Couchsurfing of Europe:
Couchsurfing leading social travel since 2004, it helps to meet friends all over the world. 4.8 million couchsufer live in 93,355 cities across all! 207 countries. There are 10 Countries with the largest number of couchsufers including UK. Matt cohler its investor. Its slogan is stay with locals and meet travellers. It has ots official website that is www.couchsurfing.com. As mentioned above its hospitality service and social networking website. Its a platform for ‘surf’ members as a guest in his host’s home or join an event.
Couchsurfing the idea concived by cashy fenton in 1999. When he was 25 years old. Couchsurfing international lnc. Was formed on 2003 as a non profit corporation in the state of New Hampshire, but the website was launched in 2004.
If u want to truly experience local cultures, save money and friends all across the world? Then u should consider couchsurfing. Each member have to creat his or her profile, then the site allow the travellers and hosts to connect up. The hosts will indicate if they have a couch available (or if they are willing to meet for drinks) and thd travellers search the profile of hosts with available couches. They email back and forth to see if arrangements work for both parties. Couchsurfing has the largest community as well as global freeloaders and Hospitality club.
Most of host will give you advice where to go and what to see. Many times they will take you around the city and show you good bars and restaurants.
Safety concerns:
Couchsurfing.org is 99% safe to all couchsufers that i know all have positive experience. But you still want to be cautious. Be sure to check referencs, vouching from past travellers, frieds and don’t forget to read host’s profile.
Tips for successful couchsurfing:
Firstly, complete your profile carefully to receive more responses back to you. Take your time and fill it out honesty and make sure it is up to date.
Secondly, don’t send mass request: hosts haye it out if you send copy and e material to bunch of hosts. Carefully should read each hosts profile and send them a personalized email asking if he would be willing to host you. Infact look for hosts with having same interests like you.
Thirdly, It is more than a free room to share your culture with others. Its not like a hotel’s service but many of people think like that which wrong.
Couchsurfing is not 100% reliable hosts can cancel the last minute and hard to find the respond to your requests. It takes a lot of time to find host, especiallyin largest cities where thers are tons of other travellers.
Sometimes by staying with someone you don’t know might limit your freedom. Final thoughts, i think couchsurfing is a great idea. It gives you the chance to meet locals and to see parts of the city that 99% of tourists never experience. It gives you the chance to find life long friends on a deeper level.
