Couchsurfing

CEBU, Philippines - Aside from the social media groups in the internet (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.), there is another growing network of people around the world – the couchsurfing community. It is a setup of travelers around the world – mostly of the backpacker type – interlinking with one another.  Although not yet known to many, there is probably a community of couchsurfers in every city around the globe.

Couchsurfers provide a couch or a room, or even simply a sleeping space on the floor for fellow travelers for a night or two. This saves travelers from spending on accommodation, since the hosts take them in for free.

The exchange of culture and travel experiences between the host and the surfer or visitor is a reward that many hosts are excited about. In the case of several surfers converging and sharing space in the home of a single host, the experience can even be richer. It is a joy quite unlike any other. The home becomes a melting pot of different people from different places.

Hosts attest to the amazing experience of welcoming people into their homes. Hosting, however, is not a necessity to becoming a member of couchsurfing community. One can choose to simply hang out in any scheduled couchsurfers’ trivia night, booze cruise, volunteer work, or travel-and-tour events in the community, or he may attend an organized meet-up party.

Apparently, security is an issue in couchsurfing. There is risk involved in seeking a host or in accepting a surfer.  For the most part, host and guest are strangers to each other.

The couchsurfing community is careful in handling the matter. Members are advised to read the references or testimonies of their previous surfers or hosts, to know if the person can be trusted.  Vouched members and ambassadors of the couchsurfing community are most likely to try to preserve their public image in order to continue to be trusted by the people they will be interacting with in the future.

On the other hand, if the person requesting for a couch seems questionable and the posted references don’t say much about his personality, the prospective host may have to trust his instinct. It is okay to say no.

In order to get a host, one simply has to ask for a couch in the city he is heading to, provide reasons why he is asking for a couch and what his itinerary is. Prospective hosts then see the posted profile and check references on the requesting couchsurfer’s identity, before they answer the request.

Couchsurfing is really a new experience for travelers. Both hosts and their guests can experience things together. The experiences in hosting or surfing, however, may turn out either good or bad.  But that’s how it is in couchsurfing. Couchsurfers who have had the experience as guests in other places are most likely to give back the hospitality by hosting travelers in their homeland.

There’s no question about the great value of traveling. It is educational and self-fulfilling to travel and see how big the world is and how vast the possibilities in life. But it’s often the cost that hinders one’s travel plans. Now, couchsurfing certainly helps.