Couch crashing for the budget traveler

October 10, 1:07 PMNY Budget Travel ExaminerSusan Finch

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Your next crash?

Now that the world economy has officially gone into complete turmoil, free travel options you may have once turned up your nose at will seem more enticing.

Consider couch surfing for a free night's stay in the most expensive cities in the world.  You may have cornered the market on this phenomenon during college days.  But the process has gotten a little more sophisticated over the years and spans across the globe. 

Worried about crashing with a stranger?  Try CouchSurfing.com whose slogan is "Panticipate in Creating a Better World, One Couch At A Time".  Each user in their database is linked to other users he or she knows within the system.  So if you're looking for a couch in Amsterdam, you can look through that person's network and read feedback and testimonials.  Members can only get 'vouched' by another vouched member of CouchSurfing.com. The website also has a specialized verification process to make sure users name and addresses are correct and valid.  In essence, it's a big circle of trust.

Depending on your comfort level, you can successfully couch surf your way across the globe and back.  There's even a user from Antarctica with room to spare. But it's not all about couches -- your host may have a spare bedroom, futon, or basement for added comfort and privacy.  While the service is free, it's common courtesy to offer to chip in for meals or thank your host with a kind gesture, like a bottle of wine.

But if crashing with a stranger makes you squeamish, try hitting up friends and acquaintances or check Craigslist.org for short term sublets on your next vacation.