Rome nightscene © Wojtek Kutyla
A great way to experience another culture and save expenses when travelling is to stay with locals rather than opting for an expensive hotel room. If you don’t already know people at your destination, check out these websites:
Couch Surfing: “CouchSurfing is a worldwide network for making connections between travelers and the local communities they visit.”
Global freeloaders: “GlobalFreeloaders.com is an online community, bringing people together to offer you free accommodation all over the world. Save money and make new friends whilst seeing the world from a local’s perspective!”
The Hospitality Club: “Do you love meeting people from other cultures? Do you love traveling? Do you love helping other people? Then this is the place for you to be!”
Free-Stay.com: “Why pay for a holiday hotel when you can stay for free in someone else’s home? Links to a great choice of holiday swaps worldwide.”
Travelroomers: ”This site offers you the chance to travel the world for a simple trade, become a part of the travelroomers community and it will will revolutionize the world of travel forever.”
Servas: “Open your doors to Servas International, a network of peace. Doors you will never close. Friends you will never forget.”
July 24th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Have you ever used any of these? I used to be on Couchsurfing… and I helped give people advice on my city, but I never had a couch to offer myself. Felt kinda bad about it…
July 24th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Not yet!
July 28th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Thanks for the list!! I had only heard about half of these!
July 28th, 2008 at 10:33 am
@Matt, You’re welcome. It might come in handy when travelling!
September 3rd, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Thanks nice details
October 15th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Useful list, also some bed & breakfasts in Rome are good value
October 15th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
I have an article similar to that on my blog. I haven’t heard of some of the resources you listed, so thanks!
October 16th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Thanks for the comments guys. Am glad you enjoyed my recommendations.
I will check out your article Janet.