In this series:

1. Introduction to Hospitality Exchanges
2. Comparison of Online Hospitality Exchanges
3. Pros and Cons of Hospitality Exchanges
4. Why it pays to be a host in a Hospitality Exchange
5. Personal Experiences and other Hospitality Exchange Resources

Personal Experiences with Hospitality Exchanges

• Dave from Gobackpacking.com describes his experiences as a host in the Couchsurfing.com network in his post Hosting my first CouchSurfer.

• Rhodri Marsden describes her personal experiences and the general workings of a hospitality network in her post Sofa Surfers.

Safety Tips

• The CouchSurfing.com provides a pretty comprehensive section about all the possible dangers associated with a hospitality exchange, and how to minimize the risks. Check out their articles here: Safety for Travelers, Safety for Hosts, Safety for Female Travelers

General Tips

• Dave of Gobackpacking.com, an experienced CouchSurfing host, gives some advice with Reflecting upon my CouchSurfing Experience.

• The CouchSurfing website gives general tips on How to be a Good Guest and 3 tips from Nomadic Noize (an experienced couchsurfer).

In the News

As hospitality exchanges grow in popularity, two major news networks have already done stories on them. Check out one from FOX News: ‘Couchsurfing’ Travel Takes Off on Web, and another from ABC News: Around the World, One Couch at a Time.

In this series:

1. Introduction to Hospitality Exchanges
2. Comparison of Online Hospitality Exchanges
3. Pros and Cons of Hospitality Exchanges
4. Why it pays to be a host in a Hospitality Exchange
5. Personal Experiences and other Hospitality Exchange Resources

Okay, so the benefits of a hospitality exchange for travelers are obvious. You get to travel to exotic new locations where you will have someone waiting to show you around, give you tips and advice, and you won’t have to spend a dime on hotel bills.

But why would I want to be a host to travelers in my hometown? Afterall, I don’t want some stranger from another country snoring on my living room couch!

Well there are actually two big benefits to hosting travelers in your home through a hospitality exchange.

The first is the obvious cross-cultural exchange that you will share in by hosting a foreign traveler in your home. It should be an interesting and fulfilling experience, that at the very least will make interesting conversation at your next dinner party. However, if cultural exchange and personal fulfillment are not enough for you, the next reason is also quite a doozy!

The second, less obvious, and more selfish reason to host travelers in a hospitality exchange, is that it is a fantastic way to build a network of “travel buddies” around the world. Every guest that you host in your home, becomes a possible contact for the next time you are traveling through their country. If you host a young fellow from Sydney named Henry on your living room couch, odds are that when you email Henry a year later about your trip to Australia, he will offer to show you around Sydney and even let you stay in his home.

In this example you also have the advantage of already knowing Henry. You had already met in your home country, and know that you and Henry get along great together.

However, if you had never decided to host travelers in your home, you would never have met Henry. Instead you may have just made plans to visit Sydney, and setup a hospitality exchange with Emily, a women you have only spoken to through email. In this example you arrive in Sydney, and realize that you and Emily just don’t have any of the same interests. So, instead of going out and living it up with Henry, you end up spending 2 days listening to Emily droll on about her equestrian club.

Still, not everyone is comfortable with the idea of hosting a bunch of foreign travelers in their home. But if you give it a shot, you might just really enjoy it, as well as find it advantageous for future travels.

In this series:

1. Introduction to Hospitality Exchanges
2. Comparison of Online Hospitality Exchanges
3. Pros and Cons of Hospitality Exchanges
4. Why it pays to be a host in a Hospitality Exchange
5. Personal Experiences and other Hospitality Exchange Resources

Pros:

• Save on accomodations during travel
• Meet people from all around the world
• Get an “insider’s look” at a city
• Tips and advice from a local
• Make new friends
• Expand your network of “travel buddies”

Cons:

• As a guest in someone’s house you have less freedom to do what you want and come and go as you please.
• Requires advanced planning and coordination, less free to make last minute changes to itineraries.
• An awkward host/guest relationship can ruin a day in what would have been an interesting new place.
• Unfortunately, safety is always a concern when sharing accommodations with someone that you don’t know.

