Websites that help you find free accommodation around the world (no registration fees required) 🛋️

Free accommodation websites.

We’re in the midst of summer, in August, a month known for its scorching heat (especially if you live in southern or equatorial countries), but also for skyrocketing prices of accommodations, hotels, hostels, and campsites. It’s not just about high prices: the most popular tourist cities are extremely crowded, making the travel experience much less enjoyable. The topic of overtourism and how locals in these cities are increasingly intolerant of tourists is more relevant than ever. In this post, we want to introduce you to some websites that will allow you to:

• Save money (since the accommodation is free).
• Experience a more authentic and profound journey.
• Explore interesting but lesser-known places in a country, hence less crowded.

In short, one solution, with many benefits!

Let’s see which websites these are, noting that once you sign up, there will be no obligation to pay or host travellers.

1. Couchers ✨

Everyone remembers Couchsurfing, the site that gave birth to the true Couchsurfing, the art of sleeping on strangers’ couches abroad. Well, Couchsurfing seems to have lost popularity since it is no longer free and has become populated by people more interested in romantic dates than cultural exchange. Hence, some programmers and webmasters decided to create Couchsurfing’s alter ego: Couchers.org. The site is intuitive and easy to use, currently in Beta version, already has numerous members, and promises to become the number one free hospitality site. Like Couchsurfing, on Couchers you need to create your profile and write a description of yourself to better express compatibility in terms of hospitality and travel.

Visit the website.

2. TrustRoots ✨

TrustRoots is the perfect site for alternative travellers. Well-designed and easy to use, the site is aimed at hitchhikers, buskers, voluntourists, and other people belonging to the world of unconventional travel and lifestyles. You can sign up for free and register within your preferred circles (e.g., the vegan travellers circle, the musicians circle, the hitchhikers’ circle, etc.). If you’re a bit of a hippie traveller like us, you can’t not sign up for TrustRoots!

3. BeWelcome ✨

Before Couchers, BeWelcome was the first response to the poor management of Couchsurfing.org. Numerous members use it, and it’s advisable to sign up for this site along with Couchers because it has many interesting features, such as groups. These groups are like forums or bulletin boards where travellers can leave messages, request hospitality, or promote interesting initiatives. Even though the graphics might not be as modern as TrustRoots or Couchers, BeWelcome is currently an essential platform for those who want to experience free cultural exchange at locals’ homes.

Another advantage of BeWelcome is that many pages are translated into Italian. Visit the site.

4. WarmShowers ✨

Everything mentioned above about free hospitality sites also applies to WarmShowers. However, WarmShowers is specifically designed for cyclists. Cycle tourists can request accommodation and get a “warm shower” at locals’ homes. Although it’s a site for “solidarity among bike lovers,” we’re sure many hosts will warmly welcome you even if you’re not a cyclist.

Visit the site.

5. Bonus 1: Voluntouring.org ✨

Voluntouring is a website where mainly volunteer and cultural exchange projects are posted. However, if you have a large and welcoming home, or a Nomad Base, and you enjoy being surrounded by travelers from all over the world, you can still post your hospitality offer on their site. So, even if you are not looking to recruit volunteers (voluntourists) but are simply happy to host international travelers in your home because you are passionate about cultural exchange, consider making your hospitality offer known by publishing it on Voluntouring.

See Nomad Base, Free Hospitality or Justice Tourism.

6. Bonus 2: Park4Night ✨

In recent years, camper travel has become an increasingly popular choice for those seeking an adventure free from constraints and closely connected to nature. Park4Night is a mobile application and a website that allows VanLifers and RV enthusiasts to discover and share places where they can park for free overnight with their campers, vans, or caravans. Available on both iOS and Android, the app offers a wide range of options, from urban parking spots to private locations immersed in nature, such as forests, beaches, and lakes.

The app allows users to search for parking spots based on various criteria, such as the presence of restrooms, charging points for electric vehicles, and accessibility for the disabled. Reviews and photos uploaded by users help make informed decisions about where to stop.

Visit the site.

How to behave when staying for free with locals

When staying with people who offer you free accommodation, it is important to remember that you are there not to take advantage of the free stay but to engage in a mutual exchange of knowledge and culture. It is a good practice to learn about the house rules, and be kind and respectful.

Here are some tips to follow:

1. Bring a gift (or contribute to expenses)

Consider bringing a small gift or contributing to the expenses of your stay.

Especially if you stay for several days, you will need to use the washing machine, take multiple showers, and charge your computer, phone, or bicycle battery. All these have costs for your host. It’s a good idea to offer a monetary contribution or practical help, like doing the shopping, cooking a meal, or watering the plants in the garden.

2. Leave everything clean

When you leave the bedroom, it’s a good idea to leave everything clean.

Your hosts are offering you free accommodation. The least you can do is help keep everything tidy. Cleaning the bathroom, making the bed, and ensuring the kitchen is clean are signs of respect and gratitude.

3. Respect boundaries

Even if hosts often tell you to “make yourself at home,” it’s important not to overdo it.

Always ask for permission before using any household items, opening the fridge, using the microwave, or other appliances. Humility and kindness are highly appreciated in these situations. A person who is too intrusive can be unpleasant.

Travel, host, or be hosted without worries  🛋️

The reference system

All these sites have a reference system, which means you can read reviews left by other travellers and hosts to understand what to expect. References are a valuable tool to ensure safety and quality. Before accepting a guest or requesting hospitality, read the reviews carefully and choose the people you feel most comfortable with.

In short, free hospitality sites not only help you save on travel costs but also offer the opportunity to have authentic experiences and make new friends around the world. Whether you are a cyclist, an alternative traveller, or simply curious about new cultures, there is a platform for you. Always remember to respect the hosts and their homes, and to contribute positively to the slow travel community!

If I sign up for these free accommodation sites, am I really not obligated to host other travellers at my home?

Not everyone can host.

Some people live in very small spaces, while others share their accommodation with family members or roommates who may not be comfortable hosting strangers. Or, for various reasons, they may not feel at ease welcoming strangers into their homes. There are many reasons why someone might not be able to host. Therefore, there is no obligation to host travelers once you sign up for these platforms. Everyone contributes as they can: some offer hospitality, while others can provide advice, invite travellers for a coffee, or perhaps act as a guide for a city tour.

Feel free to sign up and enjoy the philosophy of free hospitality and cultural exchange that these sites promote, without any worries.

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Useful links for working, volunteering and free travel abroad 🌐