Anyone want some visitors?
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
United States
July 22, 2010 2:39pm CST
I was once lucky enough to make friends with a woman through the internet who lived in Ottawa. We became very close friends and eventually I went to visit her and stay in her home for a weekend. Then awhile later I brought my whole family up to visit her and see the sights of Ottawa. It made for a very cheap vacation, as we did not have to pay for a hotel room, and she fed us as well.. mostly it only cost us gas money to get there.
She has come down a few times to visit us as well.. so we've repaid the favor. She's planning another visit next month.. unfortunately she just moved to Nova Scotia, so getting to her is a bit more expensive than just gas money.
So I had this really crazy thought in the back of my head of how cool it would be if I had more friends like that who would let us stay with them for a couple of days and visit with them and show us the sights of thier hometown. Travel on the cheap!!
Actually we're currently debating giving hubby's Aunt a visit in Florida next February or March and staying with her for a week or so. She's only a 2 hour drive from Disney.. keep your fingers crossed we'll be able to make this trip. (Unlike the New York trip that's been put off 2 years in a row now.. but that trip would require a hotel stay because we don't know anyone in NY city that we can stay with).
Do you make travelling cheaper by finding friends or family to stay with when you go on a trip? Have you ever gone to visit a friend you met online and stayed with them for a couple days? Can I come visit you?? lol
2 people like this
16 responses
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
23 Jul 10
I wouldn't have a problem with that, but "you know who" would be really suspicious. Maybe after I mail his belongings to his mother. :D
When we go back down to LA, we stay with family or friends. Other than that, it's usually hotel rooms.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
23 Jul 10
I haven't stayed in a hotel room since my foster mom brought us to Hershey Park, PA.. and she paid for the hotel. Actually anytime I've ever stayed in a hotel someone else paid for it..
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
23 Jul 10
I´d be delighted to have you here, Dawn. With the kids, of course. Airfares are not that expensive and I have room in my house and know what it is to have children around. Just remember the many thngs you can do when you get rid of the extra weight
.
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@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
22 Jul 10
Your place can't possibly be more cramped than we already are, lol. Actually my friend in Ottawa had a 1 bedroom apartment. She took the sofa, we took her bed, and the kids slept on air mattresses in the living room. We didn't seem to have any problems... of course we'd have been just as cramped in a hotel room.. cause I sure as heck won't spring for 2 rooms, lol.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
23 Jul 10
Ah.. see, you got plenty of space, lol! Actually St. Louis is only about a 14 hour drive from here.. and I have a friend in Ohio I could stop and stay with overnight to break up the drive! LOL
I think the trip we're planning to Florida is going to be tough.. it's about a 20 hour drive.. but I have a friend in Virginia.. so maybe I'll talk to her about letting us spend the night, lol.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
22 Jul 10
Nope, So far I have only stayed with family members really when away from home..except for when I was younger and we stayed with my parents friends on occasion. But after getting married we have only stayed with family..Although I have been invited by a few friends to visit and stay with them..but the cost to get there is to high since I don't have a car and a bus ticket for a round trip would cost me if purchased in advance..$175 if not..$260..and that is not including gas to get there on since I would have to pay someone probably $40 to do that.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
23 Jul 10
I have a friend going to Maine soon with her daughter for a few weeks and staying with a friend..I think it is awesome that people can do this..spend time with those they meet online..although it can either make the friendship stronger or throw it out of wack..lol..
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
23 Jul 10
The friend my mom is visiting has been her real life friend since forever! The woman used to share an apartment with my mom when I was a kid.. and from there she moved to Maine and we went and visited her at least once, I was probably about 9 or so. But then they lost touch and only recently reconnect via Facebook.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
22 Jul 10
My mom doesn't drive either.. but she's soon going to be off to Maine for a week, forgot to ask if she's taking bus or train to get there... she will be staying with a friend.
