Hamburg - The idea is as simple as it is ingenious - people from all over the world come together in an online network to offer accommodation on their sofas to others. In return, they can spend time abroad on a couch anywhere around the globe.
Online communities that bring so-called couch surfers together such as hospitalityclub. org, bewelcome. org and couchsurfing. com are booming.
Couchsurfing. com alone has about 600,000 members according to the website's operators. But in order for you to enjoy a good night's sleep on a foreign couch, there are a few things to take into consideration.