 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CouchSurfing: Creating a Better World, One Couch at a Time By Heather Watt  |
| |
 The cheapest and smartest way for young people to travel today is by CouchSurfing. It is a social network of individuals willing to let people crash on their couch or use their guest room for one or more nights, free of charge. The mission statement is: "CouchSurfing seeks to internationally network people and places, create educational exchanges, raise collective consciousness, spread tolerance and facilitate cultural understanding." There are currently 754,146 CouchSurfers worldwide and 548,689 available couches.
It is not necessarily crashing on someone's couch; they may have a guest room or be willing to let you pitch a tent in their yard! And if you don't have a couch available, there's no problem. Many hosts are eager to meet new people and show them their culture and home. CouchSurfer Steve Savage states, "These are warm, friendly local people who a regular tourist would never meet, and their travel experience would be far richer if they had. Besides the obvious benefit of not having to pay for accommodation, CouchSurfing allows travellers to experience a country and its culture from within, instead of just as an observer."
CouchSurfing International is a non-profit organization supported entirely by member donations. It was founded in 2004 by Casey Fenton, 30, who grew up in New Hampshire. He needed a last-minute accommodation for a trip to Iceland and emailed local university students asking for a place to crash; he received 50 replies.
As Fenton's travel experience reflects, the majority of CouchSurfers are 18- to 24-year-olds. Hosts are verified by CouchSurfing for their name and location. Members can chat on the website and set up meetings to make CouchSurfing contacts. Profile pages include the host's availability for accommodation and a personal description including their interests, philosophy on life, where they have visited, and references from previous "surfers." Members who have been vouched for by three other members can then vouch for other CouchSurfers.
It's even possible for families to CouchSurf too! Some hosts may offer extras such as meals, so you should offer to do the dishes and bring a simple gift or gratuity such as a bottle or wine or flowers. And most important, be a tidy guest. Users recommend having the numbers of local hostels and taxis in case your host has to suddenly cancel or things just don't work out.
Top CouchSurfing countries are the United States, Germany, and France, and top cities are Paris, London, and Montreal. There are endless possibilities with CouchSurfing. If you are willing to open your mind and possibly your home, you will be rewarded by getting to know unique and enriching individuals and their culture. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|