Anyone travel using couchsurfing.com.
By brian_s
@brian_s (570)
United States
January 11, 2009 2:46pm CST
www.couchsurfing.com is a site that allows you to register to host people from all over the place, and also request that someone lets you stay at his/her house for a period of time.
It is completely free, and I think that the TOS doesn't allow people to charge. But to be a good surfer they state that you are expected to do something for the host(s), like bring some wine or food, or something from home.
I have never tried doing this, but I know someone who has and he really enjoyed it. Have any of you done this or something like it? If not, do you think it is a good idea?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
12 Jan 09
I have never heard about that site before, but it sounds like a good idea, and I would like to know more about it. I have stayed with strangers before, and I wouldn't say that I would never do it again, but I am a girl and of course I have to be careful. I have only had positive experiences, and I have met some very nice people, but you never know who you are going to meet, and I always think cafefully about it before I accept to stay with people I don't know.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
11 Jan 09
In theory it might seem like a good idea, but in practice I think it is entirely too risky. But then I feell the same way about things like the Craigslist. It is tricky enough to know which of one's acquaintances are criminal-minded, let alone trusting strangers. I would not even have a stranger in my home when I wasn't there, much less when I was asleep in my bed.
In times past, they had exchange programs for students that worked out fairly well, but I wouldn't recommend those any more either. Why risk it?
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
11 Jan 09
I have never heard of it before. I do not do much travelling though either. It sounds like a good idea.
@drknlvly6781 (6246)
• United States
11 Jan 09
I have never heard of a site like this, and in theory it sounds wonderful. But my mind goes to the state of society at present. This is just me, but I don't know if I could let just anyone stay in my house, nor just go stay at someone's house at random. Maybe this site gives you some opportunity to get to know the person, but then again, I've never thought that you can truly get to know someone over the internet. Maybe this would be a great idea for some, but I for one could never do something like this, on either end.
@cafn8me (71)
• United States
11 Jan 09
I have never used the site, but a former coworker of mine did, with moderate success. He moved from the Boston area to Seattle and when he arrived in Seattle, he had nowhere to stay. He found a host on couchsurfing.com, and ended up staying with that person for about 4 months. The host turned out to be a bit weird, however, and my friend decided to move on. By then, my friend had arranged to rent an apartment with some newly made acquaintances, so there was no need to return to the site for another host.
Personally, I agree with those who wondered about the safety of this whole idea. Who's to say that one wouldn't end up with a lunatic as a host? Yikes!
