The Couch Surfing.

A few days ago I told about “home exchange”, a new way to enjoy holidays and also save a bit of money.
Today I will discuss another “alternative holiday”, the Couch Surfing, a project of free hospitality for travellers and tourists. The idea was conceived in 2003 by founder Casey Fenton, a young 25 year old programmer with a great passion for travelling. It consists in the possibility to connect people willing to offer a free accommodation, on the couch of their home or in a tent in the garden, with travellers who need a place