couchsurfing.org

[DanTMWTMP]

I travel a lot (mainly due to work). Accommodations do get expensive and it adds up. I listened in on NPR about a month ago and heard about this website. I completely forgot about it, and I was stressing over where to stay cheaply for a few days down in South America. Then I remembered this website again...

I'm a first time couch surfer, but I've heard many good things. I have a good friend in NY who actually hosts couchsurfing. I think is an excellent idea of a website. The person who made it is genius.

I wonder if we can have a list of AT'ers who are couchsurfers and those who host. That'd be awesome..

Traveling and meeting new dudes are always awesome. To couch surf on AT would be even awesomer.

 

[WA261]

Some friends of mine used it when they went to Ireland.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I thought this was going to be about those couchriding videos on YouTube where people ride down a hill on a couch. The OP's version doesn't sound nearly as exciting.

 

[txrandom]

This sounds like a great way to get raped or kidnapped.

 

[captains]

didnt someone here ride their bike across the US and couch surf at a couple of ATOT locations

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Originally posted by: txrandom
This sounds like a great way to get raped or kidnapped.

It's only rape if it's a guy or gross/fat/ugly/disgusting girl

 

[txrandom]

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus

Originally posted by: txrandom
This sounds like a great way to get raped or kidnapped.

It's only rape if it's a guy or gross/fat/ugly/disgusting girl

True. I don't know if I'd trust some random single guy.

 

[WA261]

Originally posted by: txrandom
This sounds like a great way to get raped or kidnapped.

Most of the people on there have refs. from people whom have stayed there before.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: txrandom
This sounds like a great way to get raped or kidnapped.

It is, but the risk is pretty low and you're pretty much staying in someone's house for free.

To my knowledge, in order to be a host you have to be vouched for by another host, so you need to at least appear sane. Obviously that doesn't preclude you from actually being a violent rapist, but yeah...

I personally wouldn't do it, unless I was REALLY down on my luck and literally had nothing to lose, but others have been using this system for years.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: WA261

Originally posted by: txrandom
This sounds like a great way to get raped or kidnapped.

Most of the people on there have refs. from people whom have stayed there before.

Great, hopefully they didn't create those references themselves

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

If I ever get married I'll do it for our honeymoon, and let ATOT know how it works out for us.

 

[alkemyst]

sounds like an excuse for dirty old men to get young chicks in their home.

Down here you see rent ads for 20-40 year old dudes looking for 'college women only'.

 

[ViviTheMage]

used it a few times too meet up with people in Europe and such, and get my references up.

It works really well, just tough to find a place during holidays and such...next time I will have to travel during a non holiday to Europe, or south America, because everyone is always gone during Christmas/new years over the sea.

 

[DarrelSPowers]

I've used couchsurfing a couple times, both with great success.

After a 4 month stint at a cement factory in ireland, I decided to blow what I made backpacking in europe for a couple months before I had to be back in the states for the holidays. I found free places to crash in Glasgow, Paris, and Barcelona, and probably could have in other cities if I was more diligent about it. Let me describe all 3

1) Glasgow - I previously knew this girl and she told me all about couchsurfing and her wonderful experiences as a host. So, after my visa expired this was the first place I crashed while I planned out the rest of my trip. Her landlord was a softcore lesbian porn producer from london (no joke here) and she basically lived in his second apartment while he lived in london. Apparently he only used the glasgow flat to store crap and occasionally shoot movies. I got to meet the guy, really rich creepy asian guy in his late twenties, but other than that it was fairly uneventful.

2) Paris - I used my couchsurfing profile with me newly rated as a guest by my host, and was able to find a girl slightly younger than me (her - 19 me - 21) who was willing to host me in paris. She pretty much lived with her boyfriend, so her old room was free for me to crash in, right in the 5th district of paris, around the corner from the Parthenon... so that was pretty dope. Plus she had friends around my age that I got to party with, and she worked at a pasta stand so my broke ass got free food.

3) Barcelona - This experience was slightly more weird. I found this guy, Warie, Jamaican guy, very last minute. He lived in Ceranyola de los Valles outside barcelona. Due to my shitty spanish and poor timing with the trains, I didn't make it to his place until much later than expected, and ended up sleeping in the stairway of his apt complex while I waited for him to wake up for work. After that I didn't see much of him as he spent most of the day working. His wife was always around to let me in, but she was very quiet, and I ended up leaving after a weekend to go back to paris for a while on my return trip.

Overall it was pretty awesome, and saved me at least ~400 euro on hostel costs. I'd say using couchsurfing is very different for a guy or girl, and probably much harder to travel in groups. My friend who told me about couchsurfing said that its very easy for girls to get places to stay (obviously) but they need to be a bit more cautious.