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
23 Jul 10
Hi Kats,
That is a great way to travel! I haven't done anything like that in many years. I have just not even had the funds to take time off from work and travel. Still I can see the benefits. I think this is a great idea as long as you really feel like you know the other person and are able to return the favor and all which I am sure you are, Kats. Me..I wouldn't even be able to return the favor I don't think so I wouldn't do it. If I could though, this would be the best way to get some vacation time in without going completely broke! I don't even live in an area where there are many tourist attractions. I could show you Dracula's grave in the winter...seriously...it can snow all around and on that one grave...there will never be snow! I could show you some cool remains of a burnt down brothel and some really cool hiking spots. Mostly we have very beautiful scenery and nature. In some areas it is breath-taking!
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
23 Jul 10
Hi Kats,
I remember all to well the days of having 4 kids and their friends all here!
The dishes were never done and the housework was never-ending and never seemed to look as if I'd done anything! Now I have my 25 yr old staying here and of course my 16 yr old but it is only 2 small bedrooms and so I'd be in the same boat as you for sleeping space.
The dishes were never done and the housework was never-ending and never seemed to look as if I'd done anything! Now I have my 25 yr old staying here and of course my 16 yr old but it is only 2 small bedrooms and so I'd be in the same boat as you for sleeping space.@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
23 Jul 10
Sadly I'm really not in a position to return the favor.. though I wish I were. There's plenty to see around me, especially when the fair is in town.. but I live in a mobile home which is falling to pieces.. mostly because it's cheap and also because I have 5 kids.. so if you don't mind that, and don't mind sleeping on the sofa or the floor.. then I'd be happy to return the favor.. but I'm rather embarassed about my home so would only invite people in that I truly felt comfortable with.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
23 Jul 10
Hey kats! I would love to have some company! Only I don't have
enough room or I would be thrilled ot invite you all down for
a visit and since I'm only about 45 minutes from Manhattan
you would be able to travel back and forth. But, I only have
a tiny one bedroom apartment and even if I gave you the whole
apartment you still wouldn't have enough room! I don't like
staying with anyone myself. I'm not really comfortable staying
with in anyones home. But, I guess I could make acceptions because
there are definitely some people I have met on the Lot that if
there was anyway that I could possibly go to see them I would!
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
23 Jul 10
Sadly that's the whole reason we cancelled our NY city trip these past 2 years is the cost of a hotel... we've been dying to get down there, hubby's never been and neither have the kids.. and that would be a trip that wouldn't really require him to take a vacation, just a couple personal days to spend a weekend down there.. that's all we wanted in the first place.
If we do get down there I'll be sure to let you know, so we can at least meet up.. you'll have to show us the best place to get pizza, lol!
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
24 Jul 10
We barely looked into it, honestly. I think we spent like 1 evening looking at some hotels.. I'm sure when the time comes to take the trip I'll ask you for some help. I don't know NYC well at all, so I don't know where we should and shouldn't stay. I don't want to be in the bad areas, you know.. but I'll want to be close enough to see all the main attractions, you know, Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Ground Zero, Rockefeller Center, and we'd definitely have to get a Yankee Game in for my son, lol.
But anyways, it's not really a trip I can plan right now.. we have to wait for some money to do it first! As I said, when the time comes I'll definitely let you know so you can help me plan it out and we can get together.
@AutumnGold (1056)
•
22 Jul 10
Hello Katsmeow. I've stayed with friends before when I've been away for a weekend, It definitely cuts the cost of the trip and it's good to wake up in the morning at a friends house rather than a hotel. You're welcome to visit here, you just have to guess where "here" is first lol :)
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
22 Jul 10
Oooh.. it will be years before I'll be able to afford flying to the UK! Wish I could though, that's one of my dream vacations.
