For every poor college student who wishes they had the means to travel this summer, a cure has arrived: CouchSurfing.com.

CouchSurfing, according to its web site, is a non-profit organization whose mission is to “internationally network people and places, create educational exchanges, raise collective consciousness, spread tolerance and facilitate cultural understanding.”

To sign up, one must create a profile describing himself, their location and their living conditions; similar to a Facebook profile. Profiles also provide a space to say whether one is willing to host guests, but hosting is not a requirement.

The CouchSurfing process begins with a trip and a destination. Once these are set, all one needs to do is search for a couch to sleep on. Unlike hostels, which charge fees, this service is completely free, no strings or hidden fees attached. There are couch surfers signed up in almost every city and country in the world.

If safety is a concern, don’t let it stop you from checking this out. People can pay a small fee to get themselves verified, which means they allow CouchSurfing to confirm their person and physical location. Once a person has “surfed” on another’s couch, they can vouch for the host online and give positive or negative feedback; but, as with anything, use discretion.

Recently, I had a CouchSurfer come through Athens and ask to stay with me. He was biking from New Jersey to New Orleans. I showed him around Athens, took him to a bike shop to get a new wheel and talked about life before he left early the next morning. He had been staying with CouchSurfers all along his travels and inspired me to do the same.

Jesse Houle, an aspiring musician in Athens, said, “The people who make CouchSurfing.com what it is are the perfect example of why I haven’t given up on humans being able to make this world an even better place.”

CouchSurfing’s mission appears to be working. Whether traveling across Europe, across the U.S. or looking for a place to stay for the Georgia/Florida game this fall, a free place to stay and a new network contact is a win-win situation.