Ask The Money Coach

Couch Crasher: Getting accommodations on someone's couch is a very low-cost alternative to a hotel stay.

Hotel costs can be the biggest expense of any trip, even trumping airfare based on the length of your trip.  One way to eliminate the hotel is to sleep on the couch of a friend or even distant relative.  But what if you don’t have a couch connection in the town on your vacation list?  Make one.

Sites such as couchsurfing.com are connecting hosts with travelers for a cheap to no-cost alternative to hotels. You simply sleep on the couch of willing hosts, for free. All most hosts expect in return is a gift from your home town or a treat to dinner, and of course respect for their home (i.e. cleanup after yourself).

Couchsurfing.com verifies its members and home addresses through credit card verification and members rate each other and vouch for their credibility. If someone had a bad experience with a host or visitor, you’ll see it posted online, which takes some of the worry out of what type of host you’re getting. Simply opt for those with positive comments and high ratings.

Here are a few sites to consider when you’re looking for a host for international travel, or even within the U.S.:

• couchsurfing.com A popular site that aims to “create deep and meaningful connections that cross oceans, continents and cultures.” Members post their photos and a little something about themselves and their home or travels. You can browse member entries without becoming a member.
• www.globalfreeloaders.com Is an Australian-based hospitality network connecting people worldwide.  You have to become a member before you can the details on hosts. Free membership is renewable in 12-month blocks.
• hospitalityclub.org Is one of the first to offer this service on the Web.  Each member fills out details on a web form that other members may view. Sample pages are available for viewing before you join. Duration of stay and specifics (such as how food will be shared or not) are set out before your arrival.
• stay4free.com A global “free accommodation network” based in Holland allows options that lets members swap their entire home with someone else in another location, or you can opt to just be a guest or just be a host.

Disclaimer: I cannot vouch for the members on any of these sites. For the adventurous who would like a real-town experience versus just a tourist view, I think it’s a great alternative to a hotel stay. However, I still urge you to use your own best judgment before accepting accommodations from someone you don’t know.

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