Couch surfing is a free community that you sign up for and network with other couch surfers who are willing to put you up in their homes for a night or two for free (despite the report, you don't need to host someone first). The idea is that someone gets to practice their language skills with you, get to hang out with somebody for however long, and show them around. "Friends you haven't met yet."

Some places let you stay on a couch, some a bed, some for one night, some for a week, some host one person, some twelve.

The great part about it is that instead of wasting money on hotels or hostels, you can stay with a local and get to see the city for what it really is, make a friend, and learn more than you would on your own.