During a conversation I had about my cycle-tour from Rotterdam to Singapore, someone asked me:
“You said you going to do this solo? You’re going to cycle two continents completely on your own?”
And I told him, that yes I do. And I continued to also tell him that a traveler will never be solo. There’re lot of ways to meet people. If you’re going from place to place you will always somehow meet people. But still, travel solo or with a friend? Many people prefer to join a friend. I actually prefer to travel solo and do you know why?
It’s a simple answer.
It’s about freedom, control your journey, get to know yourself and people tend to offer help more when you’re alone.
Still you need to find the people that can share on-the-road hospitality. Here is a list with online communities that will help you to find people to meet, to travel with or to work with.
Couchsurfing
Couchsurfing International Inc. is a hospitality exchange and social networking website. The website provides a platform for members to “surf” on couches by staying as a guest at a host’s home, host travelers, or join an event. It is also possible to use the site to simply connect with people in places where you do not know anybody. It’s a great concept, and it costs you basically nothing.
Warm Showers
The Warm Showers Community is a free worldwide hospitality exchange for touring cyclists. People who are willing to host touring cyclists sign up and provide their contact information, and may occasionally have someone stay with them and share great stories and a drink.
World wide working on organic farms
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF, or Willing Workers on Organic Farms) is a loose network of national organisations that facilitate placement of volunteers on organic farms. WWOOF aims to provide volunteers with first-hand experience in organic and ecologically sound growing methods, to help the organic movement, and to let volunteers experience life in a rural setting or a different country.
Hospitality Club
The Hospitality Club is an international, Internet-based hospitality service. Its members use the website to coordinate accommodation and other services, such as guiding or regaling travelers. Hospitality Club is currently the second largest such hospitality network. The exact arrangements with hosts can be made by yourself. For example, some members are also willing to give their guests a tour in their city and some guests offer their hosts to cook for them.
There are a large number of online hospitality cmmunities, but this list above is in my opinion sufficient to get you started. Keep it simple and sign up for one of these communities which fit your way of traveling.
Travel. Share your life. Create connections. Offer kindness. Stay curious. Leave places better than you found them. Go and explore. People are waiting.
Any ideas or experiences with hospitality exchange in any form? Share your thoughts below in the comment section!
