Image | Pixabay
Couchsurfing is a way to stay for free anywhere in the world so if you like to travel but lack money, this may be the best solution. It is a virtual community in which people from all over the world offer free accommodation to other travelers either in the form of a sofa (Couch in English) or a room.
How It Works
The procedure is simple. Those interested in this type of accommodation just have to register for free on the couchsurfing website and create a profile. In this way, a global community is built that helps break down barriers, meet people and explore the world.
It is important that when making a request to stay, you introduce yourself and describe your interest in knowing their country, the route you intend to do and what you would like to learn about their culture.
Couchsurfing only works when both parties give and receive something: friendship, interesting anecdotes, and hospitality.
Image | Pixabay
What else does couchsurfing offer?
Not only accommodation but also the possibility of meeting travelers to have a coffee and show them the city. It is a very good option if, as a host, you share a flat with other people who are not enthusiastic about receiving this kind of visits.
Advantages of couchsurfing
- It's very cheap: The purpose of couchsurfing is to sleep indoors without spending anything so it is very economical. However, it is considered a polite gesture to give the host a gift or invite him to lunch one day.
- Cultural exchange: Couchsurfing allows you to get in touch with local people. This approach makes it possible to make friends with people from any place and social class. The hosts offer a different perspective of the place that the traveler visits that they would not otherwise have. The same happens in reverse.
- In short, couchsurfing allows you not only to make new friends all over the world, but to get to know other cultures, traditions and ways of understanding life in a more personal way.
Disadvantages of couchsurfing
- Uncertainty: In a way, couchsurfing is a lottery because you never know who you are going to run into. Despite having a system of profiles and references, there are many details that you will not know about the host or the guest until the moment of coexistence.
- Less freedom of action: Although there are hosts who lend their house as if it were a hotel (they only ask you the departure date and give you the keys), normally when they participate in couchsurfing they are also interested in living with their guest and doing some activities together. After all, you can't act like you're traveling totally alone. By accepting their hospitality it is wise to give them some of your time.
Image | Pixabay
Tips for a better experience
Bring a gift
From the moment the host accepts the surfer's request, the surfer becomes their guest. Since you are offering your house, what less than giving him a gift to show appreciation. You can ask him what he would like to receive from your country or surprise him directly. It will be a detail that you will love and the first step towards a pleasant stay.
Buy your own food
The host allows you to sleep under his roof but does not have to pay for the maintenance. So as soon as you arrive, ask for a nearby supermarket and buy what you will need during your stay. Even if you have the kitchen at your disposal, it is better not to scrounge the food.
Collaborate in what you can
What a minimum to collaborate with everything that is within your reach to make the stay as pleasant as possible for everyone. If you have a small space on the sofa in the living room, try to have all your things organized and ask your host what time he gets up. All this may seem very obvious, but it is always good to emphasize it.
Short visit
The saying goes that the good if brief, twice good. That is why it is better not to extend the visit longer than necessary. It is generally considered that three or four days is the perfect time for couchsurfing as it allows you to discover the town and meet your host without being tiresome.
Good attitude
In the face of the unexpected, keep a good attitude. To couchsurfing, as well as to travel, you have to have an open mind to all kinds of people and experiences.
So, in short, I want to convey to you that with this Couchsurfing resource, traveling cheaply and optimizing money is possible, and that in addition to achieving that economic benefit, you will be able to learn and interact with people, which you would not otherwise do.