FAQ: Hosting
1. Your profile as a Host
Once you have paid your membership fee, the Host List Coordinator will activate your Servas Online account, and you will receive a link to create your own profile on the Servas International page. Here you add the requested information about yourself and your household. Don’t forget the picture, it is always nice to see who you are. Please take some time to fill this in carefully as this is your future guests’ first impression of you! Remember to keep it up to date.
If you run into problems, you can ask for assistance by contacting us via the contact form or by mail.
Yes, you can and should update your profile yourself!
Servas International requires that you check your profile at least once a year, and more often when there are changes to be made (new LOI, new phone number or address, …)
If you run into problems, you can ask for assistance by contacting us via the contact form or by mail.
If you want to promote a good ‘match’ between you and your potential guest, write something about your interests, what activities you find attractive, what your profession is or was, your leisure activities, something about what you like to read, watch, do, where you have traveled yourself, your travel plans,… This is a good way to get to know each other a little bit in advance.
You can find the instructions in this document.
Only registered members have access to Servas Online and can see your address and the information in your profile.
2. Before the guest arrives
The traveler should have included their LOI (as pdf or by link to their profile), when contacting you. If not, you should ask them to send it to you.
You can also always look them up on Servas International’s page after logging in (Search Members)
Always reply as quickly as you can, even (or especially) when the answer is no and you cannot host the traveler on the requested day(s) or for any other reason.
This way, the traveler can contact other hosts. If you know a host who would like more visitors, you can refer the traveler to them!
Although a 2-night stay is the preferred hosting period, they can ask to stay just 1 night or for a longer stay. It’s up to you if you want to react positively to it.
Yes, when you cannot host on the requested days or for any other reason, you can inform the traveler you are not available. You do not have to specify why you cannot receive the guest. Obviously, you do not refuse a traveler based on race, religion, or sexual orientation.
When the traveler cannot present a LOI, you must refuse him.
Absolutely, we do encourage local visits!
Always make sure you have their contact data so you can inform them. If you know other hosts in the area you could contact them to ask if they are available.
3. While the guest stays at your house
There are no fixed rules. People host (and travel) in many different ways, and you give what you can and what you are comfortable with. So, there are plenty of options! The travelers are guests in your house and daily life, and they should take this into account. Good communication is key.
For instance, it is important regarding meals, to let your guests know what your plans are: will you cook? Do you expect they have eaten already when they arrive? Can they bring or prepare their own food? If you intend to invite them for a meal, don’t forget to ask for allergies or food restrictions.
How much time you spend together or if you do activities together, it’s up to you, and depends on your daily life and the opportunities. There is no obligation, as long as you make at least some time to get to know each other.
Generally a standard Servas stay is for 2 nights. You can decide if they can stay longer/shorter than 2 nights, if the question arises.
Hosts as well as travelers may have to change their plans due to circumstances, even at the last minute. Make sure you inform each other when plans change!
As a rule: no, you cannot charge any costs related to the stay (accommodations and meals)!
There is no exchange of money between hosts and traveler for the stay.
Of course, if your guest offers to do some shopping, or invites you for a meal out, you can accept.
If, as a host, you are willing and able to take your guest somewhere and that involves extra costs, you can make agreements about it. If you visit somewhere together for which entrance fees have to be paid then the principle is that each pays their own costs. But again: communication is the key!
Yes, a host can suggest arrangements e.g. hour of breakfast, hour of departure from the house. If the guest goes out in the evening, the time the host expects them home at the latest can also be agreed.
If the guest has specific requests, it is best to inform the host -if possible – in advance so that he can check whether it is compatible with his daily life.
Often, there is only one bathroom for hosts and guests, so arrangements must be made for its use.
Good communication and respect is key!
You are not obliged to provide a key, or to let your guests stay in your house when you are away if this makes you uncomfortable, but you always can and many Servas members do.
Expect someone who is willing to spend time with you, to have a good chat or discussion, while they may also have a busy travel schedule.
The traveler can give a helping hand, e.g. when clearing the table after breakfast, and should leave the used bathroom and the room in clean condition.
You can contact your local coordinator or the national secretary to discuss problems or inappropriate behavior (strong disagreement or argument, harassment, unwanted intimacy), so we can take actions if necessary (according to the complaints procedure).
As for damages, Servas cannot offer additional insurance and all damages have to be arranged through the traveler’s and host’s own private liability insurance.
There are many possibilities such as:
- Use local, seasonal produce for meals, or even produce from the garden
- Inform visitors about waste sorting
- Facilitate journeys by public transport, if available
- Lend bicycles or indicate bicycle hire
- Promote smaller, off the beaten track locations
For the vision of Servas International: Caring for our planet, Sustainable Development en Sustainable Travel Tips.