Couch Surfing

[Yroc]

Very interesting idea. Basically you host folks in your home and others do the same thing for you. Great cheap way to travel and get into the culture of the places you visit.

http://www.couchsurfing.org/

Spread the word.

[Aylmer]

I have a German friend who has spent almost a year travelling Canada and he went almost everywhere with Couch Surfer. He thinks it's the greatest thing since sliced bread!

There is also HomeExchange (.com) that is like Couch Surfing, but for houses.
My family and I have done it twice: in Lyon, France and Charlottetown, PEI.
Both times were VERY successful.

[Kitchissippi]

There's also the hospitalityclub.org which used to be larger than couchsurfing but is now smaller and tamer (I find couchsurfing looks too much like a dating site).