Global Loafing

Youth Intelligence’s Trend Central newsletter today gives an interesting glimpse at how people are using the web to keep their travel costs down by borrowing & sharing from strangers and even crashing on their sofas!

"The site www.couchsurfing.com provides an on-line community whereby registered members can meet on the Internet and then go and literally stay on each other’s couches. Accommodations can range from a living room floor to an actual sofa bed to a penthouse apartment, and although the “surfer” gets to stay for free, they must keep in mind that they will be on the host’s terms. The similar site www.globalfreeloaders.com also provides additional options for budget-minded globetrotters."

Other sites they’ve noticed include apartment/time share swap sites like: www.digsville.com, www.homebase-hols.com and www.homelink.org.

Youth Intelligence