Description of Local Area
What better way to improve your English language skills than to practice them with an American host family?
Just as there is no typical New Yorker, there is also no typical home in New York. We have host families who were born and raised in New York and others who moved to New York from different states or countries. All of the hosts love sharing their home with our international students.
Description of Accommodation
Staying with a local family is both exciting and rewarding. Host families provide the best insight into how an American family leads their life. This interaction with a family helps students communicate better, faster and allows them to pick up words and nuances used in daily situations.
Some host families have three story homes with several bedrooms, whilst others have a smaller apartment. All homestays are located in safe areas of the city. Students may find New York to be very fast paced and may notice that their host families work long hours.
Students’ rooms are sufficiently spacious with a source of natural light, a comfortable bed and a reasonable supply of blankets, sheets, bath towels and pillows. There will be storage facilities with drawers and closets with adequate hanging space. The student will have a desk or table for private study, a reading lamp, adequate power outlets, a mirror, and a waste paper basket.
Additionally, students will have open access to common areas such as the living room, kitchen, dining room, etc. Some hosts may have restrictions on using the kitchen or bathroom.
It is rare for apartments to have a washer and dryer in the apartment. Most New York City homes will have a common laundry room in the building or students will have to go to a local Laundromat. Many host families do not have central air conditioning. There may be an air conditioning unit only in the main shared living areas and not in each individual room.
Meal Description
Host families prepare a variety of meals and make an effort to adjust the type of food to the tastes of students. They also take religious beliefs into consideration when preparing meals. Vegetarians or people with food allergies should inform EC of their dietary requirements upon booking.
Breakfast varies from one family to another. Host families are encouraged to offer you whatever is typical for their home. They may prepare a hearty breakfast with eggs, toast, bacon, fruit, coffee or tea, but most will offer something simple like toast or cereal and coffee.
Other families prefer a “serve yourself” policy where the student will help themselves to whatever they might want that morning. If students book half board they eat whatever the family eats. Dinners are usually quite early in the USA, but families will inform students of the time when they eat. Not all families will sit down and have dinner together every night. Some host families will allow students to use their kitchens to cook on their own meals, but this varies from family to family.
Accommodation Features
Type of Room
Single or Twin
Manhattan: Single (Supplement)
Bathroom type
Shared
Board status
B&B or
Half Board*
*Bed & Breakfast. A half board supplement which includes dinner in addition to breakfast is available at an extra charge.
*NOTE: Manhattan Single Room Half Board has a 2 week minimum booking.
Gallery
Images are for representation purpose only. Actual furnishings may differ from those shown. Amenities and services are subject to change.
Please refer to partners.ecenglish.com for the most up to date factsheet. Information live on this site will supersede any information provided earlier.
Emergency Number
+1- 631-612-4494
Arrival and departure
Saturday/Saturday
Host Family Locations
Homestays in New York are primarily located in Manhattan, Queens, or Brooklyn.
EC New York also has a few homestays in some parts of New Jersey. Homestays in Manhattan are on request only. Homestays in this area are at a higher price than homestays in other areas of New York.
Journey to school
The Manhattan homestays are approximately a 25-45 minutes commute to EC New York. Outside of Manhattan the commute is between 45 and 60 minutes. Times are approximate.
Airport Pickup
If you booked an airport transfer, after you collect your luggage and exit into the Arrivals Area, find the Welcome Center and look for your driver. Your driver will be waiting there with a sign that has your name on it. Please note: For arrivals at JFK International Airport, there is construction at Terminal 1 and 7 at JFK. Your driver will not be able to enter the terminal, but has been instructed to meet you curbside. After entering the arrivals area, go outside to the street and meet your driver at passenger pickup area “B”.
NOTE: International transfers will arrive 90 minutes after the flight lands and domestic arrivals will arrive 30 minutes after the flight lands to allow the students to retrieve their luggage. If you do not see a driver with a sign with your name on it, please call the EC New York Emergency phone line at +1-631-612-4494.
FOR YOUR SAFETY, DO NOT GET INTO A CAR WITH ANYONE THAT DOES NOT HAVE THIS EC SIGN.
House Rules
- Special dietary may be accommodated subject to availability with a fee per week
- Twin Rooms only available for two students booking together
- Students should ask their family how to use items in the home, such as window shades, bathroom fixtures, kitchen appliances (microwave, dishwasher) and other equipment
- Some homes may have pets. Should students be allergic or prefer not to live with a pet they should indicate this on their preferences when booking.
- No smoking is permitted inside the house.
- All students will be given a key to their home.
- Free WIFI facilities
- Students arriving in EC accommodation between 22.00 – 08.00 may be asked to book alternative accommodation for their first night. This is to ensure student’s safety on arrival.
Students are required to follow EC Student Code of Conduct, failure to do so can result in termination of the accommodation.
For more accommodation terms and conditions please refer to EC accommodation policy.