Problems
1 Where to stay in Edinburgh, Scotland, during the Festival?
2 How to make friends in other countries - not just people whose job is to sell your their hotel, restaurant, food, tours, shop goods, taxi rides.
3 How to meet people who live in the country, not just other tourists.
4 How to practise your languages.
5 How to meet other people who love meeting new people and don't think you are a weirdo or have an ulterior motive if you want to chat.
Answers
I was looking at a sight about where to stay and how to organize a trip to Edinburgh when I discovered C o u c h s u r f i n g. (Spaces inserted because the system keeps changing the word to coach.) Maybe I'd seen the idea before but dismissed it as something just for students on a strict budget.
My first thoughts were: I would not do it as a visitor - staying with strangers and not a proper bed. I would not do it as a host - I'd either want to be paid or not want to take the risk of having strangers or I'd think if I can't provide a proper bedroom completely empty of my possessions I am not qualified for airbnb.
However, this time I stopped to look at their website. I discovered several great advantages.
1 It's a lot safer than a pickup of a free couch from somebody you meet in a bar or pub, on a bus or at a festival. The hosts and visitors can get identify verified or join through Facebook, so you can check who you are meeting before you meet.
2 You can have a whole road trip around somewhere unknown and vast like South America or North America or Asia.
Tips
Plan some back-to-back stays. If one of them doesn't work out, you can leave early and move onto the next.
You are not paying money, so no worry about losing your deposit if you had to cancel.
Tip
Maybe some food or another inexpensive gift for the hosts would be welcomed. If somebody is both host and visitor, you can reciprocate by staying with them and inviting them back to your place on another occasion.
It's not all students. On the company website, a family with four children decided that as they could not afford to travel, they would invite the world to visit them.
You literally get to see how the other half of the world lives. Everything from their clothes to mealtimes.
Events - London Monthly Language Exchange Meeting
Every month the Couchsurfing members meet at a pub near the well-known stations of Bank and Cannon Street. They meet other travellers and practise their languages.
You can join the website even if you haven't yet planned a trip or aren't yet ready, able and prepared to let people couch surf as a host. Just join and sign up for notifications of events. London has weekly language events in the centre, the heart of London, Leicester Square.
Useful Websites
Destinations, tours, accommodation
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk
https://www.lastminute.com
https://www.latebookings.com//
https://www.airbnb.co.uk
Events, Socialising, Accommodation
couchsurfing.com (Sign up and find out about being a host or guest.)
couchsurfing.com/events (Events in London and more - or host your own if you are verified.)
https://www.meetup.com
Destinations, events, tours, accommodation
visitlondon.com
visitbritain.com
visitscotland.com
edinburghfestivalcity.com
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
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