Do do know Couchsurfing? It is a very convenient platform (couchsurfing.org) to meet new people. When you travel, you contact a « couchsurfer » who can give you some tips about his city, or host you at his place, so you are « surfing his couch ». No fee, completely free service which works in both way: you let also « stranger » to come to your place. So it is everything about trust. You exchange references with the people you meet, ensuring you contact only positive persons.
I am registered on this site for years already, hosted a lot of people from everywhere in my place in Frankfurt, and made also a lot of friends through the weekly meeting in Frankfurt.
During my trip, I’ll try to use it as much as possible, also trying to meet again the guests I had! CS will be used many time to design Couchsurfing.