Welcome to GharOnGo
At GharOnGo, we believe a homestay is more than just a place to sleep. It is a chance for travellers to experience a destination through the people, homes, food, stories, and everyday moments that make it special.
As a GharOnGo host, you are not simply offering a room or a property. You are welcoming someone into your part of India.
This guide will help you create a great listing, welcome guests with confidence, and make every stay feel comfortable, authentic, and memorable.
Create an Honest Listing
Your listing is the first impression a traveller gets of your homestay, so make sure everything you share is accurate and up to date.
Include:
- A clear and detailed description of your homestay.
- Accurate photographs of the property.
- Available rooms and sleeping arrangements.
- Bathrooms and other facilities.
- Amenities available to guests.
- Check-in and check-out timings.
- House rules.
- Accessibility information, where relevant.
- Nearby attractions and experiences.
- Any limitations guests should know about.
Be honest about what guests can expect. If there is no Wi-Fi, say so. If the property involves a steep walk, mention it. If hot water is available only at certain times, let guests know. Clear information helps guests choose the right stay and prevents misunderstandings later.
Let Your Photos Tell the Real Story
Good photographs help travellers understand your property before they arrive.
Try to include clear photographs of:
- The exterior of the property.
- Guest rooms.
- Bathrooms.
- Common areas.
- Dining areas.
- Views from the property.
- Outdoor spaces.
- Important amenities.
- Unique details that make your homestay special.
Use natural light where possible and keep the spaces clean and tidy before taking photographs. Avoid heavily edited photographs that make the property look significantly different from reality.
Show guests what they can actually expect to experience.
Share What Makes Your Homestay Special
Your property doesn't have to be luxurious to be memorable. Tell travellers what makes your homestay different.
It could be:
- A family recipe.
- A beautiful mountain view.
- A traditional home.
- A local breakfast.
- A garden.
- A village walk.
- Stories about the area.
- A family tradition.
- Local crafts.
- Farm-to-table food.
- A quiet place to watch the sunrise.
- Your knowledge of the surrounding region.
These details help travellers understand that they are booking more than accommodation. They're booking an experience.
Keep Your Property Clean and Comfortable
Cleanliness is one of the most important parts of a good stay.
Before every guest arrives:
- Clean and prepare the room.
- Change bed linen and towels.
- Clean bathrooms thoroughly.
- Empty bins.
- Check lights, fans, appliances, and other facilities.
- Make sure essential amenities are available.
- Check that doors, windows, locks, and safety equipment are functioning properly.
If something is temporarily unavailable or not working, inform the guest as early as possible.
Be Clear About House Rules
Every home has its own way of doing things. Tell guests about your house rules before they arrive.
These may include:
- Smoking rules.
- Pet policies.
- Visitor policies.
- Quiet hours.
- Kitchen usage.
- Parking arrangements.
- Food arrangements.
- Check-in and check-out rules.
- Restrictions on parties or events.
- Areas that are not accessible to guests.
Keep your rules reasonable, clear, and easy to understand.
Keep Your Availability Updated
If your property is unavailable, make sure your calendar reflects it.
Keeping availability and pricing updated helps:
- Avoid double bookings.
- Reduce cancellations.
- Set the right expectations.
- Make the booking process easier for everyone.
If you need to change your availability after a booking has been confirmed, communicate with GharOnGo and the guest as early as possible.
Respond to Guests Promptly
Good communication can make a big difference to a guest's experience. Try to respond to enquiries and booking-related messages as quickly as reasonably possible.
Before arrival, share useful information such as:
- Directions.
- Check-in instructions.
- Contact details.
- Parking information.
- Important house rules.
- What guests should bring.
- Any local conditions they should know about.
You don't need to be available every minute. But guests should know how and when they can reach you if they need help.
Give Guests a Warm Welcome
A warm welcome doesn't have to be elaborate. Sometimes it is as simple as:
- Greeting guests when they arrive.
- Showing them around.
- Explaining how things work.
- Offering a cup of local tea.
- Sharing a home-cooked meal.
- Telling them about a nearby place worth visiting.
- Helping them settle in comfortably.
Small gestures often become the memories travellers take home.
Help Guests Experience the Destination
You know your destination better than most travellers. Use that knowledge.
Tell guests about:
- Local food.
- Lesser-known places.
- Local markets.
- Walking routes.
- Seasonal experiences.
- Cultural experiences.
- Nearby attractions.
- Local customs.
- Places to watch a sunrise or sunset.
- Things worth doing beyond the usual tourist spots.
You don't have to create an itinerary for every guest. Sometimes one good local recommendation is enough.
Respect Guest Privacy
A homestay should feel welcoming, but guests should also have their own space.
Respect:
- Guest privacy.
- Personal belongings.
- Private conversations.
- Personal information.
- Agreed boundaries.
Do not enter private guest areas without permission except where necessary for an urgent safety reason or as otherwise agreed. Never share a guest's personal information, photographs, or booking details publicly without appropriate permission.
Be Respectful and Inclusive
GharOnGo welcomes travellers from different places, backgrounds, and walks of life. Treat every guest with:
- Respect.
- Courtesy.
- Fairness.
- Patience.
- Hospitality.
Do not discriminate against guests on the basis of characteristics protected by applicable law. If there is a disagreement, try to address it calmly and respectfully.
Prioritise Safety
Guest safety should always come first.
Make sure guests know about relevant safety information, including:
- Emergency exits.
- Fire safety arrangements.
- Basic property rules.
- Important local emergency contacts.
- Any hazards or areas requiring additional care.
Regularly check essential safety equipment and property infrastructure. If there is an emergency or immediate threat to someone's safety, contact the appropriate local emergency services first.
Protect Guest Information
Guest names, phone numbers, booking details, identification documents, and other personal information should be treated carefully.
Use guest information only for legitimate purposes connected to their stay and your responsibilities as a host. Strict actions will be taken against any privacy violations.
Do not:
- Sell guest information.
- Share guest contact details unnecessarily.
- Publicly post booking information.
- Use guest information for unrelated marketing without appropriate permission.
Ask for Feedback
Feedback helps you understand what guests loved and what could be better. After a stay, encourage guests to share their genuine experience.
Pay attention to recurring feedback about:
- Cleanliness.
- Comfort.
- Communication.
- Food.
- Amenities.
- Check-in.
- Property information.
You don't have to act on every suggestion, but useful feedback can help you continuously improve your homestay.
Keep GharOnGo Updated
Please inform GharOnGo when important information changes, including:
- Property details.
- Amenities.
- Pricing.
- Availability.
- Contact information.
- House rules.
- Photos.
- Cancellation policies.
- Major changes to the property.
Accurate information helps us represent your homestay properly to travellers.
Our Simple Hosting Promise
A great GharOnGo host doesn't need to offer a five-star hotel. They simply need to share what makes their place special.
A clean, comfortable space.
An honest listing.
A warm welcome.
A taste of local life.
Clear, thoughtful communication.
And a heartfelt connection.
Because the best homestays aren't just places to stay.
They're places where travellers feel welcomed, experience something real, and leave with a story to tell.
Welcome to GharOnGo. Make every stay feel like home.