|
| |
QUESTIONS FREQUENTLY ASKED BY
POTENTIAL HOMESTAY HOSTS
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Pacific Northwest Homestay is a unique organization offering paid
accommodations in a Greater Northwest private home where guests are treated as
welcome friends of the family and given personal care and time by the hosts,
with meals available.
 |
Before you embark upon this venture it’s
important to ask yourself a number of questions:
|
|
Do I have the time required?. Hosting, house and shopping,
will demand that you commit a significant amount of time.
|
|
Does my entire family unit -- those living in the home
(including pets, if you have any), genuinely enjoy helping,
entertaining, and being with people?
|
|
Do I have suitable room for guests?
|
|
If I am accountable to them, will my landlord, coop board,
zoning board, or other such entity approve of participation in this program?
|
|
Am I (or can I be) correctly covered by Insurance?
|
If you can answer YES to these initial questions, then give
Pacific Northwest Homestay further consideration.
If you answered any question NO, Homestay will not suit
you.
Anyone: families and singles; all
races, religions, nationalities, and sexual orientations; employed and
retired.
The delightful fact about participating in
Pacific Northwest Homestay that it does not require a large amount of money to begin.
|
The primary requirement is a room (or rooms) for your
guests, with comfortable beds.
|
|
Accommodations and property surroundings must be clean,
tidy, and attractive.
|
|
The bathroom is important. Guests usually prefer their own
bathroom, but that’s not always possible. Shared bathrooms are manageable if
you keep the room cleared of family clutter so that the room is ready for your
guest’s use. Hide family belongings; leave room for your guests brushes,
lotions, and the like -- space such as you need when you are a guest
somewhere.
|
GENERAL
|
Hosts should be present to receive guests and bid them
farewell.
|
|
Property appearances must be neat and tidy, both externally
and internally.
|
|
Cleanliness is essential in all areas used by guests.
|
|
Particular attention must be paid to the cleanliness of the
kitchen, refrigerator, and all food preparation and service areas.
|
|
Provide local tourist and transit information
|
|
Equip areas with smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, as
appropriate. Calmly and matter-of-factly review with the guests procedures for
emergency exit, should an emergency occur.
|
BEDROOMS
|
Good quality mattresses and sound bases on all beds.
|
|
Clean bedding -- with appropriate blankets available.
|
|
Clean pillow -- with additional available.
|
|
Room must be appropriately heated/cooled for the season.
Air conditioning is not essential, but available ventilation must provide a
comfortable atmosphere for the guests.
|
|
Light controlled from the bed.
|
|
Nightlight or bedside flashlight for guidance at night.
|
|
Wardrobe space with hangers.
|
|
Drawer space.
|
|
Mirror (preferably full-length).
|
|
Electrical outlet (for guest’s own clock, radio, etc.)
Remind guests about differences in electrical power and types of outlets.
|
|
Wastepaper basket.
|
|
Clock, interesting magazines or books.
|
|
Small bowl of fruits or sweets.
|
|
Drinking glasses (may be good-quality disposables).
|
|
Opaque curtains or blinds on all windows.
|
BATHROOM AND TOILET FACILITIES
At least one bathroom, adequately ventilated and equipped
with:
|
Bath and/or shower.
|
|
Adequate toilet with unsoiled toilet seat.
|
|
Sink and mirror.
|
|
Electric razor outlet.
|
|
Soap, towels, bathmats, face cloths for each guest.
|
|
Towels changed at appropriate intervals for guests staying
longer than one night.
|
|
Clothes hook in bathroom.
|
|
Extra toilet paper.
|
|
Extra towels.
|
|
Waste basket
|
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
|
Laundry facilities for guests.
|
|
Bathroom/toilet air fresheners.
|
|
Inexpensive but pleasant hand lotions available in the
bathroom, and small quantities of "emergency" shampoo, toothpaste,
etc. (Mandatory in deluxe homes).
|
|
Bedroom - Clock, TV, radio, fresh flowers, magazines,
interesting books, small bowl of fruits and/or sweets.
|
|
Facial tissues in bedroom and bathroom, with extra
available.
|
|
Hand towels/paper towels available.
|
Aieleen Lanot, President of the
Pacific Northwest Homestay,
personally establishes written and/or E-mail and/or telephone contact with each
traveler and obtains detailed descriptions of their interests and expectations
for their Pacific Northwest Homestay experience. Aieleen maintains files on their home
and business addresses, fax numbers and E-mail addresses, and obtains whatever
additional information she feels necessary to assure the validity of the
travelers’ identities and intentions. Aieleen makes certain that the selected
host receives all pertinent information about the expected guest(s) before their
arrival. Of course, purely personal information divulged to Aieleen about either
the guest(s) or host(s) remains in Aieleen's confidential files. Please review
the application forms, available on our website.
