Couchsurfing

For those of you who don’t know what it is, couchsurfing is an organised system for providing free accommodation to strangers. It is not about saving money. It is about getting to know people and promoting goodwill. I have met amazing people through Couchsurfing and made some really good friends. Russian hitchhikers, Chinese cyclists travelling overland from Hong Kong to Spain to name but a few. People either embrace the idea or reject it depending on their tolerance for risk and trust issues. Don’t worry, there are some good safety measures in place to avoid mishaps. There is also a “Hangout” function on the mobile app for people who just want to meet fellow travellers without requesting accommodation.