Occupy Duvet

“The website Couchsurfing, founded in 2003 and boasting 5.5 million members, has long been popular with backpackers for providing essentially the same service for nothing. The only charge is an optional $25 identity verification fee.

"For many of our members, Couchsurfing represents a way of life," says Couchsurfing's David Cumpston.

"For me it's primarily a cultural motivation," says 26-year-old Colombian member Santiago Lopez Alvarez. "The best way to have a real travel experience is by sharing with local people. They give you a completely different perspective of the places you visit”.