Top Ten Best Ways For Social Traveling

If you’re reading these lines, you’ve probably heard about social bookmarking. Then there’s social networking, social this and social that, but you don’t hear too much about social traveling, do you? Why is it that in our modern day and age people are not just willing, but are excited about sharing online experiences with complete strangers, while exploring less and less natural, real-life social networking and traveling opportunities?

One of my biggest passions in life is traveling and learning about other cultures. Living in the U.S. for quite some time now, though, I found that my way of traveling is different from what most Americans consider traveling. When I visit a new place, I look forward to spending as much time possible with locals, learning about their way of life, culture, politics, language, and doing less sight-seeing. It’s not that I don’t like sight-seeing, in fact, I think sight-seeing is great, but after a few hours of sight-seeing I get all anxious and I’m ready to cook a good meal with my new local friends, learn a local recipe, or a funny songs in their language.

Think about the 5 most meaningful experiences you had in your life. I’m serious. Stop reading for a moment and spend just 5 seconds thinking about these experiences. Now tell me, did most of these experiences involve PLACES or PEOPLE?

Throughout the years, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to travel the world and have found that I really enjoy the type of traveling I call “Social Traveling“.  Social Traveling is  focused on PEOPLE, not so much on PLACES. Sure, I get to see a lot of cool places along the way, but much more important, I get to share amazing experiences with amazing people, make a ton of new friends all over the world, save a lot of money on things I could care less about, like expensive hotels or restaurants, and most important, shape the way I see the world and keep on learning and becoming.

So I’ve decided it’s about time to share my top ten best ways for social traveling with my online friends (whom I hope to get to know more on a personal-level at some point

CouchSurfing

CouchSurfing is Servas’ young and sexy version. The idea is the same yet it brings to life the power of the internet and online social networking. You create a profile just like on Facebook or MySpace and start adding traveling-friends, join groups that are of interest to you, and  most important, host and get hosted by travelers all over the world.

Like Servas, CouchSurfing is an international network of people who are passionate about social traveling, cultural and educational exchanges of ideas.

” CouchSurfing is not about the furniture, not just about finding free accommodations around the world; it’s about making connections worldwide. We make the world a better place by opening our homes, our hearts, and our lives. We open our minds and welcome the knowledge that cultural exchange makes available. We create deep and meaningful connections that cross oceans, continents and cultures. CouchSurfing wants to change not only the way we travel, but how we relate to the world! “

Pros: Free, easy web access, online social networking component, younger audience.

Cons: Not all members are willing to host, some open a profile but are not so active as real host/travelers.

I’m a big fan of CouchSurfing. I’ve hosted a number of travelers and CouchSurfed with others all over the US. It’s completely free and I like the younger vibe compared to Servas.

For more info, visit:
http://www.couchsurfing.com/
http://www.facebook.com/s.php?ref=search&init=q&q=couchsurfing

Servas

Servas is an international multicultural non-profit organization, working to build understanding, tolerance and world peace via traveling and cultural exchange. You can host people from all over the world, be hosted anywhere around the world, meet other amazing world-travelers who are interested in opening their doors to travelers just like you.

Pros: Serious world travelers, leaders, connectors, people who are passionate about social change, world peace, etc, family friendly, more mature travelers.

Cons: Cost money to join (though not too much), older audience, a bit more time consuming than CouchSurfing (next in this review), requires a short phone or face-to-face interview and application.

I’ve traveled with Servas a number of times, to Canada and in the US and enjoyed it very much. Other than membership fees, I spent no money on hotels and little on food (the people who hosted me fed me and showed me around, though that’s not always the case when it comes to food).

For more info, visit:
http://joomla.servas.org/content/blogcategory/42/77/
http://www.usservas.org/

Green Tortoise

If you’re looking for some adventure social traveling, Green Tortoise is for you. It’s the ultimate road trip experience across the US and South/Central America. You’ll do lots of hiking, exploring national parks, swim in natural hot springs, jump into mud rivers, do some crazy rafting, and more important, meet great people from all over the world. Wow, I sound like a commercial… I actually enjoyed their trips very much.

You’ll drive in a cool bus with up to 36 people. The bus doesn’t have seats, just comfy mattresses and a few extra bads hanging  from the ceiling. It’s pretty cool actually. Two drivers will drive at night while you’re asleep, and kaboom, you wake up in the middle of the Grand Canyon for a 2-3 days hike/camp. Back to the bus for another night, and you wake up in Yellowstone National Park or Bing Bend National Park, or a dozen of other national parks… Most of the driving is done at night so you save time while you cross-country the US.

Pros: Great way to see lots of places while not spending time driving (since the driving is done at night), very cheap (compared to any other way of traveling), great food (that’s my experience at least) since there are lots of health-conscious, green-oriented travelers, more of an international flavor (about half the people on both of the trips I took were international).

Cons: No real daily showers on most trips (which was not a problem for me since we swam in natural springs almost every day and you bring a biodegradable soup with you).

The Bus [click HERE to see video]

Green Tortoise is my personal favorite social traveling way and I’ve traveled with them twice so far. I’ve done their 14-days Southern Cross-Country Adventure trip (lots of hiking and camping) and their 15-days Baja Beach Daze (mot too much hiking, more relaxing on the beach kinda’ trip). I’d like to do one of their Festivals  & Fairs tours next.

For more info, visit:
http://www.greentortoise.com/budget.adventure.travel.html

BusAbout

BusAbout offers two kinds of social traveling opportunities. Their adventure trips are somewhat similar to the Green Tortoise idea only they travel in Europe and to other countries around the world. Their Hop-On-Hop-Off trips, on the other hand, are unique in that you can travel at your own pace while meeting lots of different travelers along the way.

I don’t know too much about the BusAbout since I’ve never actually traveled with them, but I’ve heard good things.

For more info, visit:
http://www.busabout.com

Now I’m about to write more on social traveling… There’s house swapping. and hosteling, and RV’ing and Shamrocker Adventures and Haggis Adventures and Busabout Adventures and Busabout Explorer and Oz Experience and Kiwi Experience and Baz Bus and… so many options, so little time… But I’d love to hear from you about your ideas on Social Traveling… Feel free to comment and share with other your favorite social traveling tips!

Tags: cheap, cool places, CouchSurfing, Green, international, Life, life culture, meaningful experiences, multicultural, Social, social networking, Tortoise, Travel, way of life