Airbnb

Are you going on a trip and looking for an interesting place to stay? Have you tried Aribnb? What is Aribnb? It is a website with rooms for rent in houses and apartments around the world. The company, based in San Francisco was started by RISD grads in 2007. The basic premise is there are lots of houses and apartments with a room sitting empty and lots of people not interested in staying in a Motel 6 or Holiday Inn.
The company was founded when The Industrial Design Society was holding it's yearly design conference in San Francisco and there just weren't enough rooms to accommodated the attendees. The co-founders had some extra space in their loft and decided to rent it out to conference attendees.
Airbnb's concept is not unlike that of coach surfing but a bit more upmarket. They offer a accommodations running from a futon in a corner to grand houses all over the world. Depending on your needs there will more than likely be a space for you. This isn't five star hostelry it is staying in some one's home.
For the renter it is a bit of extra income and insured for $50,000. For the rentee it is a reasonably priced room that offers a change from a commercial hotel.