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Other Organizations Offering Homestays
American International Homestays
http://www.spectrav.com
Arthur Frommer highly recommends this U.S.-based organization which caters to
travelers from around the world. AIH recently added the Central Asian republics
to its list of homestays.
Elderhostel
http://www.elderhostel.org
Organizes learning vacations around the world, including to Asia, and will set
up homestays with families from India to China.
Home Exchange
http://www.nethomeexchange.com
Swap homes with a family in another part of the world.
Hospex
http://hospex.org.pl
Hospitality Exchange has a modest website and also an e-mail list service to
match travelers and hosts.
Learning Exchange
http://www.lexlrf.com/LEX.htm
Sets up homestays in Japan and Korea for (primarily) families and adults from
the U.S.
Servas
http://www.exodus.it/associazioni/servas
Founded in 1949 and affiliated with the United Nations, Servas was established
to promote peace and understanding through cultural exchanges, primarily through
homestays. That said, it is not a travel service organizing free accommodation
for tourists. In order to participate, you must pay an annual membership fee
plus a refundable deposit, and then you will receive a list with five names of
Servas hosts in the destination of your choice. You then make all the
arrangements, and visits are restricted to two days per host household. Check
out its website for more information.
Stay 4 Free
http://www.stay4free.com
Internet-based free service matching travelers with hosts around the world.
Categories include business travelers, gay travelers and/or hosts, exchanges,
and backpackers.
World Learning
http://www.worldlearning.org
Formerly called "Experiment in International Living", World Learning runs
education programs and homestays for adults around the world. Prospective
homestay travelers must fill out an application and submit letters of
recommendation in order to qualify for one- to four-week homestays in 22
different countries.
Information by Country:
Australia:
http://www.technet2000.com.au/~holiday/welcome.html
This website lists homestays throughout Australia, including for the Sydney
2000 Olympics.
India:
The Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation runs a homestay program called the
Paying Guest Scheme. In Chennai and Mumbai, this program is known as Paying
Guest Accommodation.
Indonesia:
http://www.indo.com
Homestays are popular throughout the country, and tourists boards (such as the
West Java Tourist Promotion Board) are now organizing homestays for visitors.
Japan:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/04budhint/hints/tour/home/homevisit.html
Besides homestays, the Japan National Tourist Organization also runs a home
visit program in 14 cities throughout the country. Applications are posted on
the JNTO website at the above URL.
New Zealand:
http://www.nztb.govt.nz/sites/accomm.shtm#Farmstays
This links to various websites to help you arrange homestays and farmstays
throughout New Zealand, such as http://www.nzfarmstay.co.nz
Philippines:
http://www.tourism.gov.ph/
There are many different regional and local homestay organizations in the
Philippines, and the Department of Tourism will help get you in touch with one
in the area you plan to visit. The Lonely Planet Guide to the Philippines also
has a good list with contact numbers.
Russia:
http://www.mircorp.com/home/Homestays.html
Thailand:
http://tourismthailand.org/
The Thai Tourism Authority will also provide a list of homestays throughout
Thailand.
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