Turns out there’s a number of people who will, courtesy of sites like Couchsurfing.com
Photo by Betssssy
One sunny spring afternoon in Dublin, a female friend and I stood waiting next to the massive “spike” on O’Connell Street.
The air of anticipation suggested that she was waiting for a blind date, with me there for moral support in case she changed her mind and decided to leave.
With several people milling about, it didn’t seem like the best place to locate a stranger for the first time. Yet, in the midst of the hubbub, a long-haired, sunglasses-clad man emerged and approached us.
Handshakes were exchanged, and my friend went off, duffel bag in hand, to spend the weekend with him.
This shady-seeming encounter represents just one of hundreds of meet-ups being played out around the world each day, arranged via “couch-sharing” websites such as Couchsurfing and Hospitality Club.
The premise of these sites, which began in 2002 and 2003, respectively, is to connect travelers with hosts who volunteer to act as free tour guides or even accommodation providers, offering up lodging in their own homes.
The Kindness of Strangers
By its very nature, staying with a stranger from the Internet seems fraught with risks for guest and host alike.
I felt a bit nervous as my friend walked away with the lanky, long-haired Irishman. She, too, must have had slight misgivings: after all, she hadn’t told her family that she’d be sleeping in a stranger’s living room for two nights.
Yet, when Monday arrived, my friend had lived to tell the tale – and, as her pictures of new friends and music jam sessions revealed, she had a great time in the process. She’s since “couchsurfed” with two other people.
By its very nature, staying with a stranger from the Internet seems fraught with risks for guest and host alike. Sure, the allure of a free place to crash is appealing, but then again, the peace of mind afforded by a youth hostel could be worth its weight in gold.
Therefore the allure of “couch-sharing” sites must be about more than purely financial concerns. In fact, the sites’ mission statements underline this basic premise.
Couchsurfing.com states that it “is not about the furniture, not just about finding free accommodations around the world; it’s about making connections worldwide.”
Monetary considerations are just one element of Hospitality Club’s assertion that it offers a “fun, ecological, economical and socially beneficial way of traveling.”
Both of these sites do take measures to encourage safety, including the possibility of “vouching” for people and encouraging public feedback after a meet-up occurs.
The Couchsurfing website statistics mention that in a given week, there were 12,962 real-life introductions, of which 81% were reported as “positive,” and less than 1% as “negative” (the other rating option was “neutral”).
While it’s unlikely that every encounter is without trouble, successful exchanges seem to be the rule rather than the exception.
A Local Connection
Photo by PhilipC
Hosts aren’t obliged to offer lodging (some may just be available to meet up for a drink). Jana’s host in Alicante took her out to “an original Spanish outdoor party I would have never found myself,” and her Portuguese host “showed us very nice local places in Funchal and drove us in his car over the whole island.”
Similarly, Jessica’s hostess in Bucharest shared her local knowledge of the capital, driving her around to cover the most sights in the limited time available.
Motivations for Couchsurfers are often based around wanting to experience a place from the point of view of a local; to avoid the traps and well-trodden paths forged by guidebook-worshipping backpackers.
Couchsurfing, in a way, enables a person to gain a different experience; to become a traveler rather than a tourist.
This sentiment is echoed by Mehdi, another surfer who says: “Traveling in CS way will involve you in people’s culture, so it’s more than seeing different places…All these things can help us to make a wonderful paradise out of this damn multimedia robotic world!”
The World On Your Doorstep
Couchsurfing, in a way, enables a person to gain a different experience; to become a traveler rather than a tourist.
Motivations for hosts are often less clear, although a tendency towards altruism tends to prevail. Some people enjoy the feeling of being an “expert” and in sharing special places with others.
Another commonality among hosts is a desire for inter-cultural exchange, with the added benefit of being able to meet people from other countries without having to go anywhere.
As a host, George explains, “I love how the culture comes to me when I am not able to travel myself.”
The possibility of making new friends from around the world (who might be able to return the favor of hosting one day) is another major draw for the people upon whose generosity the couch-sharing sites must rely.
The Internet has enabled people from around the world to communicate with each other, and hospitality sites take this to the next level by facilitating real-life cultural exchange and sharing. While there are bound to be a minority of unscrupulous people who abuse the system, overall, the success of these sites tend to speak for the power of trust and good will.
