I caught the travel bug from my dad when I was in 7th grade. He always liked to connect with locals on our trips because he knew it was the best way to experience a new place.
Whether it was a friend of a friend or some random local we met, dad would offer to take them to dinner to learn more about their life and the place they lived. On some of these occasions, our new friends would even insist that we check out of our hotel and stay with them. By the end of the trip, we had new friends, great memories and a better understanding of the local culture than any guided tour could provide.
I like that VRBO has that same ability to connect people from different parts of the world.