I said earlier I'd write an article about Couchsurfing (CS). I won't go into all the detail – there's lots of information on the CS website (follow the link on the right of this page).
I was already on with planning my trip long before I came across CS. Just doing the traditional traveller stuff for sleeping – hostels, B&B's trains etc. It was while checking out traveler websites that CS kept coming up.
So, I had a glance at the website – and to be honest I wasn't sure! I mean, why would a complete stranger give someone a bed, hospitality and maybe a tour around their locality? Are they mad? Are they deranged killers? On the make?
No – they're just good people! I'd started to forget that they still exist.
Look, out of over half a million people registered on the website, there's bound to be one or two nutters – take me, for instance. But on the whole there are enough safeguards to ensure that everyone is safe.
Well, I have to say this is going to revolutionize my trip. I'm not doing this exclusively – I'm staying in hostels along the way as well. But, I've already made arrangements to stay with CS hosts along the way. One or two nights mostly, a little longer in some places.
I already feel I have friends around the world – I'm in contact with most of my 'hosts' by email, msn and occasionally phone, be it in Argentina, Australia or Singapore for instance.I haven't stayed with anyone yet, but will do later this week when I arrive in Rio.
I've already hosted a few people at my (old) place in Spain – and had ever such a nice time with my guests. Of course the 'meeting the Aussies' story that I wrote was perhaps the ultimate in greeting a host! By the way – a few people asked me about that – I can assure everyone, it's written exactly as the event occurred.
Oh and it's not just about offering a 'couch' – a lot of people just offer to meet for a 'coffee or drink' when travelers are passing through their locality. I can't think of a better way to get the local 'flavour' of a place.
I'm doing the first half of my trip with a blend of CS'ing and hosteling. In most, no probably all the places I'm visiting before xmas – I'll have contact with a CS 'host', be it staying with them, or just meeting up in their locality for a few hours.
What a great way to see the world, eh?
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