibrant personality means she's always keen to show her guests around

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Carla is a fun-loving host who is originally from Argentina but now lives in the Catalan capital. When she has guests to stay, she loves to find out what kind of food they like and takes them to some of the tastiest eateries in the city. Her home in the Eixample district of the city shows off the very best of Barcelona’s architecture, from the large, brightly-lit rooms to the comfy and spacious terrace that offers exceptional views of the city.

Ben hard at work setting up shots on location

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Carla's home.

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Now that you’ve met the team behind our new video, all that’s left is to see the finished product itself. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do. #HelloHomestay