In this series:

1. Introduction to Hospitality Exchanges
2. Comparison of Online Hospitality Exchanges
3. Pros and Cons of Hospitality Exchanges
4. Why it pays to be a host in a Hospitality Exchange
5. Personal Experiences and other Hospitality Exchange Resources

In my searching I found 4 different hospitality networks that actually boast enough actual users to make them useful. Those 4 are couchsurfing.com, hospitalityclub.org, globalfreeloaders.com, and servas.org.

Couchsurfing.com

• members: 242,784

• safety: Couchsurfing has implemented two processes to facilitate safe exchanges among its members. First, is a system where users vouch for one another. You are only supposed to vouch for someone if you know them personally, and are sure that they are trusworthy. Additionally, only members that have already been vouched for 3 times, can vouch for other members. This makes it harder for users to just create a bunch of fake user names, and have them all vouch for each other. The second security measure is a system of verification where couchsurfing verifies a users physical address by sending them mail to that address, and verifying a users real name through a credit card check.
• registration: Simple registration form and profile page. Can be done online in 15 minutes. Verification is optional, but costs $25 and will take a couple of weeks to verify address.
• other: I like the couchsurfing interface more than the other sites. It is easy to navigate, and provides a lot more information about individual users. With their additional security features, and international structure, I think they are putting themselves in the best position to flourish as a community into the future.

HospitalityClub.org

• members: 304,932

• safety: Hospitality Club provides their hosts with their guests passport numbers which should be checked upon arrival to confirm identity. Interface includes a section where users can leave comments, recommendations, or complaints about other users.
• registration: Simple registration form and profile page. Can be done online in 15 minutes.
• other: Hospitality club boasts the most users of any hospitality exchange.

GlobalFreeloaders.com

• members: 49,364

• safety: Users are able to leave comments, recommendations, or complaints about other users.
• registration: Simple registration form. Can be done online in 15 minutes.
• other: No real “profile” page limits the amount of information you can get about another user before actually engaging in communication with them.

Servas.org

• members: 15,000

• safety: The Servas.org application procedure is a lot more involved. Applicants must provide references, and complete a formal application which includes an essay. Then applicants have to attend an interview with a Servas.org representative. All of this is meant to determine whether or not the applicant is trustworthy, and if they are compatible with the Servas mission.
• registration: Applicants go through an application process that takes about 3 weeks to complete. The process requires the applicant to provide references, complete an application and essay question, as well as attend an interview with a Servas representative.
• other: Servas describes itself as being more than just a hospitality exchange, it is a promoter of peace. The application is a lot longer and more involved than the other hospitality networks, but that results in a network of users that are a lot more commited to the cause. Servas users in general are a much more interesting group, that are really interesting in being involved in the experience of a hospitality exchange. They are not just looking for a free place to crash.

In this series:

1. Introduction to Hospitality Exchanges
2. Comparison of Online Hospitality Exchanges
3. Pros and Cons of Hospitality Exchanges
4. Why it pays to be a host in a Hospitality Exchange
5. Personal Experiences and other Hospitality Exchange Resources

Perhaps you’ve heard of the newly popular couchsurfing.com or hospitalityclub.org? These are two increasingly popular services on the internet known more generally as hospitality exchanges or hospitality networks. The general idea behind these networks is that they connect users from all around the world, and provide them with an interface to host travelers in their homes, stay for free in other users’ spare bedrooms, couches, etc., or both!

It’s a very clever idea that promotes exchange among people from all corners of the globe, while also helping travelers to minimize costs on one of the biggest expenses of any trip: accommodations.

I should also note that these networks are no longer small potatoes! I remember the first time I heard about a hospitality exchange I was pretty skeptical about the actual reach of the network. I assumed that you could find a few users in major metropolitan areas like New York, London, and Paris, but not much else. However, after doing some more research, I found out that I was VERY wrong. The bigger networks now boast over 200,000 users, and are literally all over the map. On couchsurfing alone I found members in Beijing (473), Budapest (1012), and even on the Galapagos Islands (1)!

