When Scott Bohachyk decided to book a vacation to India, he wanted to learn about the country from a local perspective without spending a lot of money. Then one day, a co-worker suggested he check out couchsurfing.com, a website designed to help travellers find a free bed and host with knowledge of the surrounding locale.
“I did and I found someone right away to help me out,” said the St. Albert resident in an email from his position as an English teacher at King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia. “I wanted to meet local people who could give me some history and insight as to what made the city unique.”
With the end of university classes coming this month, many students may look at the summer as a chance to travel and see more of the world. Whether it’s backpacking through Europe or volunteering in Central America, students who are looking to see the world are also working with a fixed income. But with a little ingenuity and foresight, you can have a great travel experience without breaking the bank.
One couch at a time
According to its website, couchsurfing.com came about as a way to not only help travellers find free accommodations while on a journey, but to also allow them to connect with other people abroad and expand the global community “one couch at a time.” Those seeking couches surf the site for a spot in their preferred city, then make contact with the couch owner. If they agree, you stay with them for a pre-determined amount of time, all for free.
Both hosts and travellers are part of a ranking system, and are able to verify their identity and — in the case of hosts — location through a secure donation to the site. Members can vouch for each other, increasing the potential to trust those who use the service.
Tessia Willliams, another St. Albert resident who is currently travelling through New Zealand and Asia, said she first learned about the website from a co-worker in Edmonton who was set to host two French travellers. She met with the two women and, after talking with them at length, decided to sign up that night for her own travels.
“Couch surfing as a concept attracts a certain type of people — the adventurous, open-minded people who want to meet others,” she said in an email from New Zealand. “[The appeal comes from] the people you meet and the hidden gems you find, and the whole experience.”
Williams said the website’s setup means she’s never felt unsafe with a host to date, and believes the service is well guarded against bad experiences.
Meeting place
For Shelbey Sy, director of marketing for Hostelling International Canada, the hostelling experience can also bring a new and exciting world to discover while travelling. Hostels are found in almost every major travelling city, attracting a wide variety of travellers, sometimes from half a world away. Typically, travellers sleep in dorms with other travellers, with up to 20 people sleeping in separate bunk beds.
“It’s really a meeting place for travellers,” said Sy. “It’s really for someone who wants the experience of travelling on a budget and sharing your experiences with others.”
Sy remembers her travelling days, where she would spend each day visiting the sights of each location, then go back to her dorm at night to share her adventures with others. She added that many of the people she met were travelling for different reasons, but their experiences together made the trip more magical for all of them.
For new and experienced travellers, Sy recommends knowing why you are visiting a place and what you want to get out of the trip. With those thoughts in mind, she said it is usually easy to plan out a trip from there.
“Not every hostel is for everyone,” she said. “It’s kind of like looking for a pair of shoes. Are you looking for comfort or style? If you’re up for a party hostel, there’s that too.”
Many hostelling websites will describe the atmosphere of the location, including what amenities are available and landmarks that are nearby. Sy said that most hostels now are starting to offer smaller rooms for groups or singles that may want to stay together in a room. But, she added, the best way to find the right hostel comes from recommendations from other travellers.
“The hostel industry has really had to grow up.”
Digging for discounts
While finding cheap accommodation is one major hurdle in travelling on a budget airfare is the other, often more costly, part of the expenses. Finding flight deals can be a tricky business, but Calgarian Chris Myden is trying to help Canadian travellers catch a break.
Myden started a Facebook group to point out flight deals for Calgary-based fliers, finding seat sales and airline deals that can cut the cost of travelling. From there, he started yegdeals.com for Edmonton-area travellers to find equally good deals at home. He now runs several Facebook groups and websites, all based in various Canadian cities.
“I’ve always loved travelling and I love travel deals,” he said. “The sales are always public, it’s just a matter of finding them.”
Myden said he measures the deals using price per mile, saying that the cheaper the price per mile, the more likely he is to recommend it to users. For those looking for a cheap flight, Myden said flexibility is the key. Many seat sales will say travellers must board early in the morning or late at night, or fly on certain days, especially flights within Canada. He also advises those heading to Europe to check out the myriad cheap airlines for a deal.
“Seasons also play into it,” he said. “July and August are always going to be expensive.”
Turkish life
With his first trip using couchsurfing.com deemed a success, Bohachyk is now planning a trip to Istanbul, Turkey, using the website to find accommodations and someone to show him the Turkish life.
“I understand that it’s not for some people, but I really enjoy meeting new people and most of the people on [couchsurfing.com] are very outgoing and want to meet you too,” he said. “That is why couch surfing works for me.”
Travel tips for the cheapskate
o Check airline deals on websites: Seat sales are found almost every week on various airline sites, although some deals may have restrictions. <br />o Plan ahead: Planning ahead will let you find the best deals. Hostelling sites, such as hihostels.com and hostelworld.com can show deals and special pricing.<br />o Look for cheap or free times for landmarks: Many famous landmarks, like the Louvre in Paris, have cheap or free nights. Take advantage!<br />o Take local transit: Local public transit often gets you everywhere, sometimes faster than a car on the road.<br />o Be aware: Watch your belongings, keep your passport, credit card and money on you at all times, and make sure you have emergency numbers with you. Although travelling is a great experience, if you are not careful the holiday could come crashing down with a bang.
