Backpackers can couch surf around the world

Couchsurfing has become so popular with backpackers and other travellers that the travel review website TripAdvisor.com includes reviews of people's experiences.

For those who are unfamiliar with the concept it involves locals providing free accommodation to travellers in their own homes, presumably with the expectation of meeting lots of interesting people.

Whether you are planning to backpack your way around the world or simply planning a city break, you can find somewhere to stay for free on a number of not-for-profit hospitality websites.

Couchsurfing.org has more than 1.5 million couchsurfers in more than 230 countries, many of whom are offering a free bed, a room or just a space on the floor to complete strangers.

It's free to join the site and look for someone suitable to put you up. All hosts have their details and photos on the site, where you can read feed back from other couch surfers, many of whom are backpackers but not all.

An alternative site is www.globalfreeloaders.com, which is great if you also want to become a host. Membership is free but the site expects you to give someone else somewhere to stay for free within six months of signing up, so this is no good for backpackers planning to be away from home for a while.

Servas (www.servasbritain.org) charges a small membership fee - £10 for hosts and £25 for visitors ? and in return it vets everyone who signs up to try to weed out weirdos. It takes about three weeks to complete the membership process and receive lists of hosts in the post.

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