For more information on the different hospitality exchanges available today, check out the next article in this series: Comparison of Online Hospitality Exchanges

In this series:

1. How to Volunteer Abroad for Less
2. How to Save Thousands by Organizing your Volunteer Trip on your own
3. 6 Steps to Organizing your own Volunteer Trip

Organizing our own volunteer trip isn’t difficult, but it does take time. You’ll need to do a fair amount of researching and contacting people, to figure out what all is out there. You will likely be volunteering in some part of the developing world, where, unfortunately, things are much less organized than many of us Westerners are accustomed to. Finding a volunteer abroad position WILL NOT be as easy as just looking up some websites and deciding on a project that interests you. 90% of these organizations just don’t have the man-power, experience, and/or resources to maintain an informative, up-to-date website. You will need to contact these organizations by email, and ask them tons of questions to figure out exactly what they do. The following 6-steps should help get you on track when organizing your own volunteer abroad experience.

1. Figure out what you want to do, and where you want to go: Before you do anything else, you should think about what you would like do and where you want to volunteer. Volunteers commonly work in educational, ecological, health, business, administrative, and technological fields, so it is just a matter of deciding what you are most interested in. When deciding WHERE you want to volunteer, the world is your playground, where do you really want to go?

2. Find local volunteer organizations that sound interesting to you: Once you have decided on a country or region, and the type of work you would like to do, begin searching for local organizations that offering volunteer positions in the areas that interest you. As I said above, this can be quite difficult. Many of these organizations do not operate websites, and even if they do, they are not well maintained. Your best bet will be to search the internet relentlessly, and to talk to people who have experience volunteering in that part of the world.
3. Contact all local volunteer organizations, and ask them every question you can think of: Once you have a list of local organizations that sound interesting, contact them and ask them every question you can think of. This will probably be a slow and drawn out process, but is absolutely necessary in assuring you know EXACTLY what you are getting yourself into. Do not assume anything, ASK! The following is a sample of questions to get you started:
   • What is the overall goal of your organization?
   • Can you describe the type of communities that volunteers work in?
   • What is an average volunteer’s day like
   • How many foreign volunteers work in your projects?
   • Will I be the only foreign volunteer in my project, or will there be others?
   • What kind of resources are available to volunteers and workers in your organization
   • What kind of responsibilities will I have as a volunteer?
   • Will I be able to make changes within the program, or will I just fit in with a predefined system or work?
   • How much time will I have for vacation/travel
   • How safe is it for volunteers in the communities your organization works in
4. Decide on the one volunteer project that most interests you, but don’t over commit: Once you have contacted every organization that interests you, it is time to make a decision, but don’t over commit. Many projects only accept volunteers that make an extended time commitment. This is fine, but make sure anything that you pay will be refundable if you decide you do not like the program, or even better do not pay everything up front. Instead work with the organization to setup a 2 week trial period, where you feel out the program and promise to extend if it meets your expectations. Be sure you protect yourself and do not end up in a program you hate simply because you already paid for it.
5. Ask your volunteer organization for help finding accommodation: Once you have committed to one volunteer organization, they should be able to help you set up accommodation. Ask them what other volunteers have done in the past, who you can contact, and how much it should cost. Most volunteer organizations will be able to put you in contact with people offering a variety of different accommodation options such as homestays, private apartments, shared apartments, or hotels/hostels.
6. Go with an open-mind, and have a great time: You volunteer experience will be what you make of it. Think of it as an adventure, and enjoy yourself!

In this series:

1. How to Volunteer Abroad for Less
2. How to Save Thousands by Organizing your Volunteer Trip on your own
3. 6 Steps to Organizing your own Volunteer Trip

If you are interested in volunteering abroad, usually the first thing you do in researching the possibilities is to search the internet for “volunteer abroad” or “volunteering in country X”. However, if you do this, the majority of your results will be 3rd party booking companies that organize volunteer projects for travelers. Normally they do not actually run any of the volunteer programs, they simply work with various local institutions in a number of countries around the world to organize volunteer trips for their clients. The problem is that they charge a pretty hefty sum for this organizational service.

