Travelers thumb through a directory and contact hosts whose interests match their own. A standard Servas visit lasts two nights, though families may sometimes arrange a longer stay. No money changes hands, except to reimburse expenses such as long-distance calls. And at its best, Servas creates opportunities for deep and long-lasting friendships. Finally, of course, Servas makes traveling a lot more affordable.
Some people use the network just to travel, or just to host.
We do both. As hosts, we've been privileged to entertain guests from Israel, Germany, Sweden, Australia, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Among our hosts in Wales were three families with children. Celia, a former midwife, and Mike, a legal aid lawyer, had four boys ranging from 3 months to 9. Alf and Jo and their two daughters were equally hospitable, piling us with pots of strong tea and heaping plates of fresh breads, zesty cheeses, and steaming casseroles.