Help & Support

Find answers to common questions, learn about safety, and discover our community guidelines.

FAQs

Contact

Safety

Guidelines

Frequently Asked Questions

Stayway connects travelers with hosts who offer accommodation and meals in exchange for help with projects, farms, businesses, or household tasks. Travelers search for opportunities that match their interests and travel dates, apply to listings, and communicate with hosts before arriving. It's a meaningful cultural exchange where both travelers and hosts benefit from the experience.

Yes, Stayway is completely free for both travelers and hosts. There are no membership fees, listing fees, or booking charges. We operate on a free community model to make work exchange accessible to everyone around the world.

Stayway encourages fair cultural exchanges. As a general guideline, hosts should offer accommodation (and meals where agreed) in exchange for a reasonable amount of help, typically around 4–5 hours per day, 5 days per week. However, expectations should always be discussed and agreed upon before the traveler arrives. Every arrangement is unique and should work for both parties.

Travelers build their reputation through our review system. After each completed exchange, hosts can leave honest feedback about their experience. Travelers with multiple positive reviews demonstrate their reliability and trustworthiness. We encourage travelers to complete their profiles fully, add profile photos, and provide references from previous exchanges.

We're here to help! Contact our support team immediately if you have concerns. We review each case individually and work to find fair solutions. It's important to document any issues and communicate clearly with the other party. Our team can mediate disputes and help ensure both parties have a positive experience.

Yes, but we recommend communicating as early as possible with the other party. Both travelers and hosts should have clear cancellation policies discussed upfront. If you need to cancel, reach out to the person you're exchanging with directly through our messaging system, and contact our support team if you need assistance.

Contact Support

Email Support

Have a question or need help? Our support team is here for you. Send us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Response time: We typically respond to emails within 24 hours during business days. For urgent matters, please mark your email as urgent and we'll prioritize it.

Safety Tips

Verify profiles thoroughly

Always read reviews from previous exchanges, check profile completion, and look at photos. For travelers, review host references and ask detailed questions about the work and living conditions.

Communicate clearly

Use our messaging system to discuss expectations, work hours, meals, accommodation details, and house rules before arrival. The more detailed the conversation, the better the match.

Trust your instincts

If something feels off about a profile or conversation, don't proceed. There are plenty of opportunities and hosts available. Your safety and comfort are always your priority.

Share your plans

Travelers should share their itinerary and host contact details with friends or family. Hosts should document all guest arrivals and departures. This ensures everyone's safety.

Agree on details in writing

Document important details like work hours, days off, meal arrangements, and house rules in writing through our messaging system before arrival. This prevents misunderstandings.

Meet in public first

If possible, arrange to meet the person in a public place before committing to the exchange. This helps ensure compatibility and builds trust.

Community Guidelines

1Fair Cultural Exchange

Stayway promotes genuine cultural exchange between travelers and hosts. Everyone should approach exchanges with respect, openness, and a genuine interest in learning from different perspectives.

2Reasonable Work Expectations

Hosts should offer accommodation and meals in exchange for a reasonable amount of help. The guideline is typically 4–5 hours per day, 5 days per week. All expectations must be clearly discussed and agreed upon before arrival.

3Honest Profiles

Create complete, honest profiles with accurate photos and descriptions. Misrepresenting yourself or your property undermines trust in our community. Everyone benefits from authenticity.

4Respectful Communication

Treat all community members with respect. Harassment, discrimination, or disrespectful behavior is not tolerated. We welcome people from all backgrounds, cultures, and identities.

5Property Care

Travelers should respect host properties and follow house rules. Hosts should provide a safe, clean living space. Both parties should leave the property in good condition.

6Honest Reviews

Reviews should be honest and fair. They help maintain the integrity of our community. Don't leave reviews based on unrealistic expectations or personal disputes unrelated to the exchange.

7Report Concerns

If you witness or experience inappropriate behavior, safety concerns, or violations of our guidelines, report it immediately to our support team. We take these matters seriously.

Our Commitment: We're committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive community. These guidelines help ensure that every exchange is positive and meaningful for both travelers and hosts. If you have concerns about guideline violations or safety issues, please contact our support team immediately.

Still have questions?

Our support team is here to help. Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.