Surfing Couches

Couch surfing isn’t just for the extreme!  (from all that is interesting)

The Couch Surfing experience offers a number of awesome benefits to both travelers and locals alike.  I realized during a a road trip across the United States that there exists no consistently cheap lodging options except for camping (which can also cost an arm and a leg sometimes!).  But Couch Surfing is a far cheaper (Free!) and more personal choice than a hotel or even a hostel.  On the other side of things, hosts who give up their couches can swap stories and cultural experiences with a foreign traveler, which is a bit like traveling without leaving the home.

A map of Couch Surfers.  Currently there are 2,631,424 surfers and 4,874,229 positive experiences.

One hesitation I had, and know many others will also is the simple question, “is it safe?”  If used correctly, I believe Couch Surfing even safer than staying in a ‘nice’ Hotel or Hostel, as well as far more interesting.  The CS Community is a tight knit one, bound by sharing information about their hosts and travelers, consistently writing reviews, and ‘vouching’ for other members.  Put simply, a traveler who is involved in the community is more likely to get hosted, and a well connected host is more likely to be asked for a couch.  Although it may take a while to become involved in the community, after a few experiences and new friends, the CS world is welcoming and respectful.

That night I created a Couch Surfing account, and have learned a great deal about the community from my first host and the web site itself.  Couch Surfing has created a tight-knit network of interesting and friendly people willing to give up their couches and entertain a traveller.  The group envisions a “world where everyone can explore and create meaningful connections with the people and places we encounter” and for me, that is what traveling is all about.

Thank you CouchSurfing.