Anyway, that's my story, couchsurfing is the shit!

 

[ViviTheMage]

exactly Darrel, people are not THAT creepy in other parts of the world...much to At's contrary belief.

EDIT : i was going to CS at DaWhim's place during new years time, but it turned out she had other accommodations in mind.

 

[DarrelSPowers]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
exactly Darrel, people are not THAT creepy in other parts of the world...much to At's contrary belief.

EDIT : i was going to CS at DaWhim's place during new years time, but it turned out she had other accommodations in mind.

Also, they don't entirely hate America! Another cool thing was trying to explain how our election system to them, and how bush was elected twice... very interested to hear about that...

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: DarrelSPowers

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
exactly Darrel, people are not THAT creepy in other parts of the world...much to At's contrary belief.

EDIT : i was going to CS at DaWhim's place during new years time, but it turned out she had other accommodations in mind.

Also, they don't entirely hate America! Another cool thing was trying to explain how our election system to them, and how bush was elected twice... very interested to hear about that...

Yup, I found that out when mingeling with some of the people from Brussels/France last year...that and cowboys (they must think we live in the early 1880s) haha.

A lot of Europeans were in London when we were (from austria, croatia, germany, etc) on their vacation, so it was fun talking to them about where we should go when we get into their country.

VERY nice all around.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: Eeezee

Originally posted by: txrandom
This sounds like a great way to get raped or kidnapped.

It is, but the risk is pretty low and you're pretty much staying in someone's house for free.

To my knowledge, in order to be a host you have to be vouched for by another host, so you need to at least appear sane. Obviously that doesn't preclude you from actually being a violent rapist, but yeah...

I personally wouldn't do it, unless I was REALLY down on my luck and literally had nothing to lose, but others have been using this system for years.

How is the risk low if you're in a strangers house? This is as bad an idea as picking up hitch hikers. I know a lot of people pick them up with no problems, but the risk isn't what I'd say low. I would be unable to sleep at a strangers house, but that's just me.

 

[DarrelSPowers]

its really all about how much trust you're willing to put in a stranger.

some can, some can't.

 

[EvilYoda]

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: Eeezee

Originally posted by: txrandom
This sounds like a great way to get raped or kidnapped.

It is, but the risk is pretty low and you're pretty much staying in someone's house for free.

To my knowledge, in order to be a host you have to be vouched for by another host, so you need to at least appear sane. Obviously that doesn't preclude you from actually being a violent rapist, but yeah...

I personally wouldn't do it, unless I was REALLY down on my luck and literally had nothing to lose, but others have been using this system for years.

How is the risk low if you're in a strangers house? This is as bad an idea as picking up hitch hikers. I know a lot of people pick them up with no problems, but the risk isn't what I'd say low. I would be unable to sleep at a strangers house, but that's just me.

Last time I checked, hitchhikers don't come with a full referral and vouching system.

 

[marketsons1985]

FAQ: Is it safe?

This is one of our most commonly asked questions. CouchSurfing has implemented several precautionary measures for the benefit of its surfers, hosts, and community. Every user is linked to the other users he or she knows in the system through a network of references and friend links. In addition to the solid network with friend link-strength indicators and testimonials, we have our vouching and verification systems. Some of these are new technologies invented by the CouchSurfing founders.

Not just anyone is a vouched for member. Members can only become vouched for by an already vouched for CouchSurfing.com member. Essentially, it's a trust circle.

What is the verification system? In the verification process, we check to make sure your name and address are correct and valid. Once you have completed the process, your profile identifies you as a level 3 verified member. Other people viewing your profile may feel safer about communicating with and meeting you because you are verified. Some people choose to ONLY communicate with other verified members. It's all about your own personal preferences and feeling about safety. For some people, verification may not be important. For others, it is crucial. It's up to you

All of these features help other users determine how trustworthy you are, based on the quantity and 'quality' of the people you know, and how you've participated in the system.

Please Note: You do not need to be vouched for or verified to use CouchSurfing.com. We encourage you to sign up, host, surf, & partake in our community. As time progresses, we hope that you will get more involved through becoming vouched for and/or verified and volunteering, to help strengthen the community!

In addition to the rigorous safety measures in place for hosts and surfers, we have a safety measure in place for the project. CouchSurfing is incorporated, which simply put means a body that is granted a charter recognizing it as a separate legal entity having its own rights, privileges, and liabilities distinct from those of its members. This insures the safety of our members and volunteers from lawsuits (except in cases of individual gross negligence). Non-incorporation passes liability directly to individuals. To the best of our knowledge, CouchSurfing is the only major hospitality network with this legal status.

 

[olds]

Don't know, I posted the site a few weeks ago.