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Top 20 Couch Surfing Countries
1) U.S. (107,5950)
2) France (37,431)
3) Germany (35,826)
4) Canada (27,787)
5) United Kingdom (21,764)
6) Italy (15,709)
7) Australia (13,383)
8) Netherlands (9,171)
9) Spain (8,721)
10) Brazil (8,718)
11) Austria (8,017)
12) Sweden (7,755)
13) Belgium (7,658)
14) India (7,632)
15) Switzerland (6,638)
16) Turkey (6,083)
17) Portugal (5,887)
18) Poland (5,639)
19) Denmark (4,348)
20 China (4,301)
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Forget hotels and youth hostels — travelers across the globe are using the Web to find a couch to crash on for free. People can search for a prospective host in the country they’d like to visit. Hosts display pictures, interests and information about their accommodations on their Web profile.
Couchsurfing is not only about a place to sleep, its also about sightseeing tips, meet other travelers at the house, and have experiences you couldn’t have planned from a travel guide.
“I’d never been there before, and I thought this would be a way to see the city and get a tour from people that lived there,” couchsurfers said “Someone that lives there knows where all the off-the-path places are, like small concert venues, beaches and parks that you don’t hear about.”
These are not the only advantages when it comes to couchsurfing, one of the most daunting reality checks can be the cost of just having a hotel to sleep in at the end of the day. With mainstream guesthouse and hostel rates typically running at a minimum of $30/night, this will add up very quickly.
Though the vast majority of people around you probably have never heard of couchsurfing, the network is actually quite extensive. The United States accounts for approximately 66,000 members, or 26% of all registered couchsurfers. The distribution throughout the world is quite impressive, everyday more and more couchsurfers will be part of couchsurfers networks like couchsurfing.com
globalfreeloaders.com and hospitalityclub.org are two other alternatives to do the same thing.
Dangers of Couchsurfing
Safety for Hosts
Ask yourself the following questions. Did everyone who stayed with them have positive experiences? How many guests have they had? Read carefully references and comments from friends. Read between lines. Look for subtleties. If a reference seems to be suspicious, send a message to the person who posted it to get more details.
Safety for Hosts
Try to find out what kind of people you will have on your couch. Profiles can give you a first impression (when emailing, you can also get some more info). You may want to meet them in a cafe before you have them come over. Have a talk to see what kind of person they are.
IMPORTANT: If you feel strange, or you don't trust their intentions, be open about it. IT IS OKAY to refuse your hospitality! If you have other accommodations available in your area (hostel, etc.) be ready to redirect them there (and have phone numbers, etc). If you don't have other accommodations available but aren't comfortable allowing them into your home, have a backup plan (and a foolproof excuse, if necessary) ready.
Remember: It's your house so you can always ask a surfer to leave. Better yet, if you are hesitant about letting someone crash your couch for a few days, give them at least one night to see if things will be ok and ensure you get along with them.
On the Net:
http://www.Couchsurfing.com
http://www.globalfreeloaders.com
http://www.hospitalityclub.org
http://www.place2stay.net |
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