Backpackers on a tight budget have been pointed in the direction of a new, exciting and affordable accommodation trend.
'Couch surfing' has developed into a large online social networking community, whereby like-minded travellers offer their homes as a place to bed down for the night.
And while the undoubted risks involved make it even more crucial for travellers to cover their possessions with travel insurance, the new fad is being hailed as a great advance.
One backpacker, Andy Gale, explains that it provides an excellent way of escaping the inevitable overloading of Brits and Aussies at popular low-budget hostels in every corner of the world.
He said: "Couch surfing provides a brilliant alternative to the accepted norms of travel and challenges the usual notion of travelling to far parts of the globe only to hang out with your neighbors at the backpackers' bar.
"What I found was instant new friends everywhere. People who picked me up from the airport, took me to festivals and family celebrations, let me stay in beachside apartments, and even took me partying with Brazilian soap opera stars in exclusive Rio nightclubs."
Mr Gale also added that the practice can often enhance the cultural experience of "monstrously huge" cities such as Sao Paulo and Lima, which may otherwise be impossible to navigate efficiently in short visits.
