With the economy in a downturn, everyone is looking for bargains. There are bargain accommodations available but you have to think outside the box to find the real deals. If you are comfortable staying in someone else’s home and are opened minded about cultural experiences, then here are some optional free accommodation ideas.
Home Exchanges
Why stay in an overpriced hotel when you can enjoy all the comforts of home by swapping your home for one in another destination? Home swaps or home exchanges are where you exchange a stay at your home for one in someone else’s home. To participate, you must register with a home exchange website and then arrange an exchange with a like minded individual, couple or family. This is a great way to save on accommodations and an opportunity to live like a local.
Some home exchange websites include:
www.homeexchange.com – membership costs approximately $100(US)/year.
www.digsville.com – memberships starts at $45(US)/year.
www.homelink-usa.com – membership is $110(US) year.
www.craigslist.org also has a free listing for home exchanges under “housing” and “house swapping”
House Sitting
House sitting is also a good way to get free accommodations but requires some effort on your part. You will likely be expected to take care of the house while you stay there. The website www.housesittersamerica.com describes house sitting as “ … living in a person's house for an agreed period of time while they are away. You maintain the house as if it were your own, doing any household jobs that need doing such as pet care, garden maintenance, forwarding mail etc. House sitting can vary, from a weekend up to 3 years (or longer) and anything in between.” Not only is house sitting a great way to get a free place to stay but some house sitting jobs actually pay you.
Other house sitting websites:
www.housecarers.com
www.sabbaticalhomes.com
Couch Surfing
Not just for college kids or your dead beat relatives anymore, couch surfing has become a new way to travel for less. Defined as “staying for free in a strangers home” couch surfing is “travel through exchanges”. There are groups and websites dedicated to this alternative sleeping arrangement. And it is not just couches that are available, some hosts offer spare rooms. Although usually viewed as a bohemian type of travel that appeals to younger people interested in partying, couch surfers and hosts are now of all ages, nationalities and interests.
www.couchsurfing.com mission statement is "CouchSurfing seeks to internationally network people and places, create educational exchanges, raise collective consciousness, spread tolerance, and facilitate cultural understanding." They offer their nearly 1 million members groups for any taste including, Married couples with kids, Photographers, Teachers, 50+ travelers, Food and Wine, Singles, Gays and Lesbians and History While Traveling. Because the host has the option to say no to a couch surfing request and the surfer has to be vouched for or verified, couch surfing is a safe alternative to costly hotels or hostels.
Another smaller couch surfing organization is www.hospitalityclub.org. They describe themselves as a “hospitality exchange organization” and offer similar services as couchsurfing.com.
So if you are looking for a cheap, safe alternative to hotels or hostels why not try a home exchange or house sitting or even couch surfing. Not only will you save money but will enjoy a true cultural experience and maybe even make some new friends.
