Letting a stranger sleep on your couch -- it sounds dangerous, but it's one of the latest fads that jet-setters are taking advantage of.


It's called "Couchsurfing" and all it takes is a couch and the Internet.


"They will invite a traveler into their home for a night, two nights or even just meet them for dinner and converse with them, get to know them or even show them around town. It's a hospitality thing," said surfer Nick Zeiler.


It is free, but is it worth the risk to let a stranger into a home? Zeiler and Jamie Fillippi, who both host here in the Valley, said it is.


"I can talk and relate and tell stories and socialize with somebody from another country and I get a little experience of their country even though I didn't have to go," Zeiler said.


"I just think it's a great way to meet people and all the people I've hosted have been amazing. They're really friendly, they're my age and they're traveling," Fillippi added.


So what about safety? Fillippi and Zeiler told NEWS9 Couchsurfing.org does have ways to help keep surfers safe. They said you can become verified through the site or read reviews about other surfers. But when it comes down to it, both said it's up to the participants.


"Trust your gut because in the end, your safety is your responsibility," said Zeiler.


Zeiler said he's let three people stay on his couch; some as far away as England. But over his time hosting and surfing, he said he hasn't had any problems or concerns.


Fillippi added that she has had surfers from the UK as well and hasn't had any issues either. In fact, she said that she still keeps in touch with some of the surfers who have stayed on her couch.


She said it's a learning experience for everyone.


"Any way I can help people out and just help them experience the world is just amazing for me," Fillippi said.


On Couchsurfing.org, it says their mission is simple -- to create inspiring experiences. Both Fillippi and Zeiler told NEWS9 that for them, the mission has been accomplished.


Couchsurfing has been around since 2003 and since its inception, over 5 million surfers have joined around the world and that number continues to grow.