a drink . There is however, and emergency board available adults and college
requested that their
on the website in the case
location is confirmed. The
of unreliable people.
students. What poses a
seen on blog pages, with
problem in most instances
pictures and contact
member is then sent a
is a lack funds to support
information displayed
postcard with a code on it.
to Rome,
such adventures. A project
at the members' discretion.
Going to the couchsurfing
who was an ambassador and a tour guide for
"When I decided to go t
found this guy
known as Couchsurfing
People who have hosted
website and typing in
can help ease the struggle.
others or have been hosted
the given code allows
the Vatican.. he had
can also leave their friends
the member to become
hundreds and hundreds of
worldwide network of
recommendations, which
officially verified.
people offering their
gives others reassurance
Couch surfing is a
Don't fret if traveling
references,"said Brittany Fulk, a VCU junior. "So I
homes, and couches, for
when requesting to
plans are made in haste!
went to Rome and I figured
travelers to stay the night.
stay over. "Everybody that I've
Many couchsurfing
he would answer his
Stays are generally only for a day or two. While it
met, like the girl I stayed
is possible to "couchsurf,"
with first in Baltimore,
unofficially joining the
most of her friends were
couchsurfing website,
couch surfers as well," said
www.couchsurfing.org"
Leigh Rawls, a VCU cinema
opens up a world of
major. "So t ended up ..
possibilities .
getting to know them .1 just
"I hosted this kid who was backpacking without any money, and he spent eight months going across country," said Adam
Couchsurfing is a worldwide network of people offering their homes, and couches, for travelers to stay the night.
didn't expect everyone to be so nice and welcoming." To get references when first beginning the
hosts don't mind short notification . A simple message the day
phone, [but] he never did." For those antsy to travel the States or even the
couchsurfing adventure,
before arrival is often
world, couchsurfing
it's a good idea to sign
enough notice.
can be a useful tool to
Tremper, a VCU junior. "Literally, he started in
up with a friend and join
Wisconsin and went all
the network together,
Oftentimes, those traveling will contact more
help curb costs, as well as meeting all sorts of
the way down to Florida,
then write each other
than one person in their
friends along the way.
California, [and] all the
references. This will make
Get connected:
way to Alaska. [H]e was
other members more likely
destination to ensure that they'll have a place to stay
gone for so long and he
to request your couch.
for the night. However,
spent no money. "We [also] hosted a kid
To provide members
www.couchsurfing.com
it's not uncommon to get
with an added sense of
a couchsurfing request, and then not hear back
from Thailand who was
security, the website offers
coming to look at schools,
members the chance to
from the individual. Some
and he just didn't have
become "verified." This
'surfers might just want
money to stay in a hotel,
means that the member
to meet up for coffee or
inl4
21
