An 'online marketplace for peer to peer traveling'

In honor of Ode's travel issue, I thought it might be nice to highlight AirBnB. AirBnB connects people who want to let out a room (or couch) and those who are traveling. Not only is it a potentially inexpensive way to travel (you can find rooms as cheap as $20/night in New York), you have the chance to make a new friend from another city.

You might worry about safety, but the website has fairly detailed profiles and listings that allow you to screen your accommodations or guests. If you decide to list your own accommodations to make a few extra bucks, you can specify the type of room or bed, the neighborhood, the cancellation & smoking policies, as well as the all-important breakfast policy. You aren't obligated to accept any of the offers that you receive for your room or apartment - you can screen profiles, which go beyond generic items like age and profession to specifying an individual's level of cleanliness and their usual bedtimes. It certainly beats the classifieds.

AirBnB is another sign that innovation continues (or perhaps even increases) in hard times. If you've lost faith in big companies, there are still creative ways to support individuals. So if you're thinking of traveling in the near future, why not invest in a new friend instead of a fancy hotel?