Feastly connects tourists with people who want to host them for dinner. Or, you could end up at a kitchen or dining hall with an amatuer chef. Simply browse meals, and pick what you want. Then pay and show up on time, and you get a unique meal and probably some unique conversations to go with it.
Another option is Cookening, which is more popular in Europe than the US right now. It’s even a little more authentic — just real people who want to share real meals they make in their home.
This app is what it sounds like — it connects you with people in your location who are down for a good time. Sign up with Facebook, post an idea: “Let’s go get a drink!” and get responses immediately. Available for Android and iOS for free.
Local hospitality at your fingertips. It’s like a personal concierge, connecting hotel guests to locals so they can get information about their location. Urban Buddy also offers access to hotel amenities as well as local hotspots near you. Available for iOS for free.
Want to travel, but don’t know who to go with? Look at Traveller Chic, which connects travel lovers together for trips. It’s not an app, but a web platform. There are groups for people who want to visit specific locales, like Thailand or the Caribbean, or you can sign up as a tour guide to show people your own city.
Spotted by Locals is an insider guide to cities around the world, curated by local residents. They make guides and lists of the best places to visit, dine, and see. It’s a series of blogs and PDF city guides, so you can use it online or offline. Available for free for iOS and Android.
Learn a foreign language with a native speaker near you. All you have to do is download Meet2Talk and put in what language you speak and which one you want to learn, and then you can meet up with someone who speaks another language that’s near you to chat them up. You learn some of their language, and they learn yours.
Reduce your carbon emissions and meet someone cool with Spinlister, which allows you to rent a bike from someone in your area. You can also rent surf and snow equipment if you’re in the right place. If you’re the one renting out your gear, there’s also an insurance guarantee from Spinlister if it’s stolen.
If you’re part of the CrowdRoaming network, you can download the app and connect safely and securely to other members’ Wi-Fi wherever you are, so you don’t have to pay or search for Wi-Fi somewhere else. Available for free for Android.
Lyndsey Gilpin is a former Staff Writer for TechRepublic, covering sustainability and entrepreneurship. She's co-author of the book Follow the Geeks.
