In 1949, Bob Luitweiler founded the first hospitality service called Servas Open Doors as a cross national, non-profit, volunteer run organization advocating interracial and international peace. In 1965, John Wilcock set up the Traveler's Directory as a listing of his friends willing to host each other when traveling. In 1988, Joy Lily rescued the organization from imminent shutdown, forming Hospitality Exchange.In 2000, Veit Kuhne founded Hospitality Club, the first Internet-based service. [1] One of the most common reasons people use these services is to save money by staying with a host for free. Meeting people, hearing about their travels and making lasting friendships is an awesome opportunity that is possible through these kinds of sites, however for most people it is not the primary goal but more of a positive consequence. [2] At this point I must note that free accomodation is not the right expression (got no better so I'll use it) since you pay the costs in advance when you host someone. Of course the common costs of hosting a few guests are still less than a one night stay in a hostel and most of all you're not feeding the "tourist industry". According to my observation most of the members taking part in hospitality exchange do come from lower middle class. During my travels I rearly meet "wealthy" hosts. For some of us hospitality exchange is not an option but the only way to travel. Just try to imagine an average guy from Bangladesh* visiting Norway. We all have the same desire to see the world just like those who could afford to stay in fancy hotels. I had to state this because I often meet people who defend their view of "Hospitality exchange is not about free accomodation but cultural exchange". (As a side note I'd refer that human nature is selfish and greedy. There's nothing wrong with that. I hardly met anyone doing anything without a selfish aim. In this case some (like me) seeking for free accomodation, some look for a company, some try to earn more prestige.) If you ever been hosted you know that sometimes it's absolutely not as comfortable as a hostel. You arrive jet laged** and you have to chat with your host, you have to spend the whole day on the street because you got no keys...etc. Of course a great cultural experience or a friendship is an amazing extra. Some are really enthusiastic about the spirit of [their beloved community]. In my point of view it's nothing more than the warm feeling of belonging somewhere. We all have the desire for that. Let me quote a friend of mine: "If you belong nowhere time stands still..." So it's not only the [beloved community] that can generate this feeling. If you attend a concert of your favorit band and you are surrounded by strangers but you know they are fans just like you... you'll feel the same. BUT! You have to be careful because if this enthusiasm crosses a certain line you may easily become bigoted. I'm a travel junkie. I live on a low budget, I travel low budget. Here is a list of some opportunities that may help you to get a few kilometers further: Hospitality exchange Hospitality Club 647,000 members http://www.hospitalityclub.org/ "Our aim is to bring people together - hosts and guests, travelers and locals. Thousands of Hospitality Club members around the world help each other when they are traveling - be it with a roof for the night or a guided tour through town." GlobalFreeLoaders 89,525 members http://www.globalfreeloaders.com/ "GlobalFreeloaders.com is an online community, bringing people together to offer you free accommodation all over the world. Save money and make new friends whilst seeing the world from a local's perspective!" Tripping 50,000 memebers https://www.tripping.com/ "Tripping is a global community of travelers who believe in making the world a better place through cultural exchange. Our members connect with each other for travel tips, shared cups of coffee and homestays in over 175 countries." BeWelcome 20,000 members http://www.bewelcome.org/ "BeWelcome is a culture crossing network that lets you share a place to sleep, meet up and help others on their way. We are a non-profit organisation run by volunteers in an open, transparent and fair way." Servas 19,172 members http://www.servas.org/ Hosts provide sleeping space, sometimes this may be a guest room. Meals may be provided as well as assistance in visiting the city or area. At the end of their trip, the Servas traveller is expected to provide a report to the local coordinator with updates to host lists (change of address and phone number, for example) and any other information that may be useful. [4] WarmShowers 10,824 members http://www.warmshowers.org/ "The Warm Showers Community is a free worldwide hospitality exchange for touring cyclists. People who are willing to host touring cyclists sign up and provide their contact information, and may occasionally have someone stay with them and share great stories and a drink." Stay4Free http://stay4free.com/ "Home exchange is when two parties agree to exchange their homes for a period of time for vacation. It is easy to list your home and find available homes on Stay4free.com. The advantages are numerous: 1) you stay for free, 2) live like a local in an authentic home, and 3) save thousands on expensive hotels! " Volunteer work exchange helpx http://www.helpex.net/ "HelpX is provided primarily as a cultural exchange for working holiday makers who would like the opportunity during their travels abroad, to stay with local people and gain practical experience. In the typical arrangement, the helper works an average of 4 hours per day and receives free accommodation and meals for their efforts. This time range can vary considerably depending on the tasks at hand and the host’s preferences." Workaway http://www.workaway.info/ "Work abroad, integrate in local cultures, learn a language, acquire new skills, make new friends through......Workaway.info The site for travel, language and work exchange." Stay disobedient and don't hesitate to hit the road! *Sorry guys! According to World dataBank ranked 2nd in low income [3]
**Jet lag, medically referred to as desynchronosis, is a physiological condition which results from alterations to the body's circadian rhythms resulting from rapid long-distance transmeridian (east–west or west–east) travel on a jet aircraft. It is classified as one of the circadian rhythm sleep disorders.
