With many airlines offering discounted fares overseas, now is a great time to take that international trip you’ve been dreaming about. Of course, the main reason airfare is so cheap because many people can’t afford to travel at the moment. Is there a way to make traveling internationally more affordable?

If you aren’t afraid of getting to know new people and you don’t mind sleeping on stranger’s couch, you can travel overseas without having to pay for accommodations. Not having to pay for hotel rooms can trim your traveling budget significantly.  How can you find an open couch in the country you want to visit? Couchsurfing.com offers a service that matches travelers with willing hosts.

Staying in a foreign country for free sounds awesome, but how can you be sure that your host isn’t Charles Manson? As Matthew Kepnes of MinutelyNews explains in this excellent guide to the service, Couchsurfing.com offers various verification procedures so that you can arrange your couchsurfing adventure with confidence.  Plus, hosts and travelers can review each other. That way, both of you have to guard your reputations to keep using the service.

Have you ever tried Couchsurfing.com? What do you think of the idea? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Of course, if you want to couchsurf your way around the world, you’ll need a US passport.  You should submit your US passport application at least 2 to 3 months in advance of your trip to make sure you have it in time.

Another option, one that will save you both time and stress,  is to apply for your passport using a private passport expediting company. An expediting company is an excellent investment because it gets your application to the US Passport Agency and through the application process with astonishing swiftness. Depending on the options you choose, you can even get your application processed in as little  as 24 hours.  Order your US passport today and you could be on the road next week!