FAQS

Accommodation is always included. You might have a room or even your own apartment, it depends on the Host. Food is normally included but you may be asked to help with the cooking. Some Hosts prefer you to prepare your own meals or even buy your own food. It is best to clarify the situation in advance.

Yes. You can sign up as a Helper or Host and use the app to organise work exchanges completely free. You will not be asked for any payment.

Just download our app from the App Store or Google Play. StayLance is unique because unlike most other organizations, membership is completely free.

The number of hours a week will depend on the indivdual Host. We recommend no more than 4 – 5 hours work a day, 5 days a week in exchange for meals and accommodation. You might find Helpers who have a highly skilled profession, in which case they might expect to work fewer hours.

If you don’t wish to feed your Helper and expect them to buy their own groceries, you should not expect them to give you more than 2 – 3 hours a day, 5 days a week.

We advise that you discuss what is expected in advance as, so that you are both clear about each other’s expectations.

By law in most countries, you must be 18 years old or above to register with us. Minors should be accompanied by their parents if Hosts are willing to accept Helpers under the age of 18.

There is no maximum age. In fact, many Hosts prefer Helpers who have more experience, as well as the skills & talents acquired over time. Mature professionals are always welcome!

Once you are registered with us, you just need to login to the app by entering your  email and password. Then you can edit your profile easily by following the instructions on your screen.

This can be easily done through your account profile on the app. There are easy to follow instructions on the screen.

At StayLance, we strive to provide our members with the right tools to make informed decisions regarding who they interact with online and in real life. While we do check every profile that is created, we don’t routinely perform background checks, though we do reserve the right to. Host and Helper profiles must meet all of our requirements before we will put them online. We are not your agent, StayLance is simply a tool to facilitate contact with like-minded people.

It depends on the country you are visiting and your country of origin. For example, those who live in the EU will be able to work as a Helper in other EU countries and those traveling to Australia and New Zealand can do so with a Working Holiday Visa. StayLance will not be able to arrange visas for you as we are a platform which connects you with Hosts and nothing more. Australia, New Zealand, UK, Ireland and Canada have Working Holiday Schemes for young people
from certain countries, which you may wish to investigate further. Ultimately it is your responsibility to obtain the correct visa for any country you intend visiting.

It is always a good idea to make sure that you have travel insurance, especially if you will be participating in a lifestyle or activities where an accident is possible, such as using machinery, riding horses or taking part in a dangerous sport. Some Hosts may also have insurance, but we advise that each individual should be responsible for their own cover.

If you can afford to buy or rent your own vehicle, it is always easier and more convenient for both you and your Host. However, most people who use StayLance are aiming to keep the costs or travel low and will not be willing to invest in this expense.

Some Hosts who live remotely might offer their Helper the option of using their vehicle, but please always check that you are insured to drive it. Many Hosts are happy to collect from a nearby train station or bus stop.

There are times when reality doesn’t meet your expectations. For whatever reason things become challenging and/or uncomfortable. We encourage our members to take a step back and reflect on whether it is down to personality clashes, cultural differences, miscommunication or unreasonable expectations from either party. It is always best to keep calm if things don’t work out, don’t take things personally and try to be philosophical about it. Remember either party can decide to finish the arrangement at any point. We also highly recommend that you have a backup plan. If, however you think the situation is serious and puts either the Hosts or the Helpers at risk then we want to hear about it. StayLance always takes your concerns seriously and will investigate both sides of the story and, if necessary, take appropriate action. Please remember that StayLance is essentially a platform to allow members to connect with each other either. Any arrangements and agreements made through the platform are your responsibility.

You can contact the StayLance team here. We are available to our members and value feedback, comments and suggestions from you. We always welcome stories about your StayLance experiences. We will answer within 24 hours.