www.airbnb.com

Secure that four-star suite or crash in a spare bedroom – whatever the space, www.airbnb.com runs the gamut of accommodation for travellers of all descriptions. The site is an open platform, which means anyone can put up a profi le advertising rentable space (there are even ads for treehouse stays). Offering shelter all across the US and UK, as well as Korea, the Netherlands, Brazil, France, Italy and even Morocco, the concept differs from rival CouchSurfi ng.com by charging for each listing. For some this is a reassuring process, a tacit guarantee of goods and services; for others it’s a moneymaking opportunity knocking at the door.