Couchsurfing anyone?
I wish I wasn't as OCD as I am about most everything. If I were a more laidback person, I'd choose to see the world by staying with locals, meeting my peers on the other side of the planet, discovering new cities while making new friends.
Alas, I'm quarter part coward, quarter part OCD and half part control freak to enjoy something like Couchsurfing.
CouchSurfing is an international non-profit network that connects travelers with locals in over 230 countries and territories around the world. Currently, they have over a million members. The plan is to search their network for suitable hosts and then crash on their couch (beds sometimes).
 |
| You can view users names, location, pictures and reviews. |
From the mission statement of Couchsurfing.org:
CouchSurfing members share hospitality with one another. These exchanges are a uniquely rich form of cultural interaction. Hosts have the opportunity to meet people from all over the world without leaving home. "Surfers," or travelers, are able to participate in the local life of the places they visit. We also give more people the chance to become travelers, because "surfing" lowers the financial cost of exploration.
Reading reviews and more, most people seem to come out of it with excellent experiences. Best part is you can read reviews of people's experiences with particular hosts.
From Couchsurfing.org:
