| Avoid high-priced hotel fees. Use world-wide | | | | free meals! |
| hospitality exchange networks instead. Save | | | | You can read reviews about a host left by other |
| thousands of dollars by staying at other travelers' | | | | travelers to get a feel for what their experiences |
| homes for free! | | | | were like at the host's home. When you have |
| When you want to travel you might become | | | | found an offer that you like you'll need to contact |
| discouraged over the high prices of hotel rooms. | | | | the host a few days or so before your arrival. |
| $100 a night just for a place to sleep can put a | | | | Don't forget your friends and family. They may |
| huge dent in your travel budget (besides, you | | | | be able to offer you a free place to stay as well. |
| want to spend time enjoying the area, not | | | | It is a good idea to develop your friend network |
| spending all day in a hotel room, right?) | | | | by meeting other travelers and participating online |
| There are travelers all over the world that feel | | | | at social sites and forums. Be sure to keep their |
| the same way you do. Thankfully, by networking | | | | contact information current and drop them a note |
| with other travelers, there is a way to avoid hotel | | | | once in a while. They'll be invaluable travel aids and |
| costs. You can find a place to stay for free! | | | | you can return the favor. Travel often enough |
| Hospitality exchange programs, also known as | | | | and eventually you'll collect addresses from people |
| home stay networks, have lists of people (usually | | | | across the globe. |
| other travelers) that are willing to let travelers | | | | When participating in any home exchange, |
| stay at their homes for free. A member offers a | | | | remember that you are a guest. Try to abide by |
| place to stay at his or her home to other | | | | your host's house rules to make things more |
| travelers, in exchange for similar offers from the | | | | comfortable for everyone. Help out with the daily |
| entire network of travelers. | | | | duties when you can. If you are staying at a |
| You can find several of these clubs by doing | | | | home in a foreign culture it is wise to learn about |
| keyword searches for "hospitality exchange" and | | | | their customs. Sometimes what is perfectly |
| "couch surfing." | | | | normal to you can be very offensive to your |
| There are several exchange networks that | | | | host. Be courteous and polite. Most hosts expect |
| connect hosts and guests worldwide. Most of | | | | you to stay for about three days, but it really |
| these groups let you sign up for free on their | | | | depends on each individual. After your stay don't |
| websites. Some networks just ask you to fill out | | | | forget to send some kind of thank you note for |
| a form to join, while others require more | | | | the kind hospitality. |
| verification. | | | | Using hospitality networks takes very little |
| Once you've signed up to a network you can | | | | planning. Once you have signed up to a few of |
| search the website to find free places to stay | | | | the networking sites that you like best, it will |
| during your trip. Hosts may offer the traveler a | | | | usually be easy to locate free places to stay all |
| room, a bed or a couch. Most hosts have a | | | | over the world. Not only will you save a lot of |
| wealth of information about the local area and are | | | | money, but you may also come away with |
| willing to show the traveler around a bit. An | | | | valuable friendships. |
| additional bonus is that some will even provide | | | | |