The Couch Surfing Project started when founder Casey Fenton was travelling to Iceland…had no place to stay, so he spammed an email to 1500 students in Reykjavik. Today, it is a large International Non-Profit that puts travelers on free couches around the world. You sign up and can either offer a place to stay or find a local to help you out. I really like the verification system and the mission statement which talks about the benefits of cultural exchange. I would strongly encourage any backpacker or traveler to use this for his/her next trip. I’ve got to add one more reason why I like this project so much. They are completely non-profit, have no ads, and rely on a community to get things done…hard to do, but very much worth it. My hat is off.