Hotels are expensive and don't have that personal touch that make a house a home. But a new "sport" could help.

It's summer, and while other spend their holidays at the seaside, many young people don't have enough money for a break. The cash for the cheap flight towards the sun could just about be organised, but a hotel would be too expensive. That's the thought behind Couchsurfing, a network of currently 1,258,401 globetrotters worldwide, who offer their sofas to weary travellers.

Whether you have a couch or not - anyone can participate. It's all about hospitality, and showing others your city, country and culture. Those of you who are afraid to sleep on a stranger's couch or host somebody could offer a drink and a city tour instead. There's no limit to the degree of participation. Surfers come from 62,108 places around the world and most of them are between 18 and 24 years old. A sense of adventure and a bit of courage won't go astray though.

"During spring-time I spent two months travelling through Israel - and surfed couches everywhere", says 23-year-old Lena Zenses from Germany. "My friend only had great things to say about Couchsurfing, so I signed up and got in contact with a few people." Her first surf was a bit strange, she confesses. "My first host was a single guy and I was travelling by myself. But once I got there it turned out to be great!" She is still in contact with many of her hosts.