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From The Times
September 12, 2007

Can I make some American friends?

Davina Napier is off to discover America but dosn't want to a lone traveller

hannah betts
Julia Brookes

Can you give me the name of an organisation for travellers who wish to travel alone and do not know anyone in the country they are visiting. I am a mature widow and want to go to the US on my own. I feel a little nervous at the prospect of not having a contact there. Davina Napier, Ponteland, Northumberland

Times travel expert, Julia Brookes, responds: YourSafePlanet (0141 416 4622, www.yoursafeplanet.co.uk) will, for £45, put travellers in touch with a local person (who has been police-checked) at their destination who can offer friendly advice. It doesn’t currently offer the US but founder Sally Broom told me that if you give her a ring she will be able to put you in touch with an American contact.

If you want to stay with a local, you could look for a suitable candidate on www.couchsurfing.com. But if this is a scary prospect and your itinerary includes New York, try Big Apple Greeter (00 1 212 669 8159, www.bigapplegreeter.org). One of their 300 volunteers will take you on a tour of a neighbourhood, answer any questions you may have and show you how easy it is to use public transport – and it’s free.

Related Links

re: finding contacts in foreign countries when traveling. Join servas.
http://www.usservas.org/traveler.html
You can stay with host families or just meet them for a short visit. Some will show you around their community. The organization exists to promote peace.

Renanzel, Bend , OR

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