John Dierks

Read below for the short version. I have some experience in Europe, I spent
9 weeks by myself backpacking all around Europe and northern Africa last
summer, and had a great time. I'm planning on spending 6 weeks there this
summer. I'm probably going to go by myself again. Last year, while I met a
bunch of people, and made some cool friends, I didn't meet anyone that I got
to know well enough to keep in touch with, and while I had fun with them,
I'd like to develop relationships that are longer lasting, and more
meaningful. Hostels didn't really do it for me, as I'm not super outgoing,
and most people are only staying for a night or two.

Are there any programs where I can go and meet people where a group would
stay together for at least a week? I know I could just sign up for a tour,
but I'd like to meet people my age (20-25) and I don't think there are any
tours set up for young people like that. Plus I'm not really looking to meet
people who take tours because they want everything planned and laid out for
them. I'm happy to volunteer, work, sleep in hostels, eat from the grocery
store, etc. I don't need to go site seeing everyday. I just want a easy and
relaxed way to meet people from all over the world, without spending a
fortune.

Thanks for your help.




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Bill Gourley

Hi John,
You could try this site. Joining is free and you could chat with people from
other places and maybe arrange something ahead of time.

http://www.virtualtourist.com/vt/

Good luck,
Bill

"John Dierks" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Read below for the short version. I have some experience in Europe, I
spent
    > 9 weeks by myself backpacking all around Europe and northern Africa last
    > summer, and had a great time. I'm planning on spending 6 weeks there this
    > summer. I'm probably going to go by myself again. Last year, while I met a
    > bunch of people, and made some cool friends, I didn't meet anyone that I
got
    > to know well enough to keep in touch with, and while I had fun with them,
    > I'd like to develop relationships that are longer lasting, and more
    > meaningful. Hostels didn't really do it for me, as I'm not super outgoing,
    > and most people are only staying for a night or two.
    > Are there any programs where I can go and meet people where a group would
    > stay together for at least a week? I know I could just sign up for a tour,
    > but I'd like to meet people my age (20-25) and I don't think there are any
    > tours set up for young people like that. Plus I'm not really looking to
meet
    > people who take tours because they want everything planned and laid out
for
    > them. I'm happy to volunteer, work, sleep in hostels, eat from the grocery
    > store, etc. I don't need to go site seeing everyday. I just want a easy
and
    > relaxed way to meet people from all over the world, without spending a
    > fortune.
    > Thanks for your help.
    > -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
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    > -----== Over 80,000 Newsgroups - 16 Different Servers! =-----

Miguel Cruz

John Dierks wrote:
    > Are there any programs where I can go and meet people where a group would
    > stay together for at least a week? I know I could just sign up for a tour,
    > but I'd like to meet people my age (20-25) and I don't think there are any
    > tours set up for young people like that.

Actually there are plenty of "18-35s" tours in Europe and pretty much
everywhere else. Look into, for example, www.contiki.com. I haven't done one
myself but I know plenty who have; it's highly social, though apparently
they tend to take on the social structure of a junior high school.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
Latest photos: Maldives, Dubai and Vietnam

Elisabetta

Try this site (in Italian)
http://www.iboitalia.org/campi.asp?IEM=E

It's a NGO that organizes summer camps for volunteers.
Elisabetta

Alejandro

"John Dierks" wrote in message news:...
    >
    > Are there any programs where I can go and meet people where a group would
    > stay together for at least a week? I know I could just sign up for a tour,
    > but I'd like to meet people my age (20-25) and I don't think there are any
    > tours set up for young people like that. Plus I'm not really looking to meet
    > people who take tours because they want everything planned and laid out for
    > them. I'm happy to volunteer, work, sleep in hostels, eat from the grocery
    > store, etc. I don't need to go site seeing everyday. I just want a easy and
    > relaxed way to meet people from all over the world, without spending a
    > fortune.
    >
    > Thanks for your help.
    >
    >


Hi John,

Why don't you try the Camino de Santiago (I think it's St James Way in
English), in Northern Spain ?

I think it's a ideal destination for backpackers. Actually, it's just
for backpackers. You'll find a lot of people from all over the world,
most of them willing to meet new friends and, if you are lucky, you
may find some travel companions for something more than a couple of
days. And it's extremely cheap.

Alejandro.

barney

In article ,
[email protected] (Elisabetta) wrote:

    > Try this site (in Italian)
    > http://www.iboitalia.org/campi.asp?IEM=E
    >
    > It's a NGO that organizes summer camps for volunteers.
    > Elisabetta

Also: there are zillions of residential courses available on every topic
you can imagine and many you can't, often run by -- or at least hosted at
-- schools and colleges in the summer holidays. They're a great way to
meet people, and live like (or not too unlike) a native for a while. They
cost money, but not too much (and if you're wily, who knows, you may be
able to get some sort of sponsorship from your home area to attend).

They are generally aimed at residents, not visitors, so they will be
conducted in the local language without allowances for foreign
incomprehension. But if you gave us an idea of your interests and
languages, I'm sure some of the posters here could find local suggestions.

Barbara Vaughan

John Dierks wrote:

[snip]

    > Are there any programs where I can go and meet people where a group would
    > stay together for at least a week? I know I could just sign up for a tour,
    > but I'd like to meet people my age (20-25) and I don't think there are any
    > tours set up for young people like that. Plus I'm not really looking to meet
    > people who take tours because they want everything planned and laid out for
    > them. I'm happy to volunteer, work, sleep in hostels, eat from the grocery
    > store, etc. I don't need to go site seeing everyday. I just want a easy and
    > relaxed way to meet people from all over the world, without spending a
    > fortune.

