Tx again, what you say makes total sense.
Update: have just got an interesting reply from one of the HBs I contacted, which I'll be curious to get some views on how to respond to. She starts with:
HB: just looking for places to hang out or people as well?!
Then some advice on bars and stuff, and then some questions about my reasons for travelling and the kinda music I'm into. Oh, plus a Friend request
That's a few IOIs I reckon, but it's late and she's just back from a night out so possibly a bit overenthusiastic.
Any ideas what to reply? Throw in a little neg jokingly questioning whether she's cool enough to hang out with me? In normal game I know I could get away with that with a cheeky smile, but online this may be different. (Some advice I've read is to go easy on the negs in online game, esp. e-mail.)