The Roavi Blog
Stories from people who live there.
Travel tips, city guides, and local insights from the Roavi team.
1173 articles
Travel Tips
Is Withlocals Legit in 2026? What It Is and How It Works (Amsterdam, Vetted Hosts, Curated Experiences), the Fees (a 10% Guest Service Fee, Host Commission by Booking), What Reviewers Praise and Complain About, and When a Local by the Hour, a Licensed Guide or a Free Greeter Fits Better
Is Withlocals legit? Yes: an Amsterdam company with vetted hosts and curated experiences, a 10% guest service fee and a host commission that varies. What reviewers praise and complain about, and when a local by the hour, a licensed guide or a free greeter fits better.
Oscar Garcia··2 min read
Travel Tips
ToursByLocals Alternatives in 2026: What ToursByLocals Is (Vancouver, Licensed Private Guides, About 20% Commission, $33M Raised), When You Actually Need a Licensed Guide and When You Do Not, and the Cheaper Options for a Local's Time (Roavi, Withlocals, Showaround, the Greeters)
ToursByLocals alternatives: what ToursByLocals is (Vancouver, licensed private guides, about 20% commission), when you actually need a licensed guide and when you do not, and the cheaper options for a local's time.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Travel Tips
Free Greeters in 2026: How the International Greeter Association Works (Volunteer Locals, 140+ Cities, Two to Three Hours, Groups of Up to Six, Free Since Big Apple Greeter in 1992), Which Cities Have One, How to Book and How Far Ahead, the Honest Limits, and What to Pair It With When You Want More Hours or Your Own Plan
Free greeters: how the International Greeter Association works (volunteer locals, 140+ cities, two to three hours, groups up to six, free since 1992), which cities have one, how to book, the limits, and what to pair it with.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Travel Tips
Meetup Alternatives in 2026: Why Organizers and Members Look (the Organizer Subscription, Dead Groups, No-Shows), the Free Ones, the Dinner-With-Strangers Apps, the Recurring Rooms That Beat Any App, and the Difference Between Making Friends at Home and Meeting a Local on a Trip
Meetup alternatives: why organizers and members look, the free ones, the dinner-with-strangers apps, the recurring rooms that beat any app, and the difference between making friends at home and meeting a local on a trip.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Travel Tips
Bumble BFF Alternatives in 2026: Apps Similar to Bumble For Friends (Timeleft, Plus 1, Hey! VINA, Meetup, Discord Communities), Why People Leave (Weeks of Chat per Meeting, Ghosting, the Swipe), What Is Free and What Is Paid, What Actually Works for Making Friends as an Adult, and the Option of a Local by the Hour
Bumble BFF alternatives: apps similar to Bumble For Friends, why people leave (weeks of chat per meeting, ghosting), what is free and what is paid, what actually works for making friends as an adult, and the option of a local by the hour.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Travel Tips
App to Find a Local Guide in 2026: the Six Apps Compared by What You Actually Want (a Licensed Guide, a Curated Experience, a Local by the Hour, a Free Volunteer, a Group Tour), What Each Costs and Who Takes a Cut, Which Are Free to Message, and How to Check a Profile Before You Pay Anyone
App to find a local guide: six apps compared by what you actually want (a licensed guide, a curated experience, a local by the hour, a free volunteer, a group tour), what each costs and who takes a cut, which are free to message, and how to check a profile before you pay.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
Is Rent a Friend Safe in 2026? What RentAFriend Checks and What It Does Not (No Background Checks, Cash in Person), the Real Risks for the Person Hiring and the Person Being Hired, What Reddit and Review Sites Report, the Rules That Keep It Safe on Any Platform, and How Roavi Handles the Same Risks
Is rent a friend safe? What RentAFriend checks and does not (no background checks, cash in person), the real risks for the hirer and the friend, what Reddit and review sites report, the rules that keep it safe on any platform, and how Roavi handles the same risks.
Oscar Garcia··4 min read
Become a Local Friend
Can You Rent a Friend in 2026? What "Rent a Friend" Means, How It Works Step by Step, Whether It Is Legal, What It Is Called (Platonic Companionship, Local Friend, Rental Friend in Japan), What It Costs, What It Is Not (Dating, Escorting, Therapy), and Where in the World You Can Do It
Can you rent a friend? Yes. What the phrase means, how it works step by step, whether it is legal, what it is called in different places (platonic companionship, Local Friend, rental friend in Japan), what it costs, what it is not, and where in the world you can do it.
Oscar Garcia··4 min read
Become a Local Friend
Pay Someone to Be Your Friend in 2026: Can You, Is It Legal, What It Is Called, What It Actually Costs, What You Get and What You Do Not, the Honest Question of Whether It Helps, and How to Do It Without Getting Burned
Pay someone to be your friend: can you, is it legal, what it is called, what it costs, what you get and what you do not, whether it helps, and how to do it without getting burned.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
Rent a Travel Companion in 2026: How to Hire a Travel Buddy, a Travel Partner or a Local by the Hour, What Each Costs, the Difference Between a Companion for the Whole Trip and a Local Friend in Each City, Safety, and the Other Side (Paid Travel Companion Jobs, Honestly)
Rent a travel companion: how to hire a travel buddy, a travel partner or a local by the hour, what each costs, the difference between a companion for the whole trip and a Local Friend in each city, safety, and the honest version of paid travel companion jobs.
Oscar Garcia··4 min read
Become a Local Friend
Companion for Hire in 2026: the Five Kinds People Search For (Dinner Companion, Walking Companion, Travel Companion, Senior Companion, Plus-One), What Each Is and What It Is Not, What Each Costs, Where to Find Each One Legitimately, and the Line Between Platonic Company and Everything Else
Companion for hire: the five kinds people search for (dinner, walking, travel, senior, plus-one), what each is and is not, what each costs, where to find each one legitimately, and the line between platonic company and everything else.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
Rent a Friend Websites in 2026: the Real Ones (RentAFriend, Roavi), the Online-Only Ones (Rent a Cyber Friend), the Friendship Apps That Are Not the Same Thing, the Regional Sites (Japan, India, the UK), the Copycats and Login Scams to Avoid, Which Are Free, and Which to Use Where
Rent a friend websites: the real in-person ones, the online-only ones, the friendship apps that are a different thing, the regional sites, the copycats and login scams to avoid, which are free, and which to use where you are.
Oscar Garcia··4 min read