Traveling abroad, seeing famous monuments and experiencing the culture of a foreign country is the adventure of a lifetime for many students.

Problems that people encounter when wanting to travel, however, are expenses.

The flights, the hotels, and souvenirs can all add up and become pretty expensive.

Having the option of saving money on one of those expenses can offer the opportunity for a student to experience more.

Fresno State student, Tiffany Wood was uneasy at first about traveling abroad because of expenses, but she then looked into Couch surfing and found a cheap alternative.

“I am now ready for the greatest trip of my life.”

Couchsurfing.org is a non-profit organization that sets up travelers with accommodations in more than 230 countries.

This organization started in 2004 and has been a connection for more than a million prospective travelers and their couches.

Couch surfing offers travelers a cultural experience when traveling through living with someone who’s from that destination.

They will offer tours of infamous monuments, serve you food that is a traditional dish of that area, and give you the “inside” details about a place that could end up making your adventure more worth while than you would have ever thought.

Couch surfing is not only an experience for the traveler but also for the hosts. They open their doors to strangers from all over the world and try to learn a few things about their culture and how it’s different from theirs.

Every person who registers their couch on the Web site must undergo a verification process that ensures travelers it is safe to stay there. There have been reports of very little crime that has happened in the five years the Web site has in effect, those crimes only being as extreme as theft.

There are similar Web sites that offer help in planning your trip, wherever you want to go. Easyjet.com offers cheap flights among the European countries.

Eurotrip.com is a Web site that will help you organize and plan your trip. It’ll work out your finances if your traveling on a budget, suggest hot spots that will interest you based on what you enjoy, and tips about packing, how to pack and what to pack. It also gives safety tips that will make your parents more at ease knowing you’ll be safe.

“Traveling abroad was one of the greatest experiences of my life and I would recommend it to anyone. Do what you can to get as close and personal with the culture by meeting families and different kinds of people who will show you the “real city,” stated Ag business major Nichole Nonini of Fresno state. She did it for the experience and didn’t regret it for one minute.