Couch Surfing: A Haven for Travelers Couch surfing became a thing back in 2003 with the launch of an official company called Couchsurfing International Inc. Couch surfing is simple.
Alternatives to Hotels Instead of staying at hotels in Albuquerque when visiting New Mexico for example, you would call up a local (a member of the couch surfing community) and stay at their home instead, even if you don’t know them. Members of the community go online, offer their couch to travelers as they come through. It’s like having a network of distant relatives around the world that can take you in no matter where you go. Instead of blood, the things that bind you together are a mutual love to travel and respect. Strangers travel to foreign lands, find a couch to sleep on for the night, and then move on. The trips are often short, passing through. Couch surfing offers a cheaper alternative to staying in places like hotels in Albuquerque. When you’re on a budget or plan on travelling a lot, you look for ways to save as much money as possible.
The Advantage of Couch Surfing Couch surfing is a great opportunity for people to do just that. Not only that but you gain the expert advice and company of natives of the land. If you’re looking for the best local places to eat, just ask your host. If you want to go for a night on the town, who better to be your guide than those that own homes in that city—assuming they have the time? Not only that, but you make lasting connections with people around the world, building a network of friends that you couldn’t have met any other way. Making acquaintances on a trip make the trip that much better. You get to see the city from another perspective. You gain a friend that you can share more adventures with in the future. The community has been safe thus far. Travelers are able to protect each other with the website.
Like any rating system for hotels in Albuquerque, crowd rating has its place on the Couchsurfing website. When you’re browsing homes to stay in on your travels, you can see if the house has hosted people before, as well as if they hosted ‘solo’ travelers or not. On top of being able to see that others visited, you can send those individuals a private message to ask about their experience. What better source to find out about the quality of a service than to find out from past “customers?” On top of contacting previous visitors, interacting hosts and visitors often leave references for each other, making their opinion clear. The website encourages them to make references, so look for them in the homes you’re attempting to visit. These two reference systems combined with your instincts and intuition can help you find an interesting, cultural alternative to checking into hotels in Albuquerque, or wherever you may be. Couch surfing is incredible helpful when looking for a place to stay on an extremely strict budget. You couldn’t expect many of the luxuries that come with hotels because everything has its pros and cons. Should you want for those luxuries, need your own place to yourself, or want to stay for an extended period of time, the hotels in Albuquerque will always be there to provide these comforts.