Caisses Desjardins du Québec and Caisses populaires de l'Ontario [Change site]
Couchsurfing, a different way to travel
Visiting museums in Europe, surfing in Hawaii, experiencing the nightlife in New York… So many places to go, but so little money to pay for the trips. If only there were free accommodations! The good news is that now there is couchsurfing, a whole new concept of accommodation.
What does it mean?
Surfing on a couch means being invited into the home of someone who will provide you with a place to sleep, and more (e.g. a meal, a tour of the city) if he or she chooses. And it's all free, so you can save at least a third of your travel budget Budget: Complete list of all the estimated spending and income of a business or an individual. . As a member, you can also open your home to travellers, who will undoubtedly teach you a lot about their cultures. But there is no obligation for you to host someone, just as other members never have to feel obligated to host you. Everything hinges on the willingness of each of the members!
How does it work?
It involves a virtual network of referrals and friendships. The principle is simple: all you have to do is register on the site and complete a referral sheet. Then you will be able to search for members living in the place that interests you and contact them to ask if they have a couch available (or any other kind of accommodation, which can range from a mattress on the floor to a king-size bed in a private room or even a spot in their yard where you can pitch your tent).
Where safety is concerned, couchsurfing is based on accessibility and trust. CouchSurfing.com, which already boasts more than 60,000 members in 180 countries, has a system whereby prospective members can voluntarily become vouched for or verified. There are also a number of other, similar networks, including Hospitality Club, Global Freeloaders and Place2stay.
Although this type of accommodation lets you feel at home wherever you may be, accidents can still happen. That is why the Emergency Health Care coverage of a travel insurance policy should follow you wherever you go. Under this coverage Coverage: Protection offered by an insurance policy in exchange for the payment of premiums. , the cost of emergency care received outside your province of residence is reimbursed. Transportation and repatriation expenses for medical reasons or in the event of death are also covered. You certainly wouldn't want to use all the money you saved by couchsurfing, or, worse yet, go into debt, to pay hospital expenses incurred to treat a broken leg.
If you’ll be leaving on a trip soon, be sure to select Travel Insurance coverage.
