Where the Hospitality Is Priceless

By Carolyn Sayre

Forget the falling dollar. All that penny-pinching tourists need to travel the globe is a willingness to try something different and access to a new breed of travel website.

Some of these electronic bulletin boards, known as hospitality-exchange sites, hook up travelers with locals who don't mind having someone stay in an extra room, crash on an empty couch or even pitch a tent in the yard. Many allow people to take turns hosting one another in their homes. And others arrange work for temporary room and board. A few charge nominal fees, but most are free. "What used to be a fringe hobby for a few travelers is becoming a mainstream phenomenon," says Daniel Hoffer, co-founder of Couch Surfing, which has nearly 470,000 users--up 56% since last year.

But hospitality exchange isn't just about saving a couple of bucks. Users, who vary in age, say it also gives them a more authentic, outside-the-guidebook experience. "It distinguishes a tourist from a traveler," says Harold Goldstein of Hospitality Exchange. "Instead of just sightseeing, you participate in the daily life of locals." So rather than pull the plug on that next pricey vacation, check out these cheap--and unique--travel options.