Renting a friend for a day means booking a few hours with someone who lives in the city you're visiting: no script, no tour bus, just a person who shows you their place the way they'd show a friend. On Roavi you agree the plan and their hourly rate directly with them, and Roavi takes no commission.
What a day actually looks like#
Most people start shorter than a full day. A good first plan is a half day: one neighbourhood on foot, a meal where locals eat, and getting around the way residents do. If you get on, the second outing can be the full day.
A full day usually has three parts: a morning in a neighbourhood or market, a long lunch, and an afternoon or evening that suits you, whether that's a viewpoint, a game, a bar or a night market. Tell them what you like before you meet and they'll build it around that.
Who does this#
- Solo travellers who want company and a local's view without joining a group tour.
- First-timers in a city who want the transport, the prices and the safe areas explained by someone who lives there.
- People who want to meet new people: an easy, low-pressure way to talk to someone local for a day.
What it costs#
Each Local Friend sets their own hourly rate, shown on their profile before you message. Agree before you meet the hours and what's included: transport, entry fees and meals. More on how prices work: how much it costs to rent a friend.
Doing it safely#
It's a first meeting with someone new, so the ordinary rules apply: meet somewhere public, tell someone where you're going, keep the conversation on the platform until you've met, and agree the price and hours before you start. It is platonic: anyone who treats it otherwise is removed. What to check in a service: is rent a friend legit?
Where you can do it#
Roavi has Local Friends in cities including Bangkok, Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, Mexico City, Medellín and Tokyo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you rent a friend for a day?
Yes. On Roavi you can message a Local Friend in the city you're visiting and agree a plan for a few hours or a full day, at the hourly rate on their profile. Roavi takes no commission.What do you do when you rent a friend for a day?
Usually a neighbourhood on foot, a meal where locals eat, and an afternoon or evening built around what you like. Many people start with a half day and book a longer outing if they get on.Is renting a friend for a day safe?
Treat it like any first meeting: meet in public, tell someone where you're going, keep messages on the platform until you've met and agree the price first. It is platonic; anyone treating it otherwise is removed.