Maria's house was full of love and I loved staying there! I felt like part of the family, and was well taken care of; always having enough to eat, a comfortable place to relax, and company to talk to. This was the best way to learn about the Portuguese culture and way of life, and am so thankful to have had Maria and Carlos and Lia as teachers. Thank you so, so much Maria! Hope to come back soon!

I was overjoyed to walk through the doors of Stefania's home. Her apartment is full of life and color, which was the perfect introduction to what to expect from Barcelona. Aside from being beyond comfortable, the apartment has a wonderful location, close to a metro station, the Gothic Quarter, and (a little farther away), the beach! I never ran out of options of places to go nearby. I truly hope that I can come back and stay again! Grazie, Stefania!

I cannot say enough good things about this homestay. The location was perfect--close to two metro stations, plenty of grocery stores, different restaurants ranging in price, and even the Sacre Coeur! I would start each day with a slightly different variation on a typical French breakfast--but it was always delicious! And my host was always available to help with questions. The apartment itself is gorgeous, and I felt so fortunate to have that as my home base as I explored the rest of Paris. I was very, very well taken care of by my host. Truly a 5-star experience!

I felt welcomed at Dya's homestay right from the start. I appreciated that Dya was straightforward with her expectations and boundaries, so that there was no confusion. She was exceedingly helpful, always taking the time to write down directions and show me the best routes to take into the city--and it was so simple to get to the city from her house! It was about a 20-minute commute to the city center, but there's a lot to stop and see along the way. And when I was done exploring for the day, I could come back to a comfy bedroom. Thank you so, so much Dya! I hope to come back!

I loved staying with Linda! Her apartment is classy and comfortable, as well as being a short walk to public transportation. She was considerate at every turn--making sure I had water in the steaming New York heat, as well as bending her schedule to fit mine so that we could actually spend some time to get to know each other. Thank you, Linda, I enjoyed seeing New York from your home!

Staying with Sabine and Miguel in Surquillo was an opportunity to learn about true hospitality. Miguel went above and beyond to make sure that I was comfortable--going out of his way to show me the neighborhood and transportation into the city center. Their house is colorful and full of character, and the bed is very comfortable! While a short walk to the district of Miraflores, it is about a 15 minute bus ride to the actual city center, so be aware of that. But all things aside, I felt truly cared for!

Patricia made sure everything was taken care of. I had more than enough space to myself as my room was more of a private apartment. The walk to the main square of the city was a bit longer than I would have liked, but that just meant that the shops surrounding the house weren't catering to tourists and therefore had great prices. Also, there were many hostels and hotels along the walk to town, so it was easy to run into other travelers. Thank you for the stay, Patricia!

I enjoyed staying with Linda in San Francisco! She was very helpful with helping me find my way around, and the accommodations were some of the comfiest I've had! And although about a 15-minute commute, getting to the city center from her house was straightforward and easy. If I didn't want to go all the way into the city, there were amenities nearby her home as well. I wish I could have stayed longer!

Annette and Joseph’s homestay was incredibly pleasant. They (along with sweet baby Chloe) make no hesitation in inviting you to be an active part of family life, and the rooms are very comfortable. I think you could take even more advantage of your stay with Annette and Joseph by renting a car, as there are a lot of landmarks to see close to their home (as well as beautiful scenery a bit farther out from Auckland!). It took me a little under 30 minutes to reach the city center by bus, so having a car could make those trips easier. Car-less as I was, Annette and Joseph were very helpful with helping me figure out the public transportation, and even picked me up when I got lost (thanks again, Joseph, haha!). All in all, I truly enjoyed my time staying with Annette and Joseph in Auckland. Thank you!

Staying with Jo was lovely! I started every day with a filling, homemade breakfast that was accompanied by a view over Christchurch. And after my time in the city and commute back to Jo's (about 15 minutes by bus), I could look forward to coming back to a comfortable and spacious room! Jo was a fountain of knowledge—I can’t count how many times she helped me find a better plan for transportation around New Zealand, or helped me to make a more strategic travel plan by telling me information I didn’t even know about. Jo’s hospitality helped to make my time in Christchurch a good one!

Zoe’s homestay was the perfect location to explore Bondi Beach. I couldn’t quite believe that I could see Sydney’s most famous beach right outside my window! There’s so much within walking distance as well! The beach itself is less than a minute’s walk away, and there’s even a surf school nearby. And if I wanted to return to central Sydney, there’s a bus stop very near to her house as well. Zoe’s homestay is full of personality and full of opportunity to explore Bondi!

Staying with Julie was an absolute ball! Of course, the view from the homestay is breathtaking--I couldn't believe it every morning when I went to walk out the door! But aside from that, Julie is most hospitable. She has plenty of resources on how to see the city, and is always prepared to help things be easier. Her warmth and knowledge made my stay very enjoyable. Thanks so much, Julie!

I really enjoyed my time with Suzy! Her home is gorgeous and in a relaxed suburb, about a 30 minute train ride from the city. I was able to be very independent while there, but Suzy was always right there with help whenever it was needed. Some of my favorite times were just spending quiet times at home together in the evening. The family is truly hospitable!

This was a lovely stay! I was there during the weekdays, so Chiaki and I only saw each other during the evenings, but that was a wonderful time of catching up. My room was comfortable and spacious, and Chiaki was generous with helping with directions and giving information about the surrounding cities. It's about a 10 minute bus ride to the train station and then only about 20 minutes to Kyoto or Osaka, and plenty of cute cafes in Takatsuki itself!

Tomoko was all kinds of helpful! From giving detailed directions to making exquisite meals, she went out of her way to make sure I felt at home. She was generous with her time and attention! As her house is in a suburb, expect to spend about 40 minutes on a train to central Tokyo (to Shinjuku station), but I appreciated the opportunity to explore an outlying part of Tokyo which I wouldn't have heard of had I not stayed with her. And also, no matter how long or exhausting my day was exploring Tokyo, I could always come home to the filling and delicious dinner included in her fee. Thank you so much, Tomoko!