Homestay Rental Guide: All You Need to Know

Flatsharing in Spain

04/03/2017

Spain is one of the dream destinations for students studying abroad on the Erasmus programme. The attractive climate, the low cost of living and the beautiful towns and cities across the country go some way to explaining its appeal for Students. Roomlala has come up with the advantages of flatsharing while in Spain and a how you can cut your accommodation costs at the same time. What are the benefits of flatsharing in Spain? Flatsharing is one option which has a great many benefits for s...

Studying in Sydney: What to do and where to stay

03/31/2017

Sydney is hugely attractive for students, both Australians and foreigners. It’s not hard to see why: consistently ranked in the top cities in the world for students, a multicultural atmosphere and chilled way of life draw students from all over. Not only does the city benefit from amazing natural beaches, walks and weather, there’s also a whole host of things to do and opportunities that would impress any seasoned traveller. There’s also a huge variety of places to live : with six universities w...

DIY : 5 ways to store your cutlery

03/29/2017

The DIY trend is getting more and more popular as a way of easily resolving day-to-day problems. As a student, you might not have much time to tidy your place up, so it’s a good idea to think of solutions that will help you keep it in order in the long term. By making your own cutlery storage, you can find a cool, fun way of avoiding cutlery being left all over the kitchen Tip 1: Re-use tin cans Tin cans have great re-usage potential around the home, especially as a way of storing things. T...

What to do in Edinburgh in 3 days

03/24/2017

A 3 day break in Edinburgh is just enough time to explore and discover the Scottish capital. Edinburgh is both a modern city and an ancient one – making it a perfect stop for a weekend break! Roomlala has drawn up a quick itinerary to make sure you don’t miss any of Edinburgh’s highlights. Day 1: The Old Town In a city like Edinburgh, centuries worth of history is at your fingertips. Start off your trip with an unmissable visit to Edinburgh Castle. As one of the most popular attractions, ...

Find a flatshare in Cardiff

03/22/2017

As the biggest city in Wales, Cardiff is one of the UK’s most popular student cities, with a huge number of students living and studying at the University of Cardiff and Cardiff Metropolitan University. Living in Cardiff you will have the choice of a huge number of events, attractions and activities. As a bilingual city, living in Cardiff gives you an introduction to the unique Welsh language. All of this makes Cardiff hugely attractive to students, and the student housing market is always expan...

Landlords: Top 3 benefits of accommodation in exchange for work

03/20/2017

Accommodation in exchange for work can be an enriching experience not only for the tenant, who benefits from a greatly reduced rent, but also for the landlord, who can use the help for household tasks, babysitting or free up their time in other ways. Students often choose accommodation in exchange for work because of the benefits compared to a student job, but we have also come up with the top three reasons why it can be beneficial for the landlord. A strong relationship Landlords who choo...

Studying in Montreal: What to do and where to stay

03/17/2017

Montréal recently became the best city in the world for international students – a title held by Paris for the last four years running. And there’s plenty of reasons why : QS’s rankings measure 6 factors including ‘Student View’, which aims to measure things like ‘friendliness’ and ‘good nightlife’, alongside other factors like university rankings. The bilingual Canadian city always does well in rankings for quality of life and affordability, making it a prime location for students from across t...

Decorating tips for a cosy home

03/15/2017

Coming back to a comfy, warm, welcoming home is just the pick-me-up most people need at the end of a busy day. It’s easy enough to transform your home into a cosy nest and it doesn’t require any feng-shui. Roomlala has some decorating tips for making your home a comfier place to be. The importance of colours Colours are a very important element of interior design. To create a warm, cosy feel, we recommend soft colours like pale shades of grey, pink or green. To make your home really feel l...

5 times apps are awesome when you’re flatsharing

03/13/2017

Sharing a house with a bunch of strangers is mostly exciting, sometimes terrifying and, frankly, a rite of passage you need try at least once in your life! Of course, once you’ve found a place to call home, the challenge is in keeping things sweet, tidy and within budget – but it’s no sweat when you’ve got one of the bad boys below to hand. Our top app picks are either free or cheap as chipolatas, too: what’s not to love? 1. When you’re the new kid on the block Whether you’re in town to...

Preparing to move: mistakes to avoid

03/10/2017

Preparing to move house is a daunting tasks, but a necessary one. Even the most laidback, carefree soul needs to think through their move so that all goes well on Moving Day. Here is a list of the most common mistakes to avoid if you want to minimise stress and avoid disaster on the day. 1. Don’t forget your admin Moving house is not simply packing boxes and moving to another place. It might be the least fun aspect of the adventure that is moving house, but there are some crucial things ...

Find a spare room in London

03/08/2017

London is one of the most popular destinations for tourists, students and expats in the world. It is almost unrivalled in the amount of things to do and see across the city, with some of the most iconic sights in the UK. The capital city offers nightlife, culture, music, history and pretty much anything you could ask for. Unfortunately, that does not include low rent. Taking a spare room in a private home will offer you a cheaper option for your studies, weekend break or long term move and will ...

Erasmus: the top host universities

03/06/2017

It’s 30 years since the Erasmus exchange programme was put into action across Europe. This anniversary merited a quick round up of the best 20 host universities across Europe, ranked by the number of Erasmus students they welcome. Enough to make you want to jet off abroad ! A Spanish top three Unsurprisingly, Spain has quite a few universities in the top 20. Between the high quality of life, some of the cheapest rents in Europe and a huge range of options available, the Spanish universit...

