Foreign Travel Made Less Expensive and More Culturally Rewarding - Homestays instead of Hotels

    /24-7PressRelease/ - SOUTH MIAMI, FL, February 22, 2008 - With the weak dollar, the cost of foreign travel is becoming prohibitive. Instead of expensive hotels and costly restaurant meals, a safe, less expensive, more personal, culturally rewarding solution exists. Live the Foreign Life Homestays (www.FLSAS.com/homestays.html) make travel more affordable for all age groups, including Seniors. Accommodations in private homes, known as "homestays," can be arranged with local, carefully selected hosts. This is an excellent solution, as well, for individuals travelling alone.

"You have the opportunity to meet local people, participate in the daily life of the country you are visiting, and not just observe it from the windows of a tour bus," says Louise Harber, founder of the Miami-based company and website that coordinate these overseas vacations. "You can participate in activities with the host or take off and explore on your own or do all the tourist things but 'go home' each evening."

Homestays can be arranged in more than 30 countries, including France, England, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Germany, Japan, China, Mexico - just to name a few. There are three levels of comfort: Standard, Superior and Luxury. Private Bathrooms are available. Enjoy regional home cooking; enjoy learning to cook local dishes. Options include breakfast only, breakfast and dinner, or three meals daily.

Those with no knowledge of the language of the country are placed with hosts who speak English. Available all year, a minimum one-week stay is required. All age groups are welcome: Senior Citizens, parents with children; teenagers, children and everyone in between.

Hosts are carefully selected; they are not people who commercially "rent rooms" or those who are "on a list." In each region, there are Regional / Local Organizers who have personally visited all the homes / hosts. Preferences such as: non-smoker, all female home, vegetarian, no pets, etc. are accommodated. When requested, participants are matched with hosts with shared interests: : gardening, music, sports, cooking, art, etc..

For those who are apprehensive about "living in the home of strangers," participants will not be "abandoned" or "stranded" in a homestay. If there are problems, each area has at least one local / regional organizer, and you will be given at least two additional emergency numbers and there is a 24 / 7 number. You can always contact the U.S. office if the need arises.

For those who want an even more personal experience in a country, an Activities Program can be arranged with the host, to visit places of truly local interest, shop where the locals shop, research your genealogy, go to the beach, shop, hike, bike, and other customized pursuits.

About Live the Foreign Life HomeStays. Live the Foreign Life HomeStays are organized by Louise Harber / Foreign Language Study Abroad Service (FLSAS). FLSAS also offers programs that emphasize total cultural and total language immersion. FLSAS has been sending students of all ages to these programs abroad for over 30 years. The Live the Foreign Life Homestays were created for those who really like the idea of getting to know more about the culture of a country but are not interested in language lessons. Please contact: Louise Harber, FLSAS, PO Box 430903, South Miami, FL 33243, 305 662 1090, [email protected], www.FLSAS.com//homestays.html. Louise Harber is available for interviews.

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