From airbedandbreakfast.comSocial networking websites have changed the way we view our reputations, the way we organize protests, and now the way we … couch surf?
AirBed&Breakfast lets travelers meet locals in 20 countries and book a few nights in their guest rooms, as an alternative to sleeping in a hotel. They are hoping to fill the gap as hotels overflow this summer in Denver and the Twin Cities during the Democratic and Republican national conventions.
It’s not the first website to connect frugal travelers with prospective hosts — The CouchSurfing Project, for example, has been around since 2004. But AirBed&Breakfast is certainly the easiest to use that we have seen, and it handles all financial transactions right through the website.
Is this the new face of travel?
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Hospitality Club (basically the same idea as CouchSurfing) has been around since 2000, I think, although I’m not sure when exactly the website was launched.
Seems like a great idea to me.
“As a hotel manager, I see at LEAST three people a day I would never want anywhere near my apartment. Hotels are there for your protection, people… ”
Yeah.. I really don’t think this is the best idea.
I really like this idea! I remember when Couchsurfing first came out; there wasn’t much of a community there as well. And by the way, it is polite to bring a gift to your host anyway. This streamlines the process. I think we have to look at this not only from the travelers perspective, but also from the hosts perspective. Now, people who have trouble making rent have a way to offset their income.
You should at least mention home exchange, which combines the best features of hotels and couch surfing. Yes, it’s more formal – you have to have something to exchange – but it’s a great money saver and lends itself to very non-touristy social interaction. Check out homelink.org, intervac.com, invented-city.com, homeexchange.com, etc.
This looks just like RayStay (in fact, kind of copied the layouts and design).
Although RayStay is free, these guys charge a fee.
We offer a similar service at The Room Exchange Network (www.roomexnet.com). If you are looking for lodging, or looking to rent your room, we have thousands of members nationwide, and invite you to visit our site and sign up for free.