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Rent A Friend

posted on Monday, August 02, 2010 09:38 AM

Summer is well upon us, and as the shinkansen tracks start bending in the heat, some of us are planning our escape overseas.

But traveling in itself can be hard and there is only so much you can do with just a guide book for company.

Having a friend to visit always makes traveling so much more fun and rewarding. Then wouldn’t it be great to have someone waiting for you wherever you wanted to go?

With the help o... a Local Friend at your choice of destination! With branches in 15 cities including New York, Paris, Barcelona, and Shanghai, all you need to do is fill in a form, and local Friend will be introduced to be your host and guide for your stay.

Getting the most from your stay

To get hooked up, you must enter your name, age, nationality, hobbies, and other information to help ensure a suitable match is found. According to the website founder Alice Moura,

"the guides are mostly in it for the fun, not the money, and with prices set reasonably it’s a safe bet for a great time, and an experience only locals can offer."

With a local to guide you through the city, you’ll be able to discover great eateries and rich cultural experiences you couldn’t find in a guide book or on the net. Guide books take time to compile and publish, and by the time they hit the shelves, a lot of the information is already out of date. With a local friend, you get the most up-to-date info, and an insider’s take on planning your itinerary too!

What about language?

Especially for those Japanese readers out there, language ability may be a worry. However even if your English is not fluent, you can still get a lot out of the service. Local Friends are great communicators, and if you speak basic English, or the local language, you’re sure be able to navigate your stay with ease. The important thing is to be open and social, and appreciative of their city.

When asked about language issues, website staff suggested that

"while Japanese people travel a lot, they could get more out of their trips through Local Friends. And while there isn’t a Japanese community yet, they are looking for Local Friends in Japan who can show others around their own city. Quite often people who meet through the service become real friends, and keep in touch for years after."

If you’re looking for an exciting new twist for your next trip, why not try renting a Local Friend?

And while we’re at it, here are two more fun ways to spice up your travel experiences.

‘Tours By Locals’

A service where local guides prepare a schedule based on personal requests.

‘Couch Surfing’

A service introducing homes to stay in and people to hang out with all around the world.

(Published on Greenz.jp)

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