[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospitality_service [2]
http://allthatiswrong.wordpress.com/2010/01/24/a-criticism-of-couchsurfing-and-review-of-alternatives/#free [3]
http://databank.worldbank.org/ddp/home.do?Step=12&id=4&CNO=2 [4]
http://wikitravel.org/en/Hospitality_exchange#Servas
One of the most common reasons people use these services is to save money by staying with a host for free. Meeting people, hearing about their travels and making lasting friendships is an awesome opportunity that is possible through these kinds of sites, however for most people it is not the primary goal but more of a positive consequence. [2]
At this point I must note that free accomodation is not the right expression (got no better so I'll use it) since you pay the costs in advance when you host someone. Of course the common costs of hosting a few guests are still less than a one night stay in a hostel and most of all you're not feeding the "tourist industry".
According to my observation most of the members taking part in hospitality exchange do come from lower middle class. During my travels I rearly meet "wealthy" hosts. For some of us hospitality exchange is not an option but the only way to travel. Just try to imagine an average guy from Bangladesh* visiting Norway. We all have the same desire to see the world just like those who could afford to stay in fancy hotels. I had to state this because I often meet people who defend their view of "Hospitality exchange is not about free accomodation but cultural exchange". (As a side note I'd refer that human nature is selfish and greedy. There's nothing wrong with that. I hardly met anyone doing anything without a selfish aim. In this case some (like me) seeking for free accomodation, some look for a company, some try to earn more prestige.) If you ever been hosted you know that sometimes it's absolutely not as comfortable as a hostel. You arrive jet laged** and you have to chat with your host, you have to spend the whole day on the street because you got no keys...etc.
Of course a great cultural experience or a friendship is an amazing extra.
Some are really enthusiastic about the spirit of [their beloved community]. In my point of view it's nothing more than the warm feeling of belonging somewhere. We all have the desire for that. Let me quote a friend of mine: "If you belong nowhere time stands still..." So it's not only the [beloved community] that can generate this feeling. If you attend a concert of your favorit band and you are surrounded by strangers but you know they are fans just like you... you'll feel the same. BUT! You have to be careful because if this enthusiasm crosses a certain line you may easily become bigoted.
I'm a travel junkie. I live on a low budget, I travel low budget. Here is a list of some opportunities that may help you to get a few kilometers further:
Hospitality exchange
Hospitality Club 647,000 members
http://www.hospitalityclub.org/
"Our aim is to bring people together - hosts and guests, travelers and locals. Thousands of Hospitality Club members around the world help each other when they are traveling - be it with a roof for the night or a guided tour through town."
GlobalFreeLoaders 89,525 members
http://www.globalfreeloaders.com/
"GlobalFreeloaders.com is an online community, bringing people together to offer you free accommodation all over the world. Save money and make new friends whilst seeing the world from a local's perspective!"
Tripping 50,000 memebers
https://www.tripping.com/
"Tripping is a global community of travelers who believe in making the world a better place through cultural exchange. Our members connect with each other for travel tips, shared cups of coffee and homestays in over 175 countries."
BeWelcome 20,000 members
http://www.bewelcome.org/
"BeWelcome is a culture crossing network that lets you share a place to sleep, meet up and help others on their way. We are a non-profit organisation run by volunteers in an open, transparent and fair way."
Servas 19,172 members
http://www.servas.org/
Hosts provide sleeping space, sometimes this may be a guest room. Meals may be provided as well as assistance in visiting the city or area. At the end of their trip, the Servas traveller is expected to provide a report to the local coordinator with updates to host lists (change of address and phone number, for example) and any other information that may be useful. [4]
WarmShowers 10,824 members
http://www.warmshowers.org/
"The Warm Showers Community is a free worldwide hospitality exchange for touring cyclists. People who are willing to host touring cyclists sign up and provide their contact information, and may occasionally have someone stay with them and share great stories and a drink."
Stay4Free
http://stay4free.com/
"Home exchange is when two parties agree to exchange their homes for a period of time for vacation. It is easy to list your home and find available homes on Stay4free.com. The advantages are numerous: 1) you stay for free, 2) live like a local in an authentic home, and 3) save thousands on expensive hotels! "
Volunteer work exchange
helpx
http://www.helpex.net/
"HelpX is provided primarily as a cultural exchange for working holiday makers who would like the opportunity during their travels abroad, to stay with local people and gain practical experience. In the typical arrangement, the helper works an average of 4 hours per day and receives free accommodation and meals for their efforts. This time range can vary considerably depending on the tasks at hand and the host’s preferences."
Workaway
http://www.workaway.info/
"Work abroad, integrate in local cultures, learn a language, acquire new skills, make new friends through......Workaway.info
The site for travel, language and work exchange."
Stay disobedient and don't hesitate to hit the road!
*Sorry guys! According to World dataBank ranked 2nd in low income [3]
**Jet lag, medically referred to as desynchronosis, is a physiological condition which results from alterations to the body's circadian rhythms resulting from rapid long-distance transmeridian (east–west or west–east) travel on a jet aircraft. It is classified as one of the circadian rhythm sleep disorders.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospitality_service
[2] http://allthatiswrong.wordpress.com/2010/01/24/a-criticism-of-couchsurfing-and-review-of-alternatives/#free
[3] http://databank.worldbank.org/ddp/home.do?Step=12&id=4&CNO=2
[4] http://wikitravel.org/en/Hospitality_exchange#Servas