Hosts receive the application form that is sent by guests to
PNH. This usually includes the names of all members of the
traveling party, home address, email address, phone numbers of home as well as
business and occasionally a fax number. It contains info about interest
and hobbies, wake up time, and special needs of the guests. The host
reviews this info before approving the guests for their homes.
Yes. You or a knowledgeable adult should be home to greet and
lead the guests through their new surroundings in your home, explaining gently
and good naturedly the "rules of the house. " You should be there upon
the guests’ departure if at all possible. It is
important that a reliable adult be at hand to tend to last-minute questions and
details -- and assure the return of any items you may have lent to your guests
-- keys, emergency umbrellas, etc al.
Consider the "Minimum Requirements".
Then, consider what YOU might like to find upon your arrival to a new city, to
stay a while with new companions, probably intending to follow a very rigorous
schedule of appointments as a tourist or business person.
Undoubtedly, the most important parts of the guest room are
the clean and comfortable beds: a firm mattress with a good base seems
internationally acceptable. Double and queen size beds are popular, but single
beds are acceptable. The essential factor is COMFORT. Bedding must be clean
and sufficient in quantity.
There are many ways to make the guest room attractive:
color coordinating the bed linen, towels, etc. Many hosts make efforts to
create an inviting, attractive atmosphere, efforts that are rewarded in more
ways than anticipated. Seriously consider the kinds of "extras" you
might like to find as a guest, such as paper and pencils/pens for jotting down
notes, and extra copy of the telephone "yellow pages" for a glimpse
at some local resources.
Create a welcoming atmosphere -- fresh flowers or fruit in
the guest room, paper-wrapped chocolate or other candies in a decorative dish.
Before your guests arrive, spend one night sleeping in the
guest beds. Check out the comfort level -- are there any night-time
disturbances such as noises, lights, insects, or unwelcome bathroom noises?
If possible, provide space for luggage on a low table or
rack. Make sure there are conveniences such as hooks, rails, and hangers for
clothing. Provide a covered container and drinking glasses for water near the
bed. Also near the bed, have a working flashlight. A dim nightlight might
provide an extra sense of comfort and security.
Provide a chair in the bedroom, if space allows, so guests
do not have to always sit on the bed.
Top and bottom (usually fitted) sheets for each bed, 1 pillow
case per pillow, adequate blankets for the season (a good idea is to check with
the guests about their preferences for blankets -- comfort levels differ among
individuals), towels (at least one nicely absorbent bath towel and one hand
towel for each guest), face cloths (1 per guest), bath mat to soak up
after-bath/after-shower drips. Provide a basic supply and extras (easily visible
and accessible) of soap (at sink and tub/shower), toilet paper, and (optional
but gracious) face tissues. Frequently check the towels and toiletries; be
diligent about refreshing them whenever necessary.
NO. Let them use your washer (and dryer), with your help, or
direct them to the nearest laundromat. It might be helpful to go with them, for
a few minutes, to get them started. They may have a problem reading signs in
English and/or juggling the proper American coins. Use your judgment about the
kind and amount of assistance they might need.
Depending on the length of the stay, change sheets every
three to four days, being especially aware of providing clean linens during New
York’s hot, humid summers. You may ask guests to remove the sheets and
pillowcases from their beds and bring them (along with soiled towels) to you to
be washed. It’s up to you to remake the beds and replace the towels before the
guests have need for the linens again that day.
No, not every day. You make the beds only on days when you
change to clean sheets.
Be sure to make time to devote talking
to your guest at least 30 minutes each day. Invite them for tea and snacks after
their long day of school and find out about their day and see if they need
suggestions for the following day. The guests however may be too tired to
socialize and you need not take offense. This time spent with the guests
is an important part of the PNH service. It is what differentiates you
from a B and B or hotel and makes you more attractive to travelers.
All hosts must prepare at least an attractive buffet
breakfast for the guests. If you work, an appealing array of jams, breads
and fruits should be left out for the guests and you may ask them to
return the refrigerated items back to the refrigerator. A welcome dinner
is expected and should be a normal but nice meal you would make for yourself and
your family.
Before they arrive at your home, you can email your guests
about their breakfast preferences if you find this economical and useful. You
can ask them about prepared foods such as yogurt, various types of breads, cold
cereals, juices, and the like. There is no obligation to cook special breakfast
foods for them, but be assured that they will appreciate any special efforts you
may have the time or inclination to make.
