Our stay at Francis was awesome. He was very attentive and meticulous in helping us get settled and provided us with a very homey, comfortable environment. He showed us around a bit, got us oriented to London subway/transport system and even took us to the store to get our supplies. His place is Southeast London, about 25-30 minutes from city center, but bus and train are both within 2-5 minute walking distance, and so is the grocery store and restaurant. I would highly recommend this place for anyone, whether you are family or travelling alone, because Francis and his wife Julie, and daughter are very experienced at having guests and they do a swell job. We had a very satisfying and comfortable experience. Francis also offered as airport rides for an additional fee, which made things go very smooth.

Farhan met us at airport with a sign, making the entire check in process very easy. The place was spotless clean, thanks to the no shoes policy. In addition, Farhan and his roommate Koksal cooked us an exotic Turkish meal, showed us around Istanbul one evening and gave us a truly authentic cultural experience of Turkey. There were a few minor things around the house that needed to be fixed, flush in the toilet, mirrors in rooms/bathrooms/ trashcans, etc. but all of that was made up by their very warm hospitality. If you want a safe, authentic and clean environment, this would be the place. Plus the tram that has access to rest of Istanbul is 3 minutes away, and supermarket, cafes are within 5-7 minute walk.

David was most helpful and even came out looking for me on the streets when I was trying to find his place. His place was very comfortable, clean and convenient, and the grocery store is right outside his doorstep, and so is the beautiful canal of the Danube river.

Vesna and Robbi met me at train station in Ljublana and brought me to Plave at the Herbal Rooms, where Vesna's parents Karmen and Ivan live. From the very beginning to the end, I felt welcome with Karmen and Ivan's extraordinary hospitality and willingess to share their life and be curious about my world. Vesna's passion and knowledge about her native region, plants and herbs is infectious. The hike to Soca River source and the gorge, the herb picking in the forest meadows, the meals, and most of all the laughter and aha moments were one too many to recount. The accomodation itself was dobra (super) and the aroma of herbs was pleasant yet not overpowering. It was an experience of Slovenian culture that merged into my life forever. In addition to the activities with Vesna, I also spent a few hours with Karmen making a lavender sachet. We communicated through our language of actions, gestures, and a few common words, and laughed too much, much later, when sharing our language mishaps and barriers. Karmen is a gem to be with, even if you don't speak Slovenian, which I didn't. Thank you Robbi, Karmen, Ivan and Vesna for a beautiful experience that lasted a short 5 days.