Traveling is beneficial for the mind and body, but it is never for free. One of the factors that makes it so expensive is the cost of accommodation everyone needs to pay, especially when traveling outside the country. But, did you know there are already some ways travelers can avoid spending money for their accommodation during their trip?
COUCHSURFING
Looking for a place to stay for your vacation without spending any amount of money would seem impossible. But, do you know that there are people who would want to offer their places for free? These are all made possible through an online platform named Couchsurfing.
Through Couchsurfing, people, most of whom are retired travelers, offer their house, bed, room, or even apartment for free. Because of how promising their goal is, the online platform has already gained the attention of the market.
NIGHT SWAPPING
If Couchsurfing is not your style, then Night Swapping may be the one that will suit you. Through this platform, you can gather points, which you can use as a payment to your next trip's hotel, apartment, house, or room. You can even use these points as cash to purchase things you'll need for your journey.
So, how can you gather points and be able to sleep over to your favorite destination for free? You can gain points by two means: 1) by offering your house to travelers who would want to come to visit your place; and 2) by booking hotels, rooms, apartments, or houses offered by other members of the platform.
Available in almost 160 countries, as of the writing, the platform has already about 250,000 members. There is also a messaging system, which the host and the traveler can use to communicate with each other especially when it comes to giving directions on how to come to the place.
Others might think of the risks when it comes to grabbing these opportunities as these offers may appear too good to be true. To lessen the risks of scams, admins behind these platforms encourage their members to do their research first before trusting anyone. First, it is crucial to check whether the person's profile is filled up or not. Second, search for reviews to know more about the ideas and comments of the place's previous guests.
Aside from the price, there are still other factors one should consider in choosing the best place to stay during their vacation. These factors include location, rating, amenities, perks, and style. Make sure that the house or place you'll choose fit your standards. This is for you to avoid regrets in the end.