My daughter took a summer Italian language course in Bologna, where she
met a number of people from other European countries. Most were from
England, but there were also some students from Spain and Eastern
Europe. She travelled around a bit on weekends with the people she met.
Her course lasted a month, but there were courses of as little as two
weeks. The course was organized by the Dante Alghieri schools. They have
schools in a number of Italian cities. The tuition is relatively low,
and they will organize housing for you if you wish. You should be able
to find them by searching for "Dante Alghieri school" on google.

Barbara

Molly

"John Dierks" wrote in message news:...

    > Are there any programs where I can go and meet people where a group would
    > stay together for at least a week? I know I could just sign up for a tour,
    > but I'd like to meet people my age (20-25) and I don't think there are any
    > tours set up for young people like that. Plus I'm not really looking to meet
    > people who take tours because they want everything planned and laid out for
    > them. I'm happy to volunteer, work, sleep in hostels, eat from the grocery
    > store, etc. I don't need to go site seeing everyday. I just want a easy and
    > relaxed way to meet people from all over the world, without spending a
    > fortune.


http://www.hospitalityclub.org/
Found it on a link from AFS, an organization with a good reputation
that I've been involved with in the past. Seems like a good idea.
Molly

Lalogne

welcome in Lamastre

http://www.lamastre.com/

Marko

Hello,

I did do the Camino myself few years ago and had the opposite experience
from Alejandro. I went alone, hoping to meet people on the way. And I did...
but only for a short while. Usually people who go alone, go for religious
reasons, and seek solitude, and are not in the mood to travel with someone.
They might be interested in talking to you for a few kilometers, but that is
it. If you meet a couple, then they are there to enjoy each other's company.
Groups of more than two are rare and those tend to split into groups of two.
You might get lucky, but unlikely.

I met several people in various hostels I keep in touch with. Maybe you meet
someone who is interested in traveling with you... Also, why not go to an
area where people tend to stay longer than two days - maybe one of greek
islands or Croatian coast. People come to stay for a week, even longer, just
to relax.

Marko


"Alejandro" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > "John Dierks" wrote in message
news:...
    > >
    > > Are there any programs where I can go and meet people where a group
would
    > > stay together for at least a week? I know I could just sign up for a
tour,
    > > but I'd like to meet people my age (20-25) and I don't think there are
any
    > > tours set up for young people like that. Plus I'm not really looking to
meet
    > > people who take tours because they want everything planned and laid out
for
    > > them. I'm happy to volunteer, work, sleep in hostels, eat from the
grocery
    > > store, etc. I don't need to go site seeing everyday. I just want a easy
and
    > > relaxed way to meet people from all over the world, without spending a
    > > fortune.
    > >
    > > Thanks for your help.
    > >
    > >
    > Hi John,
    > Why don't you try the Camino de Santiago (I think it's St James Way in
    > English), in Northern Spain ?
    > I think it's a ideal destination for backpackers. Actually, it's just
    > for backpackers. You'll find a lot of people from all over the world,
    > most of them willing to meet new friends and, if you are lucky, you
    > may find some travel companions for something more than a couple of
    > days. And it's extremely cheap.
    > Alejandro.

Miguel Cruz

Marko wrote:
    > I met several people in various hostels I keep in touch with. Maybe you meet
    > someone who is interested in traveling with you... Also, why not go to an
    > area where people tend to stay longer than two days - maybe one of greek
    > islands or Croatian coast. People come to stay for a week, even longer, just
    > to relax.

Or just go where the backpacker culture is stronger and people move more
slowly - like Southeast Asia, Australia, or New Zealand.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
Latest photos: Maldives, Dubai and Vietnam

Elaine Hutton

john

you may be interested in Servas, an organisation whereby you can stay with
hosts as you travel. It's a great way to meet people both as a traveller
and a host. Check out the Servas website to see if it appeals to you. let
me know if you have any questions about it.

Elaine


John Dierks wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Read below for the short version. I have some experience in Europe, I
spent
    > 9 weeks by myself backpacking all around Europe and northern Africa last
    > summer, and had a great time. I'm planning on spending 6 weeks there this
    > summer. I'm probably going to go by myself again. Last year, while I met a
    > bunch of people, and made some cool friends, I didn't meet anyone that I
got
    > to know well enough to keep in touch with, and while I had fun with them,
    > I'd like to develop relationships that are longer lasting, and more
    > meaningful. Hostels didn't really do it for me, as I'm not super outgoing,
    > and most people are only staying for a night or two.
    > Are there any programs where I can go and meet people where a group would
    > stay together for at least a week? I know I could just sign up for a tour,
    > but I'd like to meet people my age (20-25) and I don't think there are any
    > tours set up for young people like that. Plus I'm not really looking to
meet
    > people who take tours because they want everything planned and laid out
for
    > them. I'm happy to volunteer, work, sleep in hostels, eat from the grocery
    > store, etc. I don't need to go site seeing everyday. I just want a easy
and
    > relaxed way to meet people from all over the world, without spending a
    > fortune.
    > Thanks for your help.
    > -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
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