Image via WikipediaEvery time I go out onto the Internet that I get a little more education! Sometimes my brain just needs to explode and release the pressure. FOR EXAMPLE today I saw an article in the New York Time's travel section called MY $100 WEEKEND IN NEW YORK: WHERE THE MONEY WENT. Is that possible? Well according to the Frugal Traveler it is. He knows all about travel on the cheap!
Where have I been? If I had not been a follower of The Frugal Traveler on twitter I would never have even heard about this. It seems the Frugal Traveler wanted to prove that he could stay in New York City for one weekend and do it on only $100. He was going for the "lowest possible budget." I don't know how he saw it but all I think was "This has to be about bragging rights!" Of course he did all the free museum stuff, ate donuts with coffee and walked or used public transportation...that all goes without saying. I thought "big deal". Then my eyes stopped on the words COUCH SURFING. I was sure he wasn't talking about the TV clicker and shopping on HSN. So I went to the Couch Surfing website that he suggested. Oh my goodness.
Did you know that there is a network of people from around the world that trade a nights stay with other people, conceivably on a couch or even on the floor, so they can travel without spending anything hotels room? CS is a way of sleeping indoors and in the safety of someone's home and doing it for free. COUCH SURFING has all the details, safety tips, registration and information about the people that use this service. Really, I need a bed, a very good bed preferably, but for the adventurous durable traveler this is a very cool.
CS touts the value of connecting with the local people in places you have never been. I understand how important making contact with other humans is to my travel experience. I love to travel but I am not your typical tourist. For me the whole vacation is all about local flavor and what I can learn from the people I meet. I see every trip as an education with food and sleeping thrown in. Like a bed and breakfast or even Hostels, CS could be a totally different kind of travel. Take a look at the website...I think you will be intrigued with the idea too.
I do want to add a disclaimer here...I do not know if this is totally safe for women or single travelers...I want you to make that judgement for yourself. Please note the articles below.
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