67. Home Away from Home. The Art of Homestay Etiquette

Homestays, such as Airbnb have transformed the way we travel, offering comfort, character, and a sense of living like a local. And with this opportunity comes a quiet responsibility, which sits somewhere between being a guest in a private home and a customer in a commercial space.

In this episode of Manners and Other Matters, Louise explores the etiquette of Airbnb living, from both the guest and host perspective. With practical insights and elegant reminders, she shares how small, thoughtful behaviours can elevate the entire experience.

From reading house rules and respecting community spaces, to communication, check out courtesy, and leaving meaningful reviews, this episode is your modern guide to travelling with grace.

Whether you are hosting or staying, this conversation will leave you better prepared, and more mindful, for your next homestay experience.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:08

Thank you for joining Manners and Other Matters, the podcast which brings you all the insights you need to navigate the intricate world of modern manners and elegant living. I'm your host, Louise Percy, and I'm delighted to be your guide on this journey towards a more refined and gracious way of life. I'm here to share my knowledge and insights with you, and I will also be bringing in a lineup of experts from the worlds of etiquette and elegant living to share their wisdom and experiences. The art of etiquette isn't just about following a set of rigid traditional rules. It's about fostering meaningful relationships, both in your personal and professional life. Whether you're dining with colleagues, entertaining guests, or simply striving for a more elegant lifestyle. Subscribe to Manners and Other Matters today and let's explore the world of etiquette, manners, and the pursuit of elegance together. Hello and welcome to Manners and Other Matters. Thank you for joining me today. Today I'm going to be talking about an area of space that many of us now occupy, whether as hosts or guests. And it's the world of Homestay. Now, first things first, I have to say that I am actually a Homestay owner, and I put my lovely beach house on Airbnb when the family and I aren't using it. So just disclosure, full disclosure. But I'm also an Airbnb guest. As I travel around the world and travel around Australia, it's my preferred way of actually staying. I love cooking and love being in an environment where I can get out and about, and I quite like that opportunity to feel the I guess the inspiration of the neighbourhood which you get by staying in a homestay, apartment, or home. It's a fascinating blend, don't you think? Not quite a hotel, not quite a private home, but something beautifully in between. And with that comes a new set of expectations. Some spoken some unspoken. So as both an Airbnb owner and guest myself, I've seen the very best of this modern hospitality thoughtful touches, kindness, and genuine connection. But there have been occasions moments I think where a little more awareness would have made all the difference. So today I'm going to be talking about homestay, etiquette and manners from both sides, with grace, fairness, and just a touch of elegance. So I think probably the most important component is understanding the shared responsibility of trust. Any homestay environment is built on mutual trust far more than traditional accommodation. Hosts are opening the homes and guests are stepping into somebody else's personal space. It's it's not a transaction alone. It's a temporary relationship. And respect begins the moment the booking is made. Well, I actually find that the respect I have for the people who are going to be sharing my beach house, for example, starts from the original inquiry. I can always tell how the people that would like to stay at my beach house are going to enjoy it by their original inquiry. Instead of, hi, I want to stay for two nights, might be bringing some friends to, hello Louise, we would like to stay at your beach house. For a long weekend, we have guests joining us for a special occasion. Now, there is a difference there, don't you think? And so I will always respond, if I have the two inquiries, to the one which was most polite first. And I will ask for more information. If they say on the general booking form that they have children, I will always ask how older children are, because we have open staircases, etc. And I will also reiterate that there are no pets and no additional guests and no parties. For example, and that way the full transparency's in place. And so I think it's really important to understand then that I'm going to be offering my other home to people that I would like to, if I was there, welcome and say hello because I know that I'm going to enjoy meeting them. But how have I learnt all that intuition? It's come over the eight years that I've had the beach house available for guest days on Airbnb when my family and I aren't using it. And intuition, I'm saying to all of you hosts out there, is really important. Why do I let our beach house out on Airbnb, you may well ask? Well, eight years ago, I did a major renovation on it, having bought the other half from my my ex-husband, and I had so many wonderful experiences there with my children growing up, and once I'd completed the renovation, which sort of turned it into this sort of shabby chic coastal, a bit Hamptons, a bit French coastal look, I thought I'd really like to share this. And not just from a monetary aspect. I wanted other people to have the pleasure of really enjoying it when my family and I weren't there. And you know, I've spoken to a number of other homestay hosts, and they've said exactly the same about their homes. It's not about making, you know, money out of it per se. It's about sharing. And one of my friends who actually lives down south here in Margaret River, she puts her home up on things like home exchange, I think it is. I choose not to do that, but I do choose to homestay when I'm visiting my favourite village in France, Villefrance-Semer, where I've been staying in the same apartment in a homestay arrangement since 2015. But I think as a host, probably the most important thing is that you have clarity and honesty in communication. This is, after all, a temporary relationship of mutual trust. So please make your listings accurate and clear with no misleading photos or descriptions. And for guests, please always give an honest representation who's staying, your arrival times and your purpose of visit, because transparency is absolutely the foundation of a harmonious day. Now, shortly before my guests are due to arrive, a week or so, maybe two weeks if they're coming in from overseas, I will send a very comprehensive email, which will give all the check-in details. I have a lockbox. And it will also give details of local shops and the fact that the pantry here at the Beach House is absolutely full for them. As many of you regular listeners would know, I love cooking, so I have a very comprehensive pantry. And all I ask is that if something like the local olive oil from Regan's Ridge, for example, is finished, would they please make a note so that I can replenish it for us and for incoming guests? I think also it's really important for me that the first impression is really as good as it can be. So in that email I also give them the lockbox details, as I say, but I also make sure that the entranceway is looking as warm and as