Have you ever crashed on your friend's couch? Probably.

But have you ever crashed on a stranger's couch?

It's called “couchsurfing” and millions of people around the world are doing it.

Daniel Gayle has traveled to many countries all by couchsurfing.

"I've couchsurfed in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Israel, Egypt, quite a few," said Gayle.

It's a new way to travel.

To do it, you simply make a profile on the couchsurfing website and post where you live and whether you have an open couch.

Then travelers can request a night in your home for free.

"Which when you travel, one week, two weeks, three weeks it can be very expensive, so it's a good way to travel cheaply," said Joseph Luciani, a couchsurfer from Belgium.

It is a method that some travelers swear by.

"Definitely anytime I travel I'm gonna do it through couchsurfing," said Jesse Burke, another couchsurfer.

Burke couchsurfed last summer for two and a half months straight. Now he is hosting two couchsurfers from Finland.

They spent the night in Harrisonburg and now they are driving across the U.S. for three weeks. They plan on couchsurfing the whole trip.

"I like to meet new people and all the hosts we've had so far have been really great people and they've also given us tips on where to go, what to do," said Pauli Borodulin, another couchsurfer from Finland.

Gayle said because couchsurfing is free there is no reason not to do it.

"Couchsurfing you're actually going out, living the lifestyle, sampling the traditional food and it's a much better, fuller experience, and it's free, so why not?" said Gayle.

Couchsurfing may have its benefits, but when the lights go out and it's time for bed, is it really safe to have a stranger sleeping in your home?

"It might start off and it might be a good thing, and it might be a sincere thing but then those who are prone to crime, the criminals, see this as a chance to take advantage of someone, a lot of times that's when we do get the calls and sometimes it's too late," said Rockingham County Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson.

sheriff Hutcheson said couchsurfing can be dangerous.

He said you run the risk of getting robbed or physically hurt by letting strangers stay overnight but many couchsurfers say it's worth the risk.

"Well, I have some expensive stuff in my home, but it's just stuff. You can get more stuff with money," said Borodulin.

Many of them trust the system. You can check people's references on the website before booking your stay or hosting a visitor.

"A lot of people have 20, 30 recommendations, you don't need to read them all but because they're all there you know it's going to be a safe place to stay," said Tim Weaver, another couchsurfer.

"I guess to a certain degree you can trust the reviews, but I don't know how much stock you can put on them because then who's reviewing the reviewer?" asked Sheriff Hutcheson.

Still people who couchsurf are willing to take their chances.

"It's not only about sleeping on a stranger's couch. It's also about meeting new people and making friends," said Gayle.

Some couchsurfers even want to open up their own homes to fellow travelers.

"I'm going to host as many people as possible next summer because I think this system is great."

For many couchsurfers, it's not just a way to travel. It is about learning more about other places by actually staying with the people who live there.

"Many people experience the same lifestyle everyday. Why not get out there and experience a new lifestyle?" asked Gayle.

Many couchsurfers plan on traveling this way all the time. They say even though it is free, it is about being a good neighbor.

If you couchsurf at someone's house, you are expected to open up your home to that person in the future.

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