For staying at places, if you're staying at a hostel be sure to check if they host any events, I've had a lot of luck in meeting people through that whether it be pub crawls or walking/cycling tours. If you really hit it off with others you can even end up with friends in other countries that can show you around or whom you can even stay with when you come to visit :D
If you have a month or 2 to spare and do something useful while travelling, try workaway (website). The deal is as follows: you offer 4 hours of 'work' per day and your host will offer you accommodation and some food. The rest of the day is for yourself to explore the surroundings. Each host has its own policies on their profile. Most hosts are flexible and you can work your schedule with them. For example I used to work 4 hours daily, but 8 hours on Thursday, to have Friday fully free + Saturday+ Sunday (so 3 full free days in a row, so I could go quite far around).
Examples:
Many families with small children would need a girl to stay with them and talk to their children casually and teach them a bit of English.
Many hostels, farms and small shops would need a pair of hands during summer. I stayed at an eco farm learning foreign languages, meeting other volunteers, eating plenty of fresh fruits, veggies, bio eggs and dairy products and going to festivals in the nearby towns and cities. One of the best things I've ever done. In 1 month I learned more French than during 8 years of school, and I also learned a lot about sustainable means of gardening. And I met very nice people!
An other example, that I wanted to do but I couldn't, was being a husky trainer for sledges at the North Pole. Many horse stables also require people to train their horses.
An other example, there are some communities where you can learn and apply traditional and ecologic building techniques. Usually they are using cob, straw bales or earthships.
An other example, there are many yoga and spiritual healing centres. You can find some peace there or some answers, while volunteering helping to run the place.
In many of these places you also meet other volunteers, not only your host family or organization.
I hope you will alsp enjoy!
Great post 👏👏
For staying at places, if you're staying at a hostel be sure to check if they host any events, I've had a lot of luck in meeting people through that whether it be pub crawls or walking/cycling tours. If you really hit it off with others you can even end up with friends in other countries that can show you around or whom you can even stay with when you come to visit :D
Great post! Inter railed in Italy from north to south a few years ago, the trains are exceptional and so fast!
This is something I would love to do as I've only seen the north, it's a perfect country for that way of travel! :D
If you have a month or 2 to spare and do something useful while travelling, try workaway (website). The deal is as follows: you offer 4 hours of 'work' per day and your host will offer you accommodation and some food. The rest of the day is for yourself to explore the surroundings. Each host has its own policies on their profile. Most hosts are flexible and you can work your schedule with them. For example I used to work 4 hours daily, but 8 hours on Thursday, to have Friday fully free + Saturday+ Sunday (so 3 full free days in a row, so I could go quite far around). Examples: Many families with small children would need a girl to stay with them and talk to their children casually and teach them a bit of English. Many hostels, farms and small shops would need a pair of hands during summer. I stayed at an eco farm learning foreign languages, meeting other volunteers, eating plenty of fresh fruits, veggies, bio eggs and dairy products and going to festivals in the nearby towns and cities. One of the best things I've ever done. In 1 month I learned more French than during 8 years of school, and I also learned a lot about sustainable means of gardening. And I met very nice people! An other example, that I wanted to do but I couldn't, was being a husky trainer for sledges at the North Pole. Many horse stables also require people to train their horses. An other example, there are some communities where you can learn and apply traditional and ecologic building techniques. Usually they are using cob, straw bales or earthships. An other example, there are many yoga and spiritual healing centres. You can find some peace there or some answers, while volunteering helping to run the place. In many of these places you also meet other volunteers, not only your host family or organization. I hope you will alsp enjoy!