With only rare exceptions all hosts are required to make a
welcome dinner for their guests.
Guests are invited to eat what the family is having.
It is a
fact that most Pacific Northwest Homestay host families find themselves with more
nutritionally balanced and tasty meals when guests are with them than when they
eat as a family without guests. Well, don’t we all usually eat
"better" when we have guests, with or without Pacific Northwest Homestay?
Hospitality is what we’re about!
For the most part, YES. Pacific
Northwest Homestay guests have chosen
to participate in the program because they look for the interaction with their
PNH hosts, even if it’s just to have a short chat about how the day went
-- what was exciting, what was a disappointment, what they bought to take home
-- and they may want advice about their activities for the next day. It’s the
difference between your home and a cold, impersonal hotel or motel. However, if
something comes up in your life that you MUST tend to, excuse yourself without
fuss, then tend to it. And remember, there may be times when your guests come
"home" so exhausted that they want only to relax quietly, by
themselves.
Hospitality, warmth, helpfulness, cultural exchanges of
mutual interest -- these are the characteristics that best describe the
difference between Pacific Northwest Homestay and Any Hotel. We are not in the
business of sharing personal problems, neuroses, worries, Excedrin headaches.
Just as you should not expect to be subjected to these things from your guests,
you must not burden your guests with your troubles. Needless to say, guests
should not be within sight or hearing range of family disputes of any kind.
We
and the guests are strangers to each other. For the most part, the visitors
look forward to experiencing our city and American way of life. We
want to live up to the best parts of the reputations that originally made our
guests feel that Greater Northwest is a place worth visiting.
Guests should be allowed in the communal rooms such as the
den, dining areas, and living room, but not in your personal bedrooms, bath, and
other designated "private" areas of your home. You should have no
problem if you identify "restricted" areas early in the guest’s
stay.
It is almost inevitable that guests will need to use the
telephone while in your home. We strongly advise that you contact the telephone
company to put a security block on your telephone line for international calls.
Then, permit the guests to use your telephone WITH THEIR PRE-PAID PHONE CARD.
NO. We strongly advise against allowing this.
NO. If you make a microwave available to your guests, you may
allow them to bring into your home and heat up a small "snack," or
heat water for tea, or toast a muffin, but you are advised to keep all guests
away from major cooking appliances.
The number of guests working with
Pacific Northwest Homestay at any
given time of the year depends on many factors; there are "peak
seasons." Always, prospective guests provide detailed information about
themselves when applying to Pacific Northwest Homestay. The applications are screened so
that Pacific Northwest Homestay may make a match with the most suitable host available.
As a matter of policy, suitable hosts who have been in the program the longest
and about whom we have received the best feedback from their guests, will be the
first to be offered the next suitable guest.
On the day of your guests arrival, you will receive payment
for your services directly from the guests. You will receive via email a
bill to give to your guests to ensure prompt payment.
Good questions! But please, think of Home hosting
as a hobby. Some extra income can be earned, but if you need to depend on it or only want to
be a host because you need the money, please find another hobby.
Pacific Northwest Homestay Hosts can earn between
$500-$575 a month.
Guests who cancel two weeks or more before their arrival
date are not charged by Pacific Northwest Homestay and hosts are not entitled to any payment. If
cancellation occurs within 2 weeks of the scheduled arrival, half of the deposit
paid to Pacific Northwest will be split with the host family. If guests leave early, the
guests do not receive a refund and the host receives the normal payment.
However, if a guest leaves due to a problem with the host or home and needs to
be placed in a different Pacific Northwest Homestay home or hotel, the hosts are always paid the
agreed-upon rate for all the nights that guests have actually been with them.
Even with the best skills at screening and matching hosts
with guests, there will be those isolated times when personalities and
lifestyles clash, especially when we are mixing cultures foreign to each other.
We expect that hosts, who essentially enjoy the challenge of relating with
EVERYONE, will proudly make the attempt to solve problems. However, when coping
is no longer possible or desired, the host is urged to call Aieleen. If Aieleen
is unable to find a solution to the problem at hand, she will try to find other
accommodations for the guest(s).
Apply for a PNH Homestay today! Simply
fill out our electronic form and press send. Your application will be evaluated
by a Pacific Northwest Homestays representative.
Contact Information
Telephone: 206-533-0401
FAX: 206-533-1368
Postal address: Pacific Northwest Homestay
18846 Midvale Avenue North
Shoreline, WA 98133 USA
- Electronic communication
- General Information and Inquiry: [email protected]
Customer Support: Aieleen
Lanot
Reservations: Guest Application
|