Let me shed a little light with an example from Ecuador, a country where I worked as a volunteer coordinator for 2 years. We regularly received volunteers through 3rd party organizations such as i-to-i and Outreach International, as well as individuals who simply contacted us on their own. The volunteers that came with 3rd party organizations had everything set up for them before they ever arrived, but in general paid around $2800 for 2 months of accommodation, food, and volunteer work. Volunteers who came on their own had to organize their accommodation and volunteer work on their own, but on average paid around $950 for 2 months of accommodation, food, and volunteer work. See the chart below comparing volunteer costs for 2 months of volunteer service, accommodation, and food.

With an international organization:

• All inclusive program fee: $2800
• Accommodation: included, homestay with an Ecuadorian family
• Food: 3 meals/day included with homestay
• Volunteer Work: registration is included in program fee
• Total (2 months): $2800

On your own:

• All inclusive program fee: N/A as everything was organized by the individual

• Accommodation: many options ranging from $70-$450/month. A comparable homestay with an Ecuadorian family runs around $450/month.
• Food: 3 meals/day included with homestay
• Volunteer Work: $50 one time fee
• Total (2 months): $950, this is including the homestay option (which is one of the most expensive accommodation options). If the volunteer chose a simple shared apartment, and cooked their own food, accommodation/food could drop to as low as $200/month, resulting in just $450 for 2 months.

Obviously, volunteer work organized by an 3rd party organization is significantly more expensive than one organized on your own. However, I wouldn’t necessarily say that setting up your volunteer project with an international organization is a waste of money. If you have the funds, it is definitely easier to just contract someone to organize everything for you so that you can get right to work the minute you step off the plane. Setting things up on your own, requires a lot of time spent researching and contacting different local organizations to figure out exactly what your options are. Additionally, you will likely have to spend at least a couple of days upon arrival sorting it all out, making sure everything is what you thought it was, etc. 3rd party organizations also provide you with a network of people in country to basically paid make sure you are happy, and that you stay happy with all aspects of their service. If you organize everything on your own, you don’t have this network of people working for you. If you arrive on your first day of volunteer work and find out that it’s not at all what you thought it was, it will be up to you to fix the situation. That said, if you would rather not blow thousands of dollars on what can be done with hundreds, and don’t mind organizing your trip by yourself, then setting up your volunteer trip on your own is probably the way to go. Continue on to part 3 of this series: 6 Steps to Organizing your own Volunteer Trip.

In this series:

1. How to Volunteer Abroad for Less
2. How to Save Thousands by Organizing your Volunteer Trip on your own
3. 6 Steps to Organizing your own Volunteer Trip

Volunteering abroad is becoming a very popular way to travel the world. It gives you a great opportunity to get to know the people on a more personal level, while also giving something back to the country that so graciously hosts you. By volunteering, you work face to face with the people, and are given the opportunity to learn, first-hand, about the problems that they face. As a result you end your trip with real hands-on knowledge of what life is like in that small region of the world. It’s a kind of enlightenment that just doesn’t come from a 2 week vacation spent rushing around a country seeing all the “sites”.

Volunteering abroad is a relatively new idea that’s become more popular as tourists become more interesting in responsible tourism alternatives. Unfortunately, however, many first time volunteers are under the impression that volunteer work abroad is expensive. If you look up “volunteering abroad” or “volunteer in country X” on the internet, you come across a number of 3rd party booking organizations that set interested travelers up with different volunteer projects around the globe. They offer a service that basically does all the work for you, finding a volunteer project, setting you up with somewhere to live, providing you with language lessons if you desire, etc. The problem is that they also charge you 2-5 times what you would pay if you just organized the trip on your own. Read part 2 of this series for more information on How to Save Thousands by Organizing your Volunteer Trip on your own.