A revolutionary way for travellers to socialise and dine…

Imagine walking into a neighbourhood in a new place that you haven’t been before, looking for an address you were given by someone you have never met before, online. It sounds like something out of a horror film but there are thousands of people doing this all around the world right now. It is a new revolution in dining and social meet ups and it is modelled off AirBnB… But with a twist, because it is for dinner parties.

Voulez Vous Diner is an incredible piece of technology, that links travellers to locals who are happy to open them home, and cook them a meal in the local cuisine. It is an awesome idea – a way to stay safe and still enjoy a great cultural dining experience, something you would normally pay a very big price for.

Currently, Voulez Vous Diner runs in Paris, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Canberra, Cape Town, London, Lyon, Marseille, New York and San Francisco. And gaining access to this interesting social network is quite easy. All it takes is a free log in and you can pay anywhere between $0 and $90 for a meal, but the one condition is that whatever meal is provided is true local cuisine. You can also search by the theme of the meal. Some of the options include gluten free, gastronomy, good deals, special places and arts and culture. So you can diversify your dining experience. The concept is totally digital, you do everything online on the Volez Vous Diner app or website and you pay via credit card for your meal bookings.

It is a great idea, but the idea scares me quite a bit personally. Who am I meeting? Where is my money going? How can I trust them? Are they safe people? But on the other hand, we can ask ourselves this when we enjoy dining out anywhere overseas. Safety is paramount for travellers and it is important to note that as a part of the quality charter for the site all residents that provide dinner parties must meet hygiene and quality standards so you can attend dinners with a peace of mind.

So, would you try it?

• If we break it down to the pros and cons we have the pros of:
• A great cultural experience
• Reasonably high safety and quality expectations
• A cheap way of enjoying local culture
• A great way to meet new people

And the cons really come down to:

• The unpredictability of the safety and security of the environment, transaction and food.

So tell us, would you give Volez Vous Diner a go? Would you feel safe trying it out or perhaps would you consider becoming a dining host? Share your thoughts in the comments below…