Couchsurfing fun way to Travel
A lot of you would never have heard of couchsurfing before. Well I hadn’t either until 6 months ago. I started surfing the net looking for ways to save money on travel and accommodation. As we all know accommodation can really eat up your holiday money. Here in New Zealand we are lucky as we do have a lot of different options for accommodation. I don’t think we are to badly priced against that of other countries. We might even have a lot more cheaper options to offer the traveler. Will look into a few different ones for you, but for now a little about couchsurfing.
I have just had or should I say done my first hosting this week. What fun it was too. I joined couchsurfers about 6mths ago, so I could meet people from all over the world, that I wouldn’t have had the chance to meet any other way. It has become a very big organization, with people joining everyday from every country in the world.
OK so what is it you ask???…
I have a spare bedroom so I offer it to someone traveling here for free. Then when the day comes that I’m lucky enough to travel, I’ll have made a new friend I could stay with . But it doesn’t have to be, I have you you have me, there are so many happy to host you too.
“CouchSurfing is a worldwide network for making connections between travelers and the local communities they visit.”
A lot of the people have a couch they are happy for someone to sleep on, or like me a spare bed or two. It is a real fun way to meet people and make life long friends. The young lady I hosted is a German born girl living in the USA. She is traveling around New Zealand with her partner, (didn’t meet him sadly as he went to the West Coast). I would never have met this lovely girl if I hadn’t joined CS. You may think what a strange way to travel and a uncertain way to get accommodation too. It’s as easy as emailing a friend. You can find a couchsurfing host in time for your arrival in what ever town you wish to travel too. Some only meet for a coffee or to show the traveler around their area. Which is just as good as having your own tour guide. No-one knows their hometown better than a local. Well I know I have a lot to learn about my hometown. It opens your eyes as to what the overseas traveler wants to see.
Take a look at the website and see for yourself how safe it is and the people you could meet. You might even be surprised on who you know in your own hometown that are hosts or travel this way too. There are 1 million members worldwide, so think that speaks for itself. Who can argue with free accommodation and meeting someone from a different culture. It’s not only about somewhere for a traveler to sleep, it’s an experience, an adventure into a different way of life. Theirs and yours. So dare to be the next couchsurf member and have fun. Age is no barrier. I know I will be happy to host again and again…
Tags: Accommodation, couchsurfing, hometown, travel, traveling