@AutumnGold (1056)
•
22 Jul 10
I see you're from New York, a city that I would love to visit if I had the chance. There's lots to see here in the UK, you just can't trust the weather so if you come make sure to bring plenty of clothes :)
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
22 Jul 10
I have made a few friends online and actually met them but only for tea or dinner. I do also have cheap travel as both my daughters married career military men and I have gotten to travel all over even to Europe! It does make the trip less expensive! and it's nice to have someone show you around!
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
22 Jul 10
I've also met other friends just for a meal or something.. it is fun. It's great you get to do so much traveling for so cheap!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
25 Jul 10
I've never been able to spend a couple of days with friends that I've made online, but the prospect of it sounds like a great idea. Now, I've met people online and had the opportunity to meet the person in person and those have been good experiences.
So, sure, if you ever want to come visit the heart of horse country, then feel free to come visit me in Kentucky sometime. Just be sure to let me know plenty ahead of time so I can be sure the house is in presentable condition.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
25 Jul 10
LOL.. I live with 5 kids and you're worried about your house being presentable?
@Torunn (8607)
• Norway
22 Jul 10
I usually stay with friends when I go to Austria, the UK or Finland. Actually, I just came back from visiting my friends in Finland for a week, we drove around, visited another friend, then four of us stayed in the very small flat of a friend of one of my friends :-) A bit crowded, and four of us snored, I hope the only one who didn't managed to get some sleep!
I've also visited online friends, my UK friends are online friends, I've visited one in Australia (and the same one when she lived in Germany and Singapore), visited a UK friend when she was in New Zealand and visited some in the US (Seattle, Denver and Philadelphia)
So I think having friends around the world is a great way to travel cheaply :-)
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
23 Jul 10
I've never flown either... and I've only been to Canada because it's an hour drive to the border (4 hours to Ottawa) and I was lucky enough to have a friend there.
@zralte (4178)
• India
23 Jul 10
Hi katsmeow, I love staying with friends and friends visiting us. It does make the travel cheaper by a long way. It is customary in our culture really to stay with friends and family, so I am quite used to relatives just dropping in without any advance info and I don't mind.
You are most welcome to come and visit. I have a huge house, so plenty of floor space. And I'm sure I could be persuaded to give you ensuite room. There are lots of things to see around my city.
. There are lots of things to see around my city.@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
23 Jul 10
I don't get many visitors.. but my place is small and I have a lot of kids, so people know I don't have the space for them. When I get a bigger place I'll be sure to invite everyone to come stay with me for a visit!
@darylT (85)
• Philippines
23 Jul 10
it sure is cheap travel if you know someone from that place you're going to who's hospitable enough to invite you to stay at their place. but of course, you have to return the favor. i find this troublesome sometimes. unless it's family or very close friends, i avoid staying at other people's homes. sometimes people ask a lot of favor in return. for my part, i don't invite just anybody to my house. for one, i don't cook hahaha.
@ynowiziki (79)
• China
23 Jul 10
hey katsmeow,I bet this is a great idea to cut budget and the cost of the traveling.I've had a business trip from April to June in milwaukee..thats a great time for me,I and my US collegues have lots of fun there,but still at that time,I would also think if I could have more friends rathan than staying in Milwaukee so that i can visit them...I think it would more perfect if I have these friend at that time...
Ok,my friend,yes,you definity can come to visit me,now I am in Shanghai,China...And I can show you around this mysterious country...
@worldbestwriter2008 (1633)
• Philippines
23 Jul 10
hi! katsmeow1213. I love visitors, because i always been a visitors too. When i feel bored during vacation time..i find sometime visiting my old friends even if they lived far away as long as i could afford to pay for my transportation and we got a lot of talkings and discussions regarding matters.
@ferry2046 (146)
• China
23 Jul 10
i admire for you guys who can take travel from time to time,especially have good friends to stay with! i, and most of my friends,now live a hard day.we work,work,and work.no much time to go out for ease.we sleep if there was off-work time.the pressure of life ruin up our daily mood.if what i could be like you guys...