What to do in Brussels in 3 Days

03/01/2017

The city of Brussels is full of places to go and things to do. 3 days is the perfect time to discover the Belgian capital, experience its unique dynamism and try some of its culinary delights. Roomlala has prepared a quick run-down of the key things to do and how to fit them in to a long weekend. Day 1: The Grand-Place and its surroundings When you arrive, you can opt to pay for a ‘Brussels Card’, which will give you unlimited travel on public transport for 48 house. This card can be bou...

Find a flatshare in Bristol

02/27/2017

Bristol is one of the UK’s most dynamic and exciting student cities, with a huge number of students living and studying at the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England (UWE) . Living in Bristol you will have the choice of a huge number of events, attractions and activities, as well as the city’s beautiful unique look. All of this makes Bristol hugely attractive to students, and the student housing market is still expanding. Flatsharing in Bristol is a great way to live in ...

Roommates from Cult TV Shows: Fresh Meat

02/24/2017

Nearly a year since they left our screens for good, the Fresh Meat housemates were for many British students the epitome of student living (even if they did go to the made-up Manchester Medlock University). Thrown together because they applied too late to get into halls, the 6 mismatched friends scraped their way through the trials of uni – and student housing. Vod – the cool one Real name Violet Nordstrom, Vod is independent and cool in a way the other housemates can only dream of. She ...

DIY: Upcycle your furniture without breaking the bank

02/22/2017

Everyone has them: those bits of furniture you don’t really use any more because they’re too old, too damaged or just don’t look right any more. Spruce up your place by turning these forgotten items into masterpieces of DIY interior design. Why upcycle? Whether it’s to sell your apartment or bring some life back into a room, upcycling your furniture is a key way to bring a new elegance to your home without shelling out. Instead of going the whole hog and buying new bits and pieces for your...

Accommodation in exchange for work: the alternative to a student job

02/17/2017

One example of accommodation in exchange for services : intergenerational living There are some difficult things about being a student ; lack of money, finding a student job, finding affordable accommodation… Finding a student job which will allow you to pay your rent and give you enough time to study can be a hard balance to strike, never mind having a social life. Here, we will give you the run down on an alternative which could solve all those problems : accommodation in exchange for work....

What to do in Amsterdam in 3 Days

02/15/2017

A 3 day break in Amsterdam is ideal to visit and get to know the Dutch capital. Full of charm, the city will delight you with its canals, its vast array of museums and its vibrant nightlife. Roomlala has drawn up a quick itinerary to make sure you don’t miss the best of Amsterdam. Day 1: the city centre and canals Amsterdam is best discovered by foot or, as the locals prefer to travel, by bike. To start off your trip, we suggest a visit to the centre of the city, dropping by The Begijnh...

DIY Tips: Zen Living

02/13/2017

Light, warm colours, fresh scents… It doesn’t take much to immediately make you feel good in a place. Zen interior design inspires relaxation and tranquility. By following a few simple design suggestions, you too can create a calm, relaxing space that gives you energy. The importance of light There is nothing less welcoming than a gloomy room. In order for us to feel good in a room, we need to have as much light as possible in a room. This can be through windows, wall lights, lamps or cand...

Grenoble, Rennes and Toulouse: the best student cities in France

02/10/2017

Every year, the French site L’Étudiant (The Student) publishes a ranking of the best student cities in France. Judging by several factors, they provide a snapshot of the best cities to in France for student life. Roomlala has provided a quick run-down of the top three and the method they used to work it out. Why are Grenoble, Rennes and Toulouse the best student cities? Rennes, Toulouse and Grenoble – three cities of medium size – have nabbed the top three spots on the leaderboard of Fre...

Redesigning Your Bathroom

02/08/2017

You likely spend about 45 minutes per day in the bathroom. That’s a lot of time, and it’s also probably where you spend the beginning of your day. So if your bathroom doesn’t make you feel welcome, how are you supposed to have an good day? Here are some tips to revamp your bathroom, giving it a facelift, but at a fraction of the cost of hiring a professional. Relook the floor and walls of your bathroom The easiest solution is to paint! It might only take an hour or two to completely repain...

The 8 Types of Student Accommodation

02/06/2017

As a student, do you know all the accommodation options available to you? Each one has their advantages and disadvantages. To help you wade through the saturated market, Roomlala has compiled a list to break down the different types of accommodation. Spare Rooms Some people have a room in their house which they don’t really need and so they decide to rent it out to give their income a little boost. As a student, taking someone’s spare room can often give you a bigger room at a lower cost. ...

How to Optimise Your Desk Space

02/03/2017

Working at home and no choice but to set up your work desk in a tiny room? We have some handy hints to optimise your space and make it easier to set up a desk in a smaller space. Optimise space by creating two distinct zones To work or study efficiently in your room, it is important to create a dedicated space. The first step is to separate the night zone from the work zone. For example, if you want to organise a small, rectangular room with a window on one of the shorter walls, we have t...

What to Do in Manchester in 3 Days

02/01/2017

Old Trafford, the Theatre of Dreams, is a mythical destination for sports fans, and Manchester is well known for its two world-class football teams. But aside from the exploits of the Red Devils, the city has much to offer and is worth a long weekend to visit all the major sights. Roomlala has prepared a tailor-made trip for 3 days and has some tips on the best ways to find accommodation in Manchester. Day 1: Return to the origins of the industrial revolution To begin to get your head arou...

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