| It was a lazy Sunday morning in the summer, and | | | | who would be somewhat apt. It was all about being |
| there was something about my pad that made it | | | | social, and dispensing with overly formal business |
| more personable than any standard hotel room I've | | | | arrangements. The Couchsurfing movement was that |
| been in. The cool Parisian morning drifted in through | | | | anyone with a spare couch in the living room could |
| the open French windows and I could hear signs of | | | | advertise it on the website, and take in a boarder for |
| life in the cafe right outside. There was a little | | | | free. The couch movement is still very alive, and you |
| breakfast with a quarter bottle of Bordeaux set out | | | | can actually get a free couch for the night at |
| for me on a dainty little table setting, and there was | | | | hundreds of countries across the world. If the idea of |
| something different about that too. Everything was | | | | staying with people and not a hotel or even formal |
| well done in my private apartment, but it was | | | | bed-and-breakfast rooms appeals to you as a way |
| obvious what was absent - impersonal"hospitality | | | | to get under the skin of a new culture, these are a |
| touches" that you'll find all around at any hotel chain. | | | | great way. |
| Bed and breakfast rooms in Europe can be a | | | | The thing with regular and bed-and-breakfast rooms |
| wonderful way to get to know the city; the landlord | | | | is usually that the arrangements are sparse; a |
| had stocked my fridge with everything (with no killer | | | | community bathroom would not be unexpected, and |
| markup), and I had a number to call if I needed | | | | the place after all is a regular business. These social |
| directions to get around the city or ideas on what | | | | B&Bs on the other hand are not regular businesses. |
| shows to catch. The thing is, since this was such an | | | | For as little as $100, you could even expect to get a |
| intimate place, I never hesitated to call as I might | | | | luxury apartment. It depends on who happens to put |
| have done at a chain hotel. | | | | their property on the market out of generosity. |
| Experiences like this go for no more than perhaps | | | | So how do you actually get about making your |
| $75 a night - for a whole apartment. And the best | | | | arrangements? Get on one of these websites, and |
| part was, it was in the museum district. All of this is | | | | scan the listings to see what you can get. Usually, for |
| part of a new system of bed-and-breakfast rooms | | | | next to nothing, you can get something really cute |
| across the world known as friendly B&B's. These are | | | | that serves up with dollops of local flavor. You can |
| actually short-term serviced apartments and these | | | | check the user reviews for better guidance. You |
| are just. Every state in America has a shockingly | | | | send over your payment to have them hold your |
| good network of these, and so does Europe and | | | | place, and there you go. Since your hosts are often |
| many other countries across the world. | | | | as new to this as you are yourself, the experience |
| If this sounds somewhat like the Couchsurfing | | | | can be really personal; and you can get to know local. |
| movement that started 10 years ago, a comparison | | | | Guaranteed. |