As travel costs rise, beware the vacation "moocher"

By Belinda Goldsmith

SYDNEY (Reuters Life!) - Beware those annoying guests who overstay their welcome or use you as a hotel: a survey has found that rising travel costs will mean more "travel moochers" -- friends or relatives after a free bed.

A survey by travel Web site IgoUgo found that 57 percent of 1,376 respondents would consider staying with friends or relatives to save money on a vacation, with 55 percent only going on holiday to a place where they have free accommodation.

But the poll found there was a difference between guests who place time spent with family or friends as a priority for visiting, and "moochers" who are motivated primarily by saving money when they landed on a friend's doorstep.

Of the people who would travel somewhere because of friends or family, 75 percent reported enjoying time with their hosts as a key reason for the trip while 25 percent were "moochers".

"There's something to be said for staying with a local on your vacation - not only will you save money, but you'll likely get the inside scoop on the coolest things to do and see," IgoUgo.com spokesman Cameron Siewert told Reuters.

"But your host should feel that you value spending time with them - not that you're simply taking advantage of a free place to crash."

The online poll, conducted between April 22 and April 28, found the majority of respondents felt comfortable staying with family and close friends.

Only 15 percent said they have or would consider staying with people they don't know or met on the Internet, ruling out "couch surfing" -- taking up offers from locals for a free bed or couch.