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[starlagurl]

According to a poll by IgoUgo, most people are "travel-moochers" saying that they've changed destinations simply because they could stay for free at a friend's place. Hilarious.

With travel costs a big concern this summer, many travelers will opt to skip the hotel as a sure-fire way to save money when visiting family or friends. But some will take cost savings to the extreme and let who they know dictate where they go – so they can vacation for free.

In a poll released this week by IgoUgo.com, one of the most popular travel communities in the world, 57 percent of respondents said they would consider staying with family or friends on vacation, and 55 percent said in the past, they have vacationed somewhere solely because they had family or friends who could provide free accommodations.

But the poll also revealed that not all vacationing houseguests are the same. While the majority of houseguests (75 percent) say they enjoy spending time with their hosts, 25 percent appear to be motivated primarily by convenience and savings – they don’t include the enjoyment of their hosts’ company in a list of top reasons for staying with them at all.
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/go...amp;newsLang=en

I agree, but I wouldn't change my destination just because I didn't know anybody there! Will anybody else admit to changing their destination because they could stay for free at a friend's place?

[introducinlyric]

i really like the name "travel-moochers" it provided quality *giggles* it also be a great forum name too

[starlagurl]

Yes, I am a travel moocher...are you a travel moocher Gerre?

[wakingdream]

I agree, but I wouldn't change my destination just because I didn't know anybody there! Will anybody else admit to changing their destination because they could stay for free at a friend's place?

Nah, I wouldn't do it. I'd just try to find another way to save money.....which I'd probably have already done while making travel plans.

[cheli]

I wouldn't change where I went if I knew someone there, but I might be more likely to go. My first stop on my RTW trip last year was in Hong Kong. Now, I had a interest in seeing the place but my main reason for doing so was because I knew a friend of mine lived there and I was hoping to stay with her and catch up as well.

[starlagurl]

*is now thinking about traveling to Melbourne for...hmmm... a month* hahaha

[cheli]

Wouldn't do you any good tho, cos I'm on my parent's couch so there's no space for you! Although at least it would get you out of the snow for a moment, even though we are moving into winter...

[introducinlyric]

Yes, I am a travel moocher...are you a travel moocher Gerre?

bahahahaha i'll say yes coz it sounds great "I am a travel moocher"

[sianeth]

I agree, but I wouldn't change my destination just because I didn't know anybody there! Will anybody else admit to changing their destination because they could stay for free at a friend's place?

Nooooooo, not because its free - because I wanted to visit my friends. I find this a bit ridiculous, surely money shouldn't be the issue, if I'm half way round the world and one of my friends is nearby then I'd pretty much go out of my way to see them considering as they're so far away that I hardly ever see them...

[starlagurl]

Wouldn't do you any good tho, cos I'm on my parent's couch so there's no space for you! Although at least it would get you out of the snow for a moment, even though we are moving into winter...

Haha the snow's all gone now though and it's looking fabulous for my millionth weekend in Montreal.

Sianeth: part of the travel moocher identity is that you visit someone who is not really your friend just because they live in a convenient location.

[sianeth]

Sianeth: part of the travel moocher identity is that you visit someone who is not really your friend just because they live in a convenient location.

Ahah, gotcha! Well I'm a cheapskate and I wouldn't be caught doing that! Surely the awkwardness of staying with the random outweighs the few quid you'd spend on a hostel... suppose it depends how much shame you have!

[starlagurl]

Haha, yeah, it's funny because I definitely wouldn't stay with someone I knew but didn't like.

However, I WOULD stay with someone that I have never met before and have no clue about, except for their profile on Couchsurfing. Usually I end up liking these people and becoming friends, so in that sense, it's not really mooching.

Does this compute? I don't know if it's that logical at all...

[sianeth]

Ahh yeah, I'd be more up for that, I generally love randoms... at least in small doses anyway.

[starlagurl]

Oh random people, we love you. Nobody would ever make new friends if they weren't open to randomly meeting people.