On couchsurfing
Couchsurfing was created several years ago to give ordinary people the chance to travel anywhere around the world by simply staying at another person's couch. This has been one of the newest ways for people to save money on their trip, as it gives them accommodation without paying for an expensive hotel. There are many benefits to couchsurfing, but it's important that you know about the downsides as well, so that you can find out if this method of traveling is for you.
What is couchsurfing?
Couchsurfing is basically where you set up a profile on the official website and you could let others stay at your home. If you decide to travel and sleep on different couches, you will then be able to choose a host for you to visit. This method of traveling is so well-known, it was featured on the Tyra Show several years ago when her show was still running. What's nice about couchsurfing is the good accommodation you can get, as some people will usually pay hundreds just to stay in a hotel. Couchsurfing actually used to be completely free for many years, but after taking a hiatus, they are now back better than ever, but with a small fee when you decide to couchsurf.
What are the pro's and cons of couchsurfing?
One of the main pro's to couchsurfing is the money you will get to save and friends you can make. People who usually like to host couchsurfers are people who want to make some new friends, so you should really try couchsurfing both out of town and accepting other people. One of the downsides to couchsurfing is the fact that you can sometimes end up with bad people. In fact, you should be aware to always look for people who seem nice and not so creepy. They said that the average amount of people who tried this were over the age of 28. So if you want to try couchsurfing, I suggest that you wait after you're 28 years old to get involved.
How can I stay safe?
You can stay safe easily by searching for hosts that are more of your kind. If you're a female, then try looking for a female host who also happens to be your age. Look for people who show their accommodation or room that they will let you sleep in, as this will give you a good idea on what to expect. Don't go for those people who aren't able to show their couchsurfing beds, as they can't be trustworthy. Also try looking for people who show their faces. It's quite easy to tell what the person is like by simply looking at their pictures.
Couchsurfing is a pretty risky adventure to go on. You don't know if the people you are staying with are good people, and if the people who still stay at your house are nice. So it's pretty risky, but the benefits are great and definitely worth it. If you decide to become a host, you can help others save money on their trip. If you decide to travel, you can help save yourself some money. So it's definitely a win-win opportunity.