FAQs

We interview each family and check their references before we send anyone to their home.

Additionally, we've been working with many of our host families for years now and they've had consistently good reviews. Each Traveler gets the chance to review their host family at the end of the program. This way, we only work with the best families.

You'll likely get a chance to talk to a family's reference before you sign a contract. (This reference is usually a Rome Abroad Graduate.)

We also work with other organizations who streamline the matching process. These organizations screen host families before we work with them.

This varies from $50 per week to $600 per week based on the program. The pay can also depend on the number of hours required.

China — $50 per week

Italy — $80 per week

Spain — $80 per week

France — $100 per week

Australia — $180 per week

Teach in China — $1900-$2400 per month

This money can be used to offset the flight costs or to travel on the weekends. Most of our programs (with the exception of the Teach in China program) should not be sought after in order to make money. Our purpose is to help you affordably experience another culture.

Your host family will provide room and board (including food) for you. They should help you feel safe, secure, and welcome in their home. Your host family can help you find opportunities for cultural experiences in the community.

It's our goal to make your experience safe, affordable, and life-changing. We find host families and ensure they are welcoming. We provide each Traveler with training and resources. These include helpful tips, how to find cheap flights, and more. We arrange an official agreement signed by you and your host family. We also help maintain this agreement and handle breaches. We help ensure that your host family pays you in full and doesn't overwork you. If any issues arise, we're there to help.

For these services, the cost is about $500 per Traveler. This varies based on the program. You can check out our pricing page for more info. If you have any questions, shoot us an email and we'll get back to you.

Yes! We love it when friends get to travel together. Plus, the buddy system is a great way to stay safe. We highly recommend traveling with others. ​

For these reasons, we encourage going with a friend. When you refer a friend who does one of our programs, you BOTH get a $70 discount! Plus this discount is stackable.

So if you refer two friends, you'll get $140 off and each of your friends gets $70 off. What's the catch? Just have your friends apply with your name as the promo code! Once you're accepted to the program, you'll get your own link to share too.

Yes! We encourage new friendships in our programs. After your acceptance, we'll give you access to a group chat and our Facebook group. Then you can get to know others who will be in same program. You can plan trips together plus you'll have instant friends when you arrive.
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The group chat is a great place to ask advice, share tips, and make travel plans.

We've had many people develop lifelong friendships this way. We'll also give you access to other networks outside of Rome Abroad so you can expand your friendship network abroad further.

Host families expect you to interact as much as possible with their children. You can tell stories, play games, do crafts or activities, read books, and more. You should also act like one of the family by tidying up after yourself. For families whose native language isn't English, it's important to talk a lot.

Host families are usually very interested to know more about their guest. You should be willing to share things about yourself, your family, and your lifestyle at home. Read more about a host family's expectations and requirements.

Yes, you'll have free time! You'll have two days free (usually Saturday and Sunday) to travel, explore, and do things on your own. (Of course, you're more than welcome to stay and hang out with your host family if you want to.)

During the school year, you'll most likely be with the kids from after school until bedtime. In the summer, your schedule might be mornings or afternoons. Either way, our program requirements are clear so you won't be "on duty" more than 30 hours per week.

Weekends are a great time to see other places, travel, go to museums, and explore your host country. You can check out typical weekend activities for our Travelers on the blog.

No. Families expect you to take care of your own transportation.

But, there are options for flight subsidies in our China program and Teach in China program! If you commit to a program of 3-4 months, you'll receive a one-way flight subsidy. If you commit to a program of 6 months, you'll receive a round-trip flight subsidy.

After you're accepted to the program, we'll give you all our best tips for finding cheap flights. We have extensive experience finding great flight deals.

Flights from the US to Europe/Asia/Australia range between $400-$1700. If flights seem expensive, also bear in mind that you will earn money during the program. Calculate the flight cost and see if you can make up most (if not all) of it with the money you get weekly.

You will be as safe as you are smart. Realize that the majority of crimes suffered by tourists are nonviolent and avoidable. Tourists naturally attract petty thieves, but if you're wise, you can avoid them.

Be aware of your surroundings and keep personal belongings close to your body. This can help you avoid pickpockets, especially in busy areas.

You can read more safety tips on our blog. We also provide more specific safety guidelines in your training materials orientation.

