After the umpteenth hotel bed, traveling--even in Italy--can start to feel a little monotonous. Add some authenticity to your trip by crashing on couch! Couchsurfing.com offers a list of people willing to host travelers--for free--in locales ranging from the urban to the exotic. One of our bene interns stayed with a couple in Rome for a few nights last summer and loved hanging out and shopping with them, in addition to eating their rustic home-cooked meals. Before signing on, you'll want to check out your potential hosts' references, but when you're looking for an insider's experience, nothing beats an authentic Italian couch.
(Photo via Rowkitcat)
Couchsurfing
