Tips for Travellers

General

RoomFT is designed for two main types of traveller but could suit anyone going away for a short period.

The traveller who wants a reasonably priced alternative to traditional accommodation, such as students, backpackers etc. Millions of travellers each year stay in small family run bed and breakfast accommodations, inns motels and hostels. Some of these have as little as 3 letting bedrooms with the owners of the property residing in a room in the property. There is something unique about staying with a family in comparison to hotel rooms.

Travellers who want to stay in a specific location because there is an event taking place (e.g. music festival, sporting event) but cannot find space in traditional accommodation.

Getting started

As a traveller there are two options available to you when looking for a place to stay. You can either search for hosts or you can place a room request for hosts to contact you.

If you are a "non-verified member" you should consider changing your status to that of a "verified member". Many hosts prefer to host travellers with "verified status".

The annual verification fee is only UK £ 9.99, US $16.99, € 11.99 euro, AUD $ 16.99, CAN $16.99 or Yen 1600, subject to changes in exchange rates.

Posting your details on the website

Ensure you give potential hosts a lot of information about yourself or your party if you are travelling in a group.

Not providing accurate information could make a difference between a satisfied and dissatisfied host.

How to book and pay

If you are a Traveller looking for accommodation, you should initially use Contact Host form to enquire if the Homeowner will be able to host you.

We recommend you send enquiries to a few hosts as the host you are trying to contact maybe away and some hosts are more responsive than others.

You are more likely to receive a response from members with:
a) Recent login dates.
b) High email response percentages.
c) Recommendations from friends.
d) Feedback from other members.

Request and Pay for a Booking form should only be used after the Homeowner has agreed that they will host you and you have finalised your travel plans. Complete and send it in order to confirm number of guests, arrival and departure dates and price. You will be required to make a full payment to RoomFT for the accommodation you have booked after the Host accepts your Request and Pay for a Booking form. Payments are made securely on PayPal website using your credit/debit card or PayPal account.
Payments made are held by RoomFT and are only released to your Host after your arrival.

Travellers and Homeowners can only rate each other on bookings made using Request and Pay for a Booking form. Members with high ratings appear higher in search results. They also have higher status and reputation within RoomFT community.

The exchange of email address, website link, telephone number or contact address before a booking has been paid for is strictly forbidden and will result in the suspension of your account.

Travellers pay a 5% booking fee in addition to the cost of the accommodation they have booked.

If anything goes wrong, you can cancel the booking at any time by logging into your booking account. You will increase the risk of being scammed if you decide to make payment outside our website. We can only provide support on payments made though the website.

Staying with your host

Ensure you have obtained adequate information from your host on how you can get to their property from the airport, train or bus station. Inform your host as soon as you learn of possible delays to your arrival time.

Although you are paying to stay with your host remember their home is not a commercial premises. Please treat your host and their home with care and respect.

If there are days you intend to come back to your room late at night ensure you notify your host in advance.

If you are sharing a bathroom and toilet with others, never stay in it for longer than 30 minutes at a time, and when you come out, leave it clean, dry and take out all your things. Take the hair out of the bath tub or shower drain.

Where your host has allowed you access to the kitchen and lounge it is advisable to go into your room at a reasonable hour, perhaps 9 or 10 p.m. to allow the family to be busy with their own things after you go to bed.

At night remember to turn down the volume of your TV, stereo and radio.

If your host is providing breakfast ask before you go to bed, what time they will be ready for breakfast. Ensure you are punctual for breakfast.

An immediate thank you after each meal, snack, or helpful favour, would be appreciated by your host.

If you are allergic to or afraid of cats or dogs, it is best to avoid hosts with pets. You never have the right to criticize, scold or hit someone's pet.

If you don't like where you are staying, explain this to your host and see if they can make your stay more comfortable.

On the day you are leaving, leave your room clean and say a sincere thank you. Your host will have fond memories of you.

Watch out for scams

Report any attempted fraud or suspicious emails by other members to us. You should also report any fraud and illegal activity to the Police.

One scam we have come across is where a host requests for a security deposit through payment services like Western Union or Money Gram. Under no circumstances should you enter into any such arrangements.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.