NTIS New Zealand - Homestay

NTIS New Zealand for your Homestay experience!

Why Homestay?

Homestay is a cost effective method of seeing the real country you are staying in. Homestay is very popular in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and United Kingdom.

What happens?

You stay with a family in their home as their guest. They will cook for you, talk to you and share their experiences. This is cheaper than a hotel - often a week costs less than one night in a good hotel. You get to see how people in that country live, what they eat and what they do. In effect you become part of their family for the time you are there. Homestay also can mean Farmstay or Countrystay.

Farmstay is where you stay with a family on a farm. This presents endless possibilities for the guest. Often you will be able to help with the farm chores (only if you want to) and enjoy the open space of a farmhouse surrounded by acres of farm land.

Countrystay is Homestay but in a countryside location. This is great for people who have a car to travel from the location although Countrystay families normally provide transport to a certain extent for their guests.

Learning English?

There are several types of Homestay experience offered by NTIS New Zealand.

The first is simply Homestay. You stay with a family. They will provide you with usually 2 meals a day during the week and three at the weekend. If you are studying English at a language school or University you have a family to talk to in English and share your problems when you return home each day. Often families will help you with your English homework if you get stuck. If the family you are staying with has children they will often want to help you too.

The next option is English language plus Homestay.

This is a slightly more expensive option. Here the host family will also teach you English - usually for between 2 to 4 hours a day.  In the main this is not as good as a professional language school but is more useful if you want to practise English  - i.e. the style of learning is a more practical day to day use of English rather than learning school English.
 

Other options

NTIS New Zealand offer Homestay plus Scuba Diving, Homestay plus Cookery lessons, Homestay plus Tours, Homestay plus Golf, Homestay plus Skiing. In fact the list is endless so contact us with your requirements and we will help.

Farmstay internships. This is where you work on a farm and stay there. You normally work for a few hours a day only. You are not paid for this work but receive free accommodation in exchange.

What does it cost?

Costs vary considerably depending on the package offered. A basic Homestay in a large town is often very reasonably priced and is suitable for students, people on a low budget or people who want to stay for a short period and don't care where they stay.

A large Countrystay or Farmstay can cost considerably more but you normally get a better quality experience.

Remember

Homestay is one of the best ways to experience the life of people in the country you are visiting.

Homestay families are carefully checked to ensure that they are friendly, honest and can provide you with what we expect.

Contact us  for more information.