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When your travel budget is low, or you’re simply interested in meeting some locals , try CouchSurfing. Don’t worry–it’s not dangerous at all, and you don’t need to have a sense of balance.

CouchSurfing is a website that lets you find people who have a spare couch (or bed) that they can let you use for a couple of nights. You can find these people by registering yourself at CouchSurfing and searching through the database of almost 32,000 cities and towns in more than 200 countries.

Of course, you might instantly think that safety could be an issue here: these people are strangers after all. CouchSurfing has a tiered system of membership:

1. Verified members submit name, address and credit card information.
2. Vouched for members are members who are vouched for by other members.
3. Ambassadors, in addition to being verified and vouched for, are the frequent fliers of the group, who have served numerous times as either host or guest.

No system is foolproof, but CouchSurfing keeps detailed statistics of their introductions and “successful surfs” and the overwhelming majority of experiences are positive. Many of those who’ve spent the night with a CouchSurfing member report they’ve developed close friendships and learned things about a destination or culture that would have otherwise been impossible.

(Photo via flickr cc)