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Benjamin [inactive] · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:44 pm Post subject: CouchSurfing

I was just wondering if anyone had ever used or considered using CouchSurfing, or any other hospitality services:
http://www.couchsurfing.com/

Basically, it a way of meeting people from all over the world who are happy to let travellers stay with them, because they like meeting new people. It's obviously a cheaper way of travelling, and I think it's often more interesting to stay with 'real people' rather than in hotels. And of course, the idea is that if you want to go and stay with other people, you also let other people stay with you.

I hadn't actually heard of it until the other day when my Finnish friend announced that we would be staying with someone she'd met through CouchSurfing in Oban on the west coast of Scotland. But I really like the idea of it, and I think I want to go somewhere and stay with some people I find through that service this summer. But the question is, where?

Elaine · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 2:48 am Post subject:

Sounds like an intriguing idea, but I would hate to leave for vacation thinking that I'm going to have the time of my life at reduced cost, only to end up in some madman's basement and left to die a slow agonizing death. Sorry to be such a Debbie Downer, but I worry about these things.

Benjamin [inactive] · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:31 pm Post subject:

I think statistically, the most dangerous time in your life is when you're with your own family — because if you're going to get murdered, that's probably who will kill you.

I probably wouldn't ask to stay with someone unless they'd received a large number of positive references from other users. Yes, I know they could theoretically have found a way to fabricate their references, but I don't think it's possible to be 100% safe all the time. Personally, I'd be more worried about what would happen if one of the people I was supposed to be staying with suddenly couldn't host me anymore, or didn't turn up.

Anyway, Shouga and I were talking yesterday about where we might like to go, and we've decided that we want to go to Japan via the Trans-Siberian Railway. Ideally we want to do it this summer, but I'm not sure if I can face organising it in such short notice, and tickets for the Trans-Siberian Railway have to be booked well in advance. I suppose I could just buy a train ticket to Beijing and back now and organise everything later... though I have to admit that I find the prospect of going to places like China and Japan a bit scary.

André in Zuid-Afrika · Site Admin Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Posts: 1908

I've read about it, and I like the idea. My only concern is, what if I don't like the people I have to stay with. Or even worse, the people who are staying with me....

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Uriel · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:03 pm Post subject:

Japan is actually very, very safe, Benjamin. Has an incredibly low violent crime rate, and Tokyo is one of the very few huge cities you can walk around in after dark and feel perfectly comfortable. You will benefit from knowing some perfunctory Japanese (and if I remember correctly, Shouga was studying it?), but don't worry about being fluent -- no one will be mistaking you for a local anyway, and they will assume you speak none. Get yourself a train map and a pocketful of change, and you can go all over the place. It's heinously expensive in Japan, but as a Brit you should be used to that. Winter is mild and spring is beautiful, but the summers are miserably hot and humid.
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Deborah · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:20 am Post subject:

If I weren't old and set in my ways, I'd gladly try couch surfing. And for many years I had a hankering to go on the Trans-Siberian Railway. This desire sort of lessened after taking an overnight, non-express train from St. Petersburg to Moscow, with the cheapest type of ticket (regular seat, no sleeping car). But that was many years ago, and no doubt train service in Russia has improved.

Loic · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:12 pm Post subject:

A great idea for those who feel that going on holiday overseas is simply doing as many things as possible without any consideration for comfort.

I would not mind playing the host, but I am definitely wary of spending the night at a stranger's place. When I go on holiday, it means abandoning all the cares of the world, not worrying about whether your safety would be compromised by being at the mercy of a stranger in his own home.

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