Reservation Procedure
To learn more about our application procedures, please read the steps below.
- Read about our homestays, shared apartments, guidelines, summer residence and furnished apartments.
- Calculate your price for homestays, shared apartments and summer residence using our Price Calculator or by looking at our Price List. For furnished apartment prices, please contact us.
- Apply through our website for a reservation.
- During the application stages we will ask you about your contact details, dates of arrival and departure, allergies and preferences.
- At the final stage of the website application, you will be required to pay a deposit of $250 by credit card. This $250 is considered as a pre-payment to your total balance. If we cannot provide the category of accommodation you are looking for, this deposit is fully refundable.
- After you have submitted the application, we will confirm receipt within 48 hours. Then we will start to process your application.
- Before your arrival we will send you the details of your accommodation and the invoice for your stay. Depending on your type of accommodation, you will receive the details of your accommodation a certain number of weeks prior to arrival. For Homestays and Shared Apartments you will receive the invoice and details of your accommodation 2-3 weeks before arrival, for Summer Residence it is 4 weeks before and for Furnished Apartments it is 2-4 weeks before depending on availability.
- If you are happy with the details of your accommodation, we then finalize the confirmation with the accommodation you will be staying at and double-check the arrival time and also schedule your airport pick-up (if requested). You will need to pay the invoice by: credit card, bank wire transfer, US check or Western Union. If you do not like the accommodation we have found for you, you let us know why and we will find an alternative that better fits your needs.
- Finally, pack your bags, get on your airplane, train, bus or car and get here safely. We will be waiting to welcome you.
If you would like more general info, or specific information on furnished apartments, please contact us.
Reservation and Cancellation Policies
Homestays and Shared Apartments: To provide you with the best accommodation for your needs, in the reservation we will ask you about your contact details, dates of arrival and departure, allergies and preferences. When submitting your reservation, you will be required to pay a $250 deposit by credit card. This deposit includes a $150 non-refundable registration fee and a $100 pre-payment that will be applied to your total balance. For example, if you have applied for a 4- week homestay that costs $1500, you will owe $1400. If you cancel your reservation 2 or more weeks before your arrival, we will refund your payment, except for the $150 non-refundable registration fee. If you cancel your reservation 1 to 13 days before your arrival, we will refund your payment, except for the $250 deposit. If you cancel our services on or after your arrival date, you will be charged a $250 cancellation fee. To avoid further charges, you are also required to give us 15 days notice that you wish to cancel the service. If you do not give 15 days notice, you will also be charged for 2 weeks of accommodations. You may at any time, on or after your arrival, request a change from your current accommodation to another accommodation we offer. This is free of charge when we receive 15 days notice of your wish for new accommodations. If we receive less than 15 days notice, we reserve the right to charge you for 2 weeks of accommodation fees.
Summer Residence: To provide you with the best accommodation for your needs, in the reservation we will ask you about your contact details, dates of arrival and departure, allergies and preferences. When submitting your reservation, you will be required to pay a $500 deposit by credit card. This deposit includes a $150 non-refundable registration fee and a $350 pre-payment that will be applied to your total balance. For example, if you have applied for a 4-week single room that costs $1860, you will owe $1510. This remaining outstanding balance is due 4 weeks before your arrival. If you cancel your reservation 4 or more weeks before your arrival, we will refund your payment, except for the $150 non-refundable registration fee. If you cancel your reservation less than 4 weeks before your arrival, we will refund your payment, except for the $500 deposit. If you cancel our services on or after your arrival date, you will be charged a $350 cancellation fee. To avoid further charges, you are also required to give us 15 days notice that you wish to cancel the service. If you do not give 15 days notice, you will also be charged for 2 weeks of accommodations. You may at any time, on or after your arrival, request a change from your current accommodation to another accommodation we offer. This is free of charge when we receive 15 days notice of your wish for new accommodations. If we receive less than 15 days notice, we reserve the right to charge you for 2 weeks of accommodation fees.
Furnished Apartments: To provide you with the best accommodation for your needs, in the reservation we will ask you about your contact details, dates of arrival and departure, allergies and preferences. When submitting your reservation, you will be required to pay the security deposit by credit card. This deposit is considered as a pre-payment that will be applied to your total balance. For example, if you have applied for a 1-month studio apartment, and we are able to offer you one that costs $2850 + $1000 security deposit. You would pay $1000 by credit card as the security deposit in order to reserve that apartment. You will then owe $2850 which is the rent. If we cannot provide you with the furnished apartment that you have requested at least 2 weeks before your arrival then we will refund your payment in full.
Extended Stay: If you wish to extend your stay past the date originally reserved, you should notify Sara's Homestay at least 15 days prior to the originally scheduled departure date, and we will do our best to extend the stay at the home or apartment where you have been placed, or, if it is not possible to do so, at another home or apartment. Under no circumstances should you extend your stay at any home or apartment in which you have been placed by us without our prior knowledge.
