Are you an intrepid backpacker looking for cheap alternative housing in some far-off location? If the crowded hostel bunkhouses and awkward dinners with long-lost relatives aren't doing it for you anymore, check out The CouchSurfing Project.
CouchSurfing.com is a community site where travelers can hook up with local people who have couch space or floor space to share. Participants list their interests, the languages they speak, and their requirements. An introduction is made, and a couch is reserved. It's a modern spin on the age-old practice of "pack crashing" that's well-known among the rail-pass-and-hostel set. You can search by city, region, country, or by pre-requisites for the type of housing situation you want. Safety is assured thanks to a verification system and a vouching system where users can offer feedback about particular couches and their owners. My favorite feature is the "Exotic" tab. Click on it and see open couches in places like Honduras, Nairobi, Syria, and islands in the South Pacific.
The community has been around for just over two years, and it has now built up a robust user base in the tens of thousands. The site was started by a group of low-budget travelers who came up with the idea and made it happen. Our friend Paul V. recently traveled to Iceland and found several travelers surfing couches that they found through the CouchSurfing community. So, word is definitely getting around.
CouchSurfing operates as a non-profit, and donations are encouraged for frequent users. We'd recommend offering whatever you have left in your pockets when you get back from Mongolia.
[thanks to Paul V. for the link]