No, with one exception. For China, Italy, Spain, and Australia, you don't need to speak another language. In fact, many host families in those countries prefer that you don't! That way, it helps their kids to use English only (and therefore dramatically improve their conversation skills). Many kids in foreign countries study English in school but lack practical application.

For France, basic French is required of all applicants. You'll need to be able to introduce yourself in French and have a basic conversation. French families believe this is very important, especially as many of their children have limited English vocabularies.

Of course, no matter where you are, knowing some basics will help you as you navigate in your new country. Learning helpful phrases and words before you arrive can help a lot! In fact, that's one of the most common pieces of advice our graduates give future Travelers. We'll give you the basics in your training materials after you're accepted to the program.

If you want to talk with locals, the average person is more than happy to help out (especially if they see your effort). And of course, as you spend more time immersed in another language, you'll start to pick up a few words here and there. Good luck!

Read the tips and adventures of other Travelers on the blog.

You can also prepare by asking yourself some simple questions.

• Am I prepared to live outside of my comfort zone?

• Am I comfortable talking a lot?

• Am I good with children?

• Do I have experience working with kids?

• Am I going to be comfortable living away from family and friends?

• Can I live away from home without getting homesick?

• Am I an independent person?

If you answered yes to those questions, ponder the following:

• What do I want most out of my experience in a foreign country?

• Why do I want to live abroad?

You must be at least 20 years old by your date of availability. You must have some experience with children such as teaching, babysitting, nannying, tutoring, etc.

You should be passionate about traveling, learning, and seeing the world. Our ideal candidates are friendly and extroverted, smile a lot, and talk a lot. Having international travel experience is a bonus (gold star if you've done it solo!).

Married couples are accepted for the Teach in China program only. We evaluate these applications on a case-by-case basis. Host families simply do not have the capacity to accommodate more than one person.

Couples with children are also able to participate in the Teach in China program. Children and/or spouses who do not have a Z visa will need the appropriate visa for living in China (we provide these details at orientation).

Missing your home, family, and friends is a natural part of being away for an extended amount of time. It happens to even the most avid travelers. The key to dealing with homesickness is to make some decisions beforehand. Resolve that no matter your feelings of homesickness, you will actively engage with your host family. Resolve to take the initiative to do specific things to enjoy your limited time away from home.

Many people are able to diminish feelings of homesick by making friends with other Travelers in the program, doing things they love, and investing themselves in their host family.

If you're worried about being away from home and have never traveled on your own, test it out on a smaller scale. If you're still worried about it after that, this may not be the right experience for you.

We let you meet your host family before you make a decision. You can talk to them, introduce yourself, and get to know them before you sign a contract. You'll have a chance to ask them about their expectations as well as express your own. You'll also get to talk with someone who has done a Rome Abroad program before. Most of the time, this person will be someone who's lived with your same host family as well.

We do this to help prevent any incompatibilities with personalities. If there are issues after your arrival, express your feelings with us and with your host parent(s). Most incompatibility issues can be worked out through open communication, a review of expectations, and setting goals.

If you don't like your host family because they are being disrespectful, unkind, or abusive, contact us immediately and we'll get you to a safe place until you can be placed with another family.

​If you leave your family without coordinating with us, or come home early, there is a cancellation fee.

There are reasons for this fee. Your host family has changed their life arrangements to accommodate you. Changing your mind can present difficulties for them.

For more details, see our terms and conditions.

1. The first step is to apply for free.
   (If you're interested in the Teach in China program, fill out this application).

2. After you've passed the initial screening, you'll fill out an assessment.

3. Once you're accepted to the program, you'll meet with us for orientation (in person or via video). We'll finalize your dates, give you training materials, and help you prepare to met a host family (or school for the Teach in China program). You'll also make a 25% deposit which goes towards the program cost.

4. After that, you'll get to look through family/school profiles and pick your top choices. We'll set up everything for the introduction and you'll meet your potential host family (or school) in a video call. You'll get to talk to them multiple times. If you feel like it's a good match, we'll set up the agreement.

5. Before you leave, we'll have a free departure meeting where we help you prepare for your adventure. Then buckle up and pack your bags! You'll be off in no time.

6. While you're in the program, we'll check in with you frequently to make sure everything is running smoothly.

7. After you finish the program, we ask for your feedback so we can continuously improve.

Check out our blog for updates of what current and past Rome Abroad Travelers are doing. You can read their about their travel, life with a host family, and activities with the kid(s) of their host families.

We also have tips and tricks for traveling on the blog.