The couch-sharing trend seems to provide an alternative travel paradigm that many people find fulfilling and return to support in the future.
Have you ever couch surfed, or hosted a Couchsurfer? Share your experiences in the comments!
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14 Comments... join the discussion!
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I was in New York a few months ago, and was flying to Florida that night. My friend and I had no accommodation setup (call us procrastinators). So we hopped on couchsurfing.com sent out a few emails, and 20 minutes later got a reply from a couple that picked us up at the airport that night.
Even more amazing, they already had 2 other surfers with them that night! Talk about generous. People like that make couchsurfing a reality.
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I had a great exeprience with couchsurfing in Swaziland. Before I left I got in contact with a doctor working at a new AIDS clinic in Mbabane. He’d been with Doctor Without Borders all over Africa. I got a tour of the clinic (sponsored by Bristol Myers, one of the stocks I still have after seeing their work in this AIDS ravaged nation). I had lodging secured already, but we met up at the pool and shared stories. Sasha was a gem and gave me great insights on where to go in sub-Saharan Africa. Now it’s my turn to turn Chez Chrysser into a refuge for curious and weary travelers wandering in this part of the States. I’ve got tons of room, and as Tim can testify…my baking skills are considered pretty acceptable, peach pie in the oven as I type. Thanks for this piece Jennifer.
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I am a huge fan of couchsurfing. It’s based on a sense of mutual trust which I really like and even if you don’t have people surfing on your couch, joining the different city groups is a great way to get to know locals and travelers in your city who are really open and eager to help out or answer questions. I couchsurfed in Frankfurt and the guy was so awesome! Not only did he let me surf his couch, he also took the time to show me some of the non-touristic spots in the city. Being a foreigner in Berlin, I joined the Berlin couchsurfing group and everytime I have a question about finding work, visa status, finding more about film festivals, etc., people are more than willing to help out and give advice and they even have regular meetings (i.e. parties!) which is pretty cool.
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I’m now couchsurfing in Paris, being hosted at a couple I hosted last year during London calling. Funnily enough, without knowing, I was also hosting an Italian CS they knew in my flat. Couchsurfing has changed my life. I’ve made great friends, been to places and events I would never have found on my own, improved my languages skills, learnt so much, had wonderful moments, in my home in London or abroad, staying with CS in Italy, NY, Istambul and Montreal & St Petersburg soon.
CS is addictive and shows you there is hope in this world. People always ask me ‘aren’t you scared to host a stranger?’ I reply that the person isn’t a stranger anyway, because I read their profile and choose people carefully. I’ve never had bad surprises in 3 years.
Sophie (French CS living in London, UK)
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Couchsurfing is, as all the other comments attest to, a fantastic experience!! New York City is where I first really got into it. I arrived knowing no one there & not much at all about the city…and all I can say is I left NYC 3 weeks later (2 weeks longer than I’d planned to stay btw) with about 20 new friends, priceless experiences & a knowledge of the city I would never have had without the generosity of my hosts!!
As Sophie (above) has said, the people you host or surf with are not really strangers because you first read their profiles, look at their photos and read the references that have been left by others they’ve met. So in some ways, it is actually safer than staying with complete strangers in hostels!
If you’re wondering whether to give couchsurfing a try, just do it and I guarantee you’ll never regret the amazing experiences you’ll have
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When people ask me "arent you afraid of letting a stranger stay with you" I have learned to reply, "hestitant yes, but I try to look at the bigger picture and ask myself if these are only friends which I have not yet met."
Turns out I have many many friends and more are on their way!
Cheers!
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I am a member, and it requires those who have INTUITION, which the young have, and only a few of us over 50 do. I have never had a problem, nor a problem with those traveling and sleeping on my couch.
For those who have FEAR, you would best not do it, because what you are, you attract.
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I arrive in Brooklyn with another lady on 23 august until 29 august for a wedding of my son in Brooklyn. Does anyone have space for us with luggage please.I am 65 Patricia and my friend is 47 Joanne. many thanks
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@patricia – You should actually use the website couchsurfing.com – as this is just an article about them.
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I spent a year traveling by myself and used couchsurfing in most of the countries I went to…never once had a shady experience. Just great people and now I have friends all over the world. In fact, my fiance and I met through CS…I surfed his couch in Mumbai, and less than a year later, we’re engaged!
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