Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
lunteer on Wednesdays, but you are there to get the flavor of “real life,” not life on a scripted
bus tour.
DO, RE, MI
Servas, which is formed entirely of unpaid volunteers, inspires a lot of passion in
its devotees, many of whom refuse to travel any other way. There's even a Servas
song that was written by longtime member Barbara Whitehead, who recently passed
away:
Good friends in Servas, these are my kin,
Where the doors open, I'm glad to walk in.
All the world over, we feel the same,
Love is our method and peace is our aim.
Work, study, travel—learn as we go,
So much to help with, and so much to know!
Good friends of Servas, help me to roam,
When you come my way, I'll give you a home!
You can join Servas as either a traveler or a host; many members do both. Either way,
you'll go through a fairly rigorous interview process. Once you're approved, you'll get a let-
ter of recommendation and a passport to present to potential hosts. For a small refundable
deposit, you can get a list of hosts in whatever country you plan to visit.
Servas doesn't make any arrangements. Each traveler contacts potential hosts, and many
Servas travelers combine visits with several hosts on a single vacation. New Yorker Herbert
Rosenzweig took a ten-month trip around the world with his wife and 11-year-old daugh-
ter, staying with Servas hosts in many countries. He's still in contact with many of the new
friends he made on his round-the-world vigil for peace.
Travelers pay $85 per year for international travel, or $50 stateside. The overseas pro-
gram requires a deposit of $25 per set of up to five host lists, while the U.S. travelers get just
two lists for $15. If you're interested in being a host, Servas suggests a donation of $40. No
money exchanges hands during the visits, but travelers are welcome to bring a bag of grocer-
ies when they show up.
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH
