Free Travel Anyone...How About Couchsurfing?

In a Nutshell...
Whenever I get the urge to travel for FREE I always go to www.couchsurfing.org,, a non-profit organization that promotes cultural exchange. What is it? Basically you stay overnight at someones house for a night or two. What's the catch? There is none. All you have to do is fill out a profile that includes things like your interests, personal description, your ethnicity, your gender. Plus adding your picture doesn't hurt either.

Next step, click on Surf/Host and fill out the information. The first ,and in my mind the most important question, Has Couch? Answer: Yes or Definitely, Definitely only, maybe, yes or definitely, No, coffee or a drink, etc. Obviously you want someone who definitely has a couch. Originally I thought you'd be confined to sleeping on a couch, but in reality you sleep wherever your host has spare space, which could be a couch or a spare bedroom. Most of the time I slept in a bedroom, although I did sleep in a tent once. Unusual, but fine by me!

Then you click on a Region,Country, State and City and up pops profiles of potential hosts. You pick out somebody who shares your interests and who'd you'd be compatible with and email them. That's all there is to it! After going over your traveling schedule it's a good idea to exchange phone numbers and emails.

What's in it for me?
Other than the fact you're saving a bunch of money, you're also experiencing a place from a locals point of view. You don't feel like a tourist. You have the chance to hang out with a local and go to all the places that aren't in the guidebooks. It's a lot more freeing...and fun too!

Just a suggestion...
Since I saved so much by going this route I thanked them by either taking them out to dinner or buying them something, depending on what there interests were. I did both, by tailoring it to the person. Wine is always a good choice, so is food. I think it's the least I could do, especially because of all the money I saved!

Getting Verified
Lastly, for those of you that are concerned about safety getting verified is a good way to go. For $25 you can have your identity checked and location verified. This applies to traveler's as well as hosts. When looking at someones profile there's a check next to their name. It's a small precaution, but helps when you're traveling by yourself. I haven't done it yet, but I plan to.