Meet Elena
Energetic, Helpful, Friendly
I enjoy meeting new people, and suggesting things you can do and places to see!
On a typical day...
I’m mostly at home/work from home.
When I host guests...
I like to chat with them when they are home but have my own things going on.
Family Hobbies
Football, Cycling, Running, Swimming, Skiing
Hosting guests since
2010
Response Rate
100%
Response Time
Within a day
About the Homestay
- Welcomes
- Males
- Females
- Couples
- Families
- Students
Our home is a Grade 2 listed house with wood beams, open fire places, and 8 rooms. Set in the historic village of Barkway, near the town of Royston with easy access to Cambridge and London. Garden, lots of footpaths through beautiful countryside, and friendly pubs await in walking distance. We can host one person or couples. We have bikes and there is a bus service. We have 1 friendly cat. Your English host (who speaks Italian, French and Spanish) is also happy to transport and pick up from Royston railway station, 3 miles/5km away. Stansted 40 mins by taxi, also by train via Cambridge. A lovely place to relax and explore! (Your host also teaches English as a foreign language: lessons can be booked as an extra!) Welcome!
My Pets
Cat
House Facilities
- Garden
- Bikes for use
- Laundry
- Patio
- TV
- Internet Access
- Smoke alarm
Bedrooms available for booking
About the Area
Our house is located in the heart of historic Barkway village (near Cambridge) an old coaching village with many ‘listed’ houses (protected from change). Surrounded by stunning countryside, we have many footpaths radiating out of the village, a friendly pub and a cafe. If you enjoy wildlife, there are many deer which we regularly spot, and great bird life. There is a bus service into nearby Royston town, and a well priced local taxi service. From Royston it is a 20 min trip to Cambridge, or a 40 minute trip to London (fast train). Beautiful Saffron Walden with its Jacobean mansion Audley End is 25 mins away, as is internationally famous Duxford, which houses an incredible collection of aircraft, and has flying exhibitions in the Spring/Summer. Country houses to visit include Wimpole and Shuttleworth, also home to an aircraft collection, a folly garden and host to flying days and picnics! Cambridge needs no introduction, with its glorious architecture in the form of colleges, and its stunning riverside. Whether you want to relax in the village and explore locally, or go further afield, your host will be happy to help you get the most out of your visit, be it one day, a few days, a week or longer!
Local Area Facilities
- Park
- Golf
- Swimming
- Library
- Museum
- Horse Stables
- Restaurant
- Airport
- Bus Stop
- Train station
Meals
Hosts can offer a complimentary light breakfast at their discretion. All other meals, including a full breakfast, might incur an additional cost, if offered. Meals and any additional payment should be arranged directly with your host.
Included in the stay
- Complimentary Light Breakfast
- Use of Kitchen
Available on request at an extra cost
- Full Breakfast
- Half Board
- Packed lunch
Diet Type available on request
- Vegetarian
- Lactose Intolerant
- Nut Allergies
House Rules
Bring slippers (no shoes in house). No loud music. Keep bedroom and bathroom tidy.
Smoking Rules
Your host is a non-smoker.
Smoking is not allowed.
How do I book?
Contact the host to check their availability and ask them any questions you have about staying with them. Once the host confirms they’re available for your dates, you can complete your booking.
When do I pay?
Once a host confirms they're available, you can go ahead and pay the 15% booking fee (maximum of 250 $£€ for longer term bookings) and a 25% deposit using a choice of payments: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Maestro, Laser, JCB & PayPal. The deposit is collected in advance on behalf of the host to protect against no show or late cancellations (within 7 days of arrival). You then pay your host the balance due on arrival. The 25% deposit payment is made to the host 2 business days after your scheduled arrival date. This deposit payment will only be refunded if you cancel the booking at least 7 full days prior to arrival.
When can I share my contact details?
Host and Guest email address, phone number and home address will be exchanged in a confirmation email sent to both immediately after a booking is completed. It's against our policy for Guests and Hosts to exchange direct contact details via our messaging system.