Canal Street Online Manchester

Gay Homestays

Gay Homestays

An innovative Manchester based business is providing gay travellers with an affordable way to travel by connecting them with local people who have a spare room to rent.  Gay Homestays is an online accommodation network offering short-term accommodation in Barcelona, Rome, Paris, Gran Canaria and many other European destinations.

“Gay Homestays is a unique product and offers a social networking experience to people who like to travel” says its owner Dave Chambers. “Our hosts are enriched by the opportunity of meeting people from all over the world and our customers are happy because they get the chance to connect with local people from the places they visit, learn something about the culture and possible even make new friends.”

"With the economic outlook looking gloomy and with homeowners struggling to pay their mortgages, Gay Homestays gives people a chance to earn some extra cash whilst making their holidays affordable" says Chambers. “We have properties in over 40 European cities and by the end of the year we plan to expand into America, Australia and Canada.”

To book a room an online deposit payment is made followed by a cash payment to the host upon arrival.  Mr Chambers, an ex-Social Worker, explains that. "The upfront credit card payment means that the guest identity and home address is verified and offers an important level of security.”  As a Host you quote a price, which you determine and wait for someone to book your room. To become a host you must register your details with Gay Homestays to be set up with a profile page where you will be able to manage your bookings and room availability.

“Most of our hosts are young professionals in their late twenties and thirties' says Mr Chambers. “Our travellers are mainly tourists but we are seeing an increase in business travel, probably because businesses are cutting back on expenses.”  Through their website you can book a room in Barcelona for as little as €30 per night, whereas even a budget hotel would cost around €60 to €70.

Chambers recently lived in Barcelona for 4 years, where he set up a small B&B. His idea to create Gay Homestays was borne out of discussions with his guest who had become disillusioned with over priced and impersonal hotels. “My vision is to develop a global private accommodation network providing safe and affordable accommodation to gay men and women from all over the world and to inspire amazing holiday experiences based on cross-cultural sharing and encounters.”

Gay Homestays is actively seeking hosts in the Manchester area, so if you have a spare room to rent, are interested in providing accommodation to gay traveller and wish to earn some extra cash then contact them on their website.  To sign up you do not have to be a full-time host.  You may, for example, only want to rent your room out for a couple days per month or during the Pride weekend. find them on Facebook facebook.com/GayHomestays

Published: 30-Jun-2011: (592)

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