Pick your path
Open the clearest page fast, without crowding the first screen.
Why StayHello
See the trust-first model in one concise explanation.
For hosts
Start with boundaries, public-first contact, and a slower yes.
For travelers
See how to make the first ask smaller before any overnight stay.
For connectors
Help people meet in public before any overnight yes.
Compare
Choose the right hospitality model before you choose a brand.
Vancouver
Open the current city path and inspect the genuine-and-active public profile count without assuming availability.
Respectful first contact
Make the first hello specific, smaller, and explicit about the option to decline.
Best fit
This guide is for people who want a specific local connection before they ever ask for home access.
Trust boundary
The note can state intent, city context, and the size of the ask. Readers still need judgment, boundaries, and public-first common sense.
Best fit
This guide is for people who want a specific local connection before they ever ask for home access.
Trust boundary
The note can state intent, city context, and the size of the ask. Readers still need judgment, boundaries, and public-first common sense.
Lead with fit
A good note sounds chosen, not blasted. Mention the city, the kind of connection you want, and one real reason you reached out to this host instead of copying the same request everywhere.
Keep the ask smaller
Start with coffee, a walk, dinner, a public meetup, or day-hosting when you want a smaller first request than asking to sleep over immediately.
Make room for no
The first hello should leave space for yes, no, or not yet. If someone feels trapped, pressured, or guilted, the note is already doing the wrong job.
Show context
A few grounded signals are enough: what brings you to the city, what kind of exchange you enjoy, and any public hospitality or community background you can honestly share.
A weaker first note
A stronger first note
A better formula
Share what brings you there and what kind of local connection you hope to have.
Give one honest reason you chose them. A profile detail, hosting style, neighborhood, or shared interest is enough.
Suggest a small public-first step that is easy to accept, decline, or postpone without awkwardness.
If the note still sounds like a mass request after this, it probably needs to get shorter and more specific, not longer and more persuasive.
What this sounds like
State why you chose this person, why the city matters, and which smaller first step you are proposing.
Sample first hello
Illustrative example only. The named profile below is not presented as a listed or available member.
Hi Priya Shah, I liked how community-minded your profile feels, especially how you host monthly community dinners and short neighborhood intros for new travelers. I also appreciated how clear you are about coffee or a seawall walk first. If you are open to it, I would love to start with a simple public first step in Vancouver, like coffee or a walk, and see whether the vibe feels right for both of us. Would that feel like a comfortable first step to you?
If the first note only works when a stranger feels guilty saying no, it is not a good note.
Keep reading
Common questions
Sometimes, but StayHello recommends a specific note with an explicit option to decline and a smaller public-first step before any stay discussion.
StayHello's guidance treats an immediate overnight request as too large when there is no prior context or smaller option. This is editorial guidance, not a measured response outcome.
No. It means the ask should match the trust level. Some situations may support a direct stay request, but many are better served by a smaller first hello.
No. StayHello recommends stating context and boundaries before any overnight request, but that sequence is not a safety guarantee. Human judgment still matters.
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