How to find free accommodation
Even if you're seriously skint you can still travel, thanks to a global phenomenon called couch surfing. It's an easy way to find free accommodation almost anywhere in the world with friendly locals who are happy to give travellers somewhere to crash and ask for nothing in return. Sounds too good to be true? Then check out the following not-for-profit global hospitality websites.
Couchsurfing
This site claims to have more than 600,000 members in more than 230 countries, lots of whom are willing to give travellers somewhere to sleep — it might not be a bed, or even a couch, it might just be a space on the floor, but hey, it's free so who's complaining? It's free to join the site, after which you decide where you want to go then trawl through the list of members looking for someone suitable to put you up. All the hosts have their profiles and photos on line, plus there are comments from other surfers who have already stayed with them so you can work out if you're likely to get along.
To try to ensure the safety of those using the site, couchsurfing.com verifies users' names and addresses and allows members to vouch for each other. There's no pressure on you to host others in return, though lots of members do.
The Hospitality Club
You can find a free place to stay or just someone to show you their favourite haunts through The Hospitality Club, which has more than 300,000 members around the world, many of whom have signed up just to make friends with people like you! Joining is free and takes only a minute, so you can sign up today and travel tomorrow. Anyone can become a member, you only have to give your name, address and email address. For security, you can hide your real name and address from other members and personal email addresses are never displayed so all members have to contact each other through the site.
Worried your host might be a psycho? You can check their profile on the site and see what other surfers think about them. You don't have to host people in return and the only thing the Club asks is that you dedicate some time to help run the site if you can, but it's not obligatory.
Servas
More touchy-feely than the others, this was one of the earliest hospitality organisations. Set up more than 60 years ago, its philosophy is “to build understanding, tolerance and world peace.” So it's less about finding a free place to sleep and more about making new friends.
It's also less free and easy than the others; for a start Servas charges both travellers and hosts a small fee, currently £10 for hosts and £25 for travellers, and you will be interviewed to make sure you “share Servas values”. It's a bit of a hassle and a small expense, but this does give you some reassurance that everyone you stay with has been vetted, to some extent, and hopefully the interview process weeds out any psychos. It takes about three weeks to gain membership and lists of hosts are not on line so you have to wait for them to arrive by snail mail.
globalfreeloaders
A useful site if you're happy to host other travellers, but if you won't be in a position to give someone a bed (or a sofa) for the night within six months of signing up then don't bother. This site is very much about give and take — so if you want to get a free bed, you'll have to offer one in return.
Membership is free and all you have to provide are your name, address and email — but these are kept hidden from other users. When you are looking for places to stay, send an email to the site and it will send you a list of all those willing to host you and then it's up to you to get in touch with those who are suitable. Easy. As a host, you won't be obliged to take everyone and anyone who asks to stay — just if and when it's convenient.
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