BOOKINGS
- Booking minimum stay – 1 week
Accommodation requests must be sent via email or through our online application form. Once Xenia Homestay sends an offer, we expect confirmation within 24 hours. Once we receive confirmation that you accept the offer, Xenia Homestay will expect full payment before we send the confirmation document detailing the full profile of the accommodation.
A £25 booking fee applies to all accommodation bookings.
- ARRIVAL TIME
Once you have booked your accommodation with Xenia Homestay, the student must disclose arrival details at least 5 working days prior to arrival, either to Xenia Homestay or the Host family directly. This will ensure a smooth arrival at your homestay where someone will be in to welcome you. Failure to inform either Xenia Homestay or your Homestay Host of your arrival time, might result in complications for which we cannot be held responsible.
- EXTENSIONS OF STAY
If students wish to extend their stay with our homestay hosts past their due departure date, they must send in their request at Xenia Homestay as soon as possible. Please note that students MUST NOT endeavour to make such arrangements with the host family directly – all requests must be communicated to and approved by Xenia Homestay. If it transpires that students are arranging direct deals with our host families, we reserve the right to curtail the booking with immediate effect and charge a refund equal to one week’s booking. Confirmation of the extended dates will be subject to the availability of the current host. In case the current host is not available to accommodate the extension, Xenia Homestay will try to offer alternative accommodation based on availability, wherever possible.
- Holiday times away from the Homestay
If students wish to reserve their room with our host family while going away during season’s holidays (Christmas, Easter, etc.), they must inform Xenia Homestay in advance. We will charge half the price of a week’s booking.
- CANCELLATION POLICY
Xenia Homestay expects to receive 1- week notice if a student wishes to cancel their accommodation. Failure to cancel your accommodation within the minimum required period will incur charges of a full week’s booking plus the booking fee charge.
- REFUNDS
Where a refund is due, Xenia Homestay will pay this by bank transfer. Any charges incurred by the bank (either the foreign or the UK one) will be covered by the client and not by Xenia Homestay. Please note that we do no refund fees in cash.
- SPECIAL REQUESTS
Supplement rates for special requests are as follows: Private bathroom £25 & Ensuite bathroom £30; Gluten free & Celiac diets £25; Halal diet £15; Summer supplement (mid-June – mid-August) £15/week; Christmas supplement (25 December – 1 January £15/week
- COMPLAINTS POLICY
In case there is a complaint regarding the accommodation, Xenia Homestay should be informed as soon as possible. Where possible, and depending on the nature of the complaint, Xenia Homestay will strive to resolve the situation to the best interest of all parties involved. In case a move is necessary, Xenia Homestay will endeavour to provide alternative accommodation within 24 hours – or with immediate effect where necessary. If the student decides to make their own plans for alternative accommodation instead, then Xenia Homestay will not take responsibility or liability and no refunds will be issued. In case Xenia Homestay does not provide alternative accommodation within 24 hours – or with immediate effect where necessary, then a refund will be issued.
- CURTAILMENT of BOOKING
In the event you do not show up at your accommodation and you do not notify Xenia Homestay, no refunds will be made. If you cut short your booking after your arrival, no refunds will be made, and Xenia Homestay reserves the right to charge a full week’s curtailment fee. If your curtailment is due to urgent matters (i.e urgent return to your own home country), then Xenia Homestay will charge a half-week fee. No refunds will be made.
- RULES / MISCELLANEOUS
Front door keys: all adult students are entitled to a front door key. Students under 18 cannot be given front door keys; a member of the homestay must be home at all times while students are home.
Curfew times: Adult students have no curfew times; curfew for students aged 16 is 10pm and for those aged 17 is 10.30pm. For students aged 15 and under, the curfew time is UK dinner time.
Meal times: every homestay host has a routine of meal times. The students will be joining this routine, and in cases where they will not be joining the family for a meal, they should make the host aware in advance.
Visitors: students cannot invite (overnight) visitors to the homestay host accommodation without seeking the host’s permission first. It is up to the host’s discretion and their family circumstances whether they will give their permission or not. Xenia Homestay will not interfere in such matters.
- AIRPORT TRANSFERS
Xenia Homestay accepts requests for transfers – both from airport to homestay and from homestay to airport. The request must be sent in writing and payment must be issued at the time of booking the transfer. Xenia Homestay will issue a transfer confirmation document detailing all the instructions on meet and greet with our driver. Contact details of the student must be given in advance to facilitate smooth communication between Xenia Homestay, drivers, and students. In cases where students do not show up, full payment will be charged. In cases where we fail to collect a student, a full refund will be issued back to you. We advise all students to contact our emergency line in case they need assistance locating their driver – they should not make alternative plans without informing our emergency line first. If they choose to do so, then Xenia Homestay will not accept any responsibility of covering any extra costs incurred.