Meet Darlene
Outgoing, Trusting, Friendly
My motto is my home is your home and I love my guests to feel at home and comfortable.
On a typical day...
I have a very open house. My house is your house.
When I host guests...
I can answer questions but let my guests do their own thing.
Family Hobbies
Basketball, Cooking, Learning foreign languages
Hosting guests since
2012
Response Rate
75%
Response Time
Within a few hours
About the Homestay
- Welcomes
- Males
- Females
- Couples
- Families
- Students
We live on the Northwest side in Chicago. Family friendly neighborhood, very safe and nice area. Close to shopping, restaurants and transportation.
There is free WiFi and laundry facilities. I have 4 children and 3 are married. My youngest Brittany lives on her own now she is a Registered Nurse in the hospital.
I have been hosting female guests for over 12 yrs and have had over 120 students in my home, I really enjoy it. There are no pets or men in the home.
There is a great yard with garden which you can sit out an enjoy the Chicago weather(when it isn't cold, if it cold and snow you can make snow angels).
I love to learn about different cultures and teach you about me.
Bedrooms available for booking
About the Area
Our house is located in a family friendly, safe neighborhood. Very close to shopping and public transportation. There are many restaurants, a gym and park very close to our home.
Local Area Facilities
- Tennis
- Park
- Gym
- Library
- Restaurant
- 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
House Rules
House Rules, we are all adults so there are not rules just suggestions:
- Please wear slippers in the house.
- Clean up after dinner, and never leave dirty dishes in the sink.
- Clean up after yourself in the bathroom and make sure that you are not damaging any of the facilities.
- No smoking in the house. You may smoke in the back yard.
- When leaving the house, please lock all doors.
- There will be a key replacement fee of $50.00 that must be paid IMMEDIATELY.
Smoking is allowed outdoors in the garden only.
Smoking Rules
Your host is a non-smoker.
Smoking is allowed outdoors only.
10 Reviews
August 2024
Mrs.Darlene was very kind and explained to me carefully how to get to the places I wanted to go. She always talked to me and was attentive to me. I can't speak English, but she said "It's okay" and spoke to me through an interpreter and taught me English. I was happy that she said "My house is your house." I also became friends with the two other women who were staying with me. We each had our own room. They were also very kind and we went out together. I'm very happy to have made friends in Chicago. The room I stayed in was very cheap. I would like to stay here again if I come to Chicago.
Host reply
Thank you Sayumi, you are always welcome in my home!
November 2023
Staying with Darlene was an absolute delight! Her caring nature and genuine compassion made us feel like cherished family members. It wasn't just a place to stay; it was a warm embrace that turned a temporary space into a true home. She's the heart of hospitality! The neighborhood's charm and accessibility were the icing on the cake. I can't recommend this experience enough – it's a genuine gem!
Host reply
Thank you my Yemen Daughter
July 2023
I spent a long time looking for a place to live in until I got lucky and found Darlene. She is a very kind and thoughtful host. She offered her help whenever I needed help or had any questions. She would make things set up in a way that made me comfortable. We used to watch a lot of TV together. She is like a family to me. I am so thankful for her generosity and kindness.
The house is clean. You take the bus for about 7-10 minutes to get to the CTA blue line station. The house is located in a safe and diverse neighborhood. There are a lot of restaurants and grocery shops around the place. I highly recommend living here!
December 2021
I am a student from Saudi Arabia and have been staying with Darlene for 7 months and have extended my stay. She is very nice, friendly and treats everyone like family. This was my first time in the US and I was very nervous but she helped with me with everything I needed. The house is located close to transportation and shopping. Her house is very clean and the bedrooms are great. I highly recommend staying at Darlene’s house.
Host reply
Thank you Waad, you are awesome!
October 2021
Hi Darlene,
I had a great time staying with you. This was my first homestay. It was a great experience and more. Comfortable, clean, feels like Just like home from home.
Other guests are respectful and quiet. I feel safe while I am there. The house is decorated nicely. It’s in a great location close to the bus and train station that takes you from downtown Chicago. The room was very elegant and I appreciate the neatness of the entire house.
Look forward to meeting you again.
Good luckHost reply
Thank you so much my Saudi Arabian Daughter!
October 2021
We choose the best place for our stay in Chicago. Darlene is the best hostess, always ready to help us and give correct directions to move around Chicago.
Every time I return , it Will definitely be at Darlene"s houseHost reply
❤️Thank you.
September 2016
I stayed in Darlenes house for 6 nights and it was so so so wonderful. She is so lovely, kind, funny and just amazing. I felt very compfortable and welcome in her house. This was quite busy because there were some other girls who stayed there at the same time. We all had some chats at dinner or breakfast, which was really nice. The room, shared bathroom and kitchen is everything you need. When I am back in Chicago one day, I will definitly stay again in Darlenes house if it's possible. She is an adorable lady who cares a lot about her guests. You will love it!
Also you can get into downtown Chicago very easy. So that will be your perfect stay!Host reply
Thank you Julia, you are very sweet, hope to see you again!
July 2016
Darlene was so nice and friendly!! I also really like the room that was so nice, clean and private. I am pleased with staying there.
May 2016
I had a great homestay with Darlene. She was very friendly and welcoming. The room was spacious, and had everything you could need, including access to laundry facilities. The house is close to the bus and train station that takes you from the airport and into downtown Chicago. Overall, a fantastic place to stay, where you feel right at home. I would definitely recommend.
May 2016
A great trip friendly host lots of living space easy access to room. Close to the train station, so down town only 45 min walk+train ride away. All around couldn't be better.
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.