The Roavi Blog
Stories from people who live there.
Travel tips, city guides, and local insights from the Roavi team.
1173 articles
Become a Local Friend
Rent a Cyber Friend vs RentAFriend in 2026: Online by the Minute Versus In Person by the Hour, What Each Costs for an Hour, Is Rent a Cyber Friend Legit and Safe, Who Each Suits, the Fees Each Takes From the Friend, and Where Roavi Fits
Rent a Cyber Friend vs RentAFriend: online by the minute versus in person by the hour, what each costs for an hour, is Rent a Cyber Friend legit and safe, who each suits, the fees each takes from the friend, and where Roavi fits.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
Rent a Friend Reviews and Complaints in 2026: What Trustpilot, Reddit Summaries and Review Sites Repeat About RentAFriend, the Five Complaints That Come Up Every Time (Stale Profiles, the Membership, Support, Sign-Up, No Messages for Friends), How to Avoid Each One, the Praise That Also Repeats, and How Roavi Is Built Around Those Complaints
Rent a friend reviews and complaints: what Trustpilot, Reddit summaries and review sites repeat about RentAFriend, the five complaints that come up every time, how to avoid each, the praise that also repeats, and how Roavi is built around those complaints.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
Rent a Friend in Texas in 2026: City by City (Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio), What It Costs (RentAFriend Membership vs Roavi), Who Is Actually Listed in Texas Right Now, What People Hire a Friend for Here, Safety, and How Texas Locals Get Paid for Their Time
Rent a friend in Texas: city by city, what it costs (RentAFriend's membership plus the friend's rate, or Roavi with free messaging), who is actually listed in Texas right now, what people hire a friend for here, safety, and how locals get paid.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
Rent a Friend in Florida in 2026: City by City (Miami, Orlando), What It Costs (RentAFriend Membership vs Roavi), Who Is Actually Listed in Florida Right Now, What People Hire a Friend for Here, Safety, and How Florida Locals Get Paid for Their Time
Rent a friend in Florida: city by city, what it costs (RentAFriend's membership plus the friend's rate, or Roavi with free messaging), who is actually listed in Florida right now, what people hire a friend for here, safety, and how locals get paid.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
Rent a Friend in California in 2026: City by City (Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego), What It Costs (RentAFriend Membership vs Roavi), Who Is Actually Listed in California Right Now, What People Hire a Friend for Here, Safety, and How California Locals Get Paid for Their Time
Rent a friend in California: city by city, what it costs (RentAFriend's membership plus the friend's rate, or Roavi with free messaging), who is actually listed in California right now, what people hire a friend for here, safety, and how locals get paid.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
How to Make Friends in Chicago in 2026: Why It Is Hard Here, What Actually Works as an Adult, Post-Grad, in Your 20s and 30s or in the Suburbs (Recurring Rooms, Leagues, Run Clubs, Classes, Volunteering, the Neighbourhood Bar), the Seasons, the Apps and Their Real Speed, and the Shortcut of an Afternoon With a Local
How to make friends in Chicago, honestly: why it is hard here, what works as an adult, post-grad or new in town (recurring rooms, leagues, run clubs, classes, volunteering, the neighbourhood bar), the seasons, the apps, and the shortcut of an afternoon with someone who lives here.
Oscar Garcia··4 min read
Become a Local Friend
Moving to Chicago Alone in 2026: the First 90 Days in Order, Where to Live (With or Without a Car), What It Really Costs and the Honest Answer to "How to Move to Chicago With No Money", Apartments and the Income Rule, Doing It as a Woman, the Loneliness Curve, and How Not to Spend Month Three Alone
Moving to Chicago alone: the first 90 days in order, where to live with or without a car, what it really costs and the honest answer to moving with no money, apartments and the income rule, doing it as a woman, why month three is the lonely one, and how to not spend it alone.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
Things to Do in Chicago Alone in 2026: During the Day, at Night, Free, Downtown and in the Neighbourhoods, on a Solo Trip, the Places Where Being Alone Is Normal, the Few Where It Is Not, and the Option of an Afternoon With a Local
Things to do in Chicago alone, sorted the way people search it: day, night, free, downtown and the neighbourhoods, solo trip. The places where being alone is normal, the few where it is not, and the option of an afternoon with someone who lives here.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
How to Meet People in Chicago in 2026: the Places and Clubs (Rec Leagues, Run Clubs, Classes, Volunteering, the Neighbourhood Bar), the Events, the Bars Where Talking to Strangers Is Normal, the Apps and Their Real Speed, What Works for a Visitor With Three Days Versus a Newcomer With Three Months, and Hiring a Local for an Afternoon
How to meet people in Chicago, for visitors with three days and newcomers with three months: the places, clubs and events, the bars where talking to strangers is normal, the apps and their speed, and a local by the hour.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
Chicago Without a Car in 2026: Can You Live in Chicago Without One, Can You Visit Without One, the Neighbourhoods Where It Works, the Transit That Matters, Bikes and Rideshare, Dating and Social Life Without a Car, the Honest Limits, and the Local Who Drives
Chicago without a car: can you live or visit here without one, the neighbourhoods where it works, the transit that matters, bikes and rideshare, dating and social life without a car, the honest limits, and the option of a Local Friend who drives.
Oscar Garcia··2 min read
Become a Local Friend
First Time in Chicago in 2026: What to Do and What to Skip, Where to Stay and Which Neighbourhood Fits You, Getting Around, a Three-Day Itinerary, the Mistakes Everyone Makes, and the Option of a Local for an Afternoon
First time in Chicago: what to do and what to skip, where to stay, getting around, a three-day itinerary, the mistakes everyone makes, and the option of someone who lives here for an afternoon.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read
Become a Local Friend
How to Become a Tour Guide in Chicago in 2026: There Is No City or State Tour-Guide License (Unlike New York), the Voluntary Certification That Operators Respect, What You Do Need, Where the Jobs Are, What Guides Earn and When, and Getting Paid for Your Time Without a Tour
How to become a tour guide in Chicago: no city or state license, unlike New York; the voluntary certification operators respect, what you do need, where the jobs are, what guides earn and when, and the alternative that pays for your time without a tour.
Oscar Garcia··3 min read