welcoming as possible for them. The property which I choose to maintain myself is always prepared, clean and welcoming. The linen is beautifully ironed, the towels are beautifully folded, the beach towels are ready for them, the lovely toiletries and amenities I choose to use, a French brand l'Occitan for my guests. And I think always also a welcome note, which I write by hand, fresh flowers, I always leave orchids. And a local trait, well, actually, I use a local sparkling wine and beer in the fridge cold and mention it in the welcoming note that I hope that they enjoy them, particularly if they've had a bit of a longer drive. I think it elevates it all from functional to memorable. I want people to walk into the beach house and say, Oh, isn't this fabulous or isn't this lovely? And a little tip, I always leave all the curtains or drapes closed so that when they walk in, they can open up the drapes and see the few, which is spectacular. We see from the front balcony the Moore River flowing into the Indian Ocean and honestly it's it's a joy. It's a joy. And so, yes, a little tip to leave something other than the beautifully looking prepared house for their arrival. And so what do you do about respecting the space as a guest? I always like to think that the guest treats my beach house as if it belongs to a trusted friend. And so this includes cleanliness and tidiness, respect for my furnishings and decor, and observing house rules, which are very flexible, without exception. Though I must say, over the years that I have welcomed guests here at the beach house, people had sometimes moved the furniture around and all the ornaments and reshaped the cushions or re put the cushions somewhere or whatever it may be, and sometimes I find it a bit disconcerting but other times I've found that they've had really good ideas, and so I've appreciated the fact that they've obviously felt so at home in this space that they have left me little titbits of ideas to change it around a little bit sometimes. And so what about the boundaries for privacy for the guests and hosts? I am never here at the beach house when my guests arrive. I actually live in Perth, which is about a hundred kilometres away. And so I leave them all the details. I will always have fresh coffee ready for them, there will be fresh milk in the fridge, as I say, there's the sparkling wine and a beer for arrival, but I don't visit. However, I am available to them via telephone, WhatsApp, whatever it may well be, 24-7, and I have a great team here who will, if there's a plumbing problem or whatever it is, which so rarely happens, are able to fix it for me very quickly. I think that one of the things my guests have most commented on, actually, over the over the last eight years, is that whilst I have on the Airbnb booking form a quite obviously determined check-in and check-out time, if that's not necessary for my own purposes, I let them know very early on, usually about two weeks out before, please arrive and leave when it suits you. Because this means that if people are flying in from somewhere else, they don't need to spend time. They can come straight up Indian Ocean Drive and check into the beach house, knowing that there will be coffee ready for them and all the essentials to make their stay as enjoyable as possible, as quickly as possible, or as long as possible. Recently I had guests who were leaving for the UK and they their flight wasn't until nearly midnight. And I said, Well, please leave whenever you like, so that they could spend as much time as they needed before returning their higher car, getting to the airport, and so on and so forth, without having to just hang around in an airport when you have a very long flight afterwards. I think these little bits of consideration and not just being regulatory, personally to me, are what makes the homestays so valuable. And I don't mean valuable in a monetary way, I mean valuable in a relaxation way. And certainly this is what I've found in the homestays in which I have shed space with their owners over the years. But here in a coastal village, you have a lot of space. You don't always, and so I always think it's vital for guests to remember that they're entering a neighbourhood, not a hotel zone. I mean, when I stay at my beautiful apartment in Villefrance de Mer, it's in a sixteenth-century building, in a pedestrian-only village. I mean, very, very much awareness and consideration of the country and the culture in which you find yourself should be paramount in your mind. I now want to talk about reviews and lasting impressions. I always leave a handwritten note for my guests, and I have a guest book on a side table, which many of my guests choose to write in, and I love reading their comments. But also, if you are on one of these homestay platforms, please do leave reviews as both owner and guest. It really makes a big difference to the community and the transparency. And so just to finalise now, I'd like to mention some things that I think that are quite elegant touches that elevate the experience. Certainly a handwritten welcome card. And as I mentioned, I do do that, with a sparkling wine and a beer or some chockies. Local recommendations, which I curate with care because they're always brought up to date. I choose to provide absolute quality linens and thoughtful amenities because I want people to feel like they're being spoiled in this coastal village of mine. And a sense of calm and uncluttered space. I don't have family photographs around, but I do have a lovely bookshelf with a thoughtful collection of books and magazines for people to enjoy. Also old fashioned DVDs and the ability to stream. We don't want to take everybody away from the modern world when they're having this much restful fun in this coastal village. And so to finish, as I've mentioned today, I don't think that homestay etiquette is about rigid rules, it's it's about consideration, respect, and a shared desire to create a pleasant experience for one another. When well done, it becomes something rather special, I think. A small but meaningful exchange of trust between strangers, often leaving both parties, I've found, just a little bit better off for it. Whether you're hosting or staying, please do so with grace, awareness, and kindness. Thank you so much for joining me today. Your time and attention are greatly appreciated, and I hope you've found our discussion both enlightening and inspiring. If you've enjoyed our conversation and want to stay connected with us on this journey of elegance and refinement, don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on your favourite podcast platforms. And why not share the wisdom with your friends and family? Etiquette is best enjoyed when it's a shared experience, after all. And for all the latest updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and exclusive content, be sure to follow the Percy Institute on Facebook and Instagram. And please also do join my Facebook group. It's called the Elegance Club, and you'll get exclusive offers and bonuses. Remember, the pursuit of a more elegant life is a continuous journey, and I'm delighted to share your journey. Feedback and engagement mean the world to me here, so please keep those comments, questions, and suggestions coming. I love hearing from you. So until next time, my dear listeners, stay graceful, stay kind, and may your life be filled with elegance and joy. Thank you for being a part of Manners and Other Matters. Goodbye for now.