What is CouchSurfing?

It is an on-line community with more than one million members all around the world, who offer reciprocal hospitality to each other in their travels from country to country. The most important advantages of Couchsurfing are two: the friends you get to make and the reduced travel cost. The most priceless advantage, however, is, according to Leonardo, one of the founders of the platform, that “it brings love forth, in the process of building relationships, once again, in modern times”

SAFETY

As dangerous as it may sound, inviting a stranger in your house or being hosted by one in a foreign country, Couchsurfing is safe -and this is due to the need for security by its own members. As a user, you will see that CouchSurfing.org, provides you with a sufficient amount of information about the people you will get to meet, painting a complete and honest picture of that person, and that is more than what you get to know about people you meet, for example, randomly in a club. Additionally, users write in detail about their experiences with each host, and the comments there can never be erased.

Throughout the history of Couchsurfing there has only been one incident of attempted rape in 2009. But compared to the active existence of the platform for more than 10 years, with millions of overnight stays per year, the (incident) rate is zero. Anyone can join this community just by creating a free account at couchsurfing.com and giving all the information required (always using their real data).

Before you create an account, think of what you want to gain from Couchsurfing

If you are just looking for a free bed, and nothing else, then don’t waste your time there. Sooner or later the other users (hosts) will understand and won’t accept you in their homes. Couchsurfing is more than that. It’s about exchanging ideas and opinions. You have to be open and willing to discover new things.

When you register in Couchsurfing, give your real name and information; be as truthful and honest as you can! Your future hosts will understand that you take seriously the idea of ​​Couchsurfing and appreciate it.

Show a good picture and what an interesting person you are. People never accept to communicate with a person that doesn’t have his/her photo in their profile.

Devote a little of your time and fill your profile with as much as possible information about yourself. Likes and dislikes, what music you listen to, why you like to travel.

It’s also good to show hospitality and willingness to either host or help navigate a person in your country. Even though you aren’t forced to open your house for someone (small apartment/room, parents, etc), it would be nice to go out with that person, show them around, go for coffee, show your city and have fun.