If you were stuck overseas during the recent Icelandic volcano airline blackout and didn’t have friends to stay with as I did, your situation became increasingly grim. People were sleeping on chairs, in bus stations, at airports on the floor. If only they’d known about the virtues of Couchsurfing, they might have had a cushier time of it. Here’s where to go and how it works:
CouchSurfing is an international non-profit network that connects travelers with locals in over 230 countries and territories around the world. Since 2004, members have been using the system to come together for cultural exchange, friendship, and learning experiences. Today, over a million people who might otherwise never meet are able to share hospitality and cultural understanding.
Hosts have the opportunity to meet people from all over the world without leaving home. “Surfers,” or travelers, are able to participate in the local life of the places they visit. “Surfing” also lowers the financial cost of world exploration. Basically you match interests, area of the world and timing. The Couchsurfing site does all the heavy lifting for you, here:
