Travel

#How to Use the Sharing Economy to Travel on a Budget

February 18, 2014 / By NomadicMatt

The Internet has changed travel. Sometimes hasn’t been for the better (one just needs to see how many people are checking Facebook in a hostel to agree) but it has allowed people to share, connect, and collaborate in ways that haven’t been possible before.

And for the budget traveler and culture enthusiast this change has been terrific. There are now so many more ways to travel on a budget as well as get the most out of your destination and learn the hidden secrets of the places you are visiting. Here are some top notch sites and services (some old, some new) that you can use to travel cheap and connect with locals.

Hospitality networks have been around for decades but were really popularized with the creation of Couchsurfing. Founded in 2004, this old standby really took advantage of the web and brought together travelers and locals. It connects travelers with locals who are willing to give them a free place to stay (couch, room, floor, etc) and get a local perspective on a destination. It popularized hospitality networks and, with 7 million members, is now the biggest. I don’t use the accommodation service that much anymore since I like my own space, but I still value it as a resource to meet up with locals (you will find a lot of group meet-ups on the website). Some similar sites are Be Welcome. Hospitality Club. and Global Freeloaders .

For cyclists, check out the website Warm Showers. which is a free hospitality exchange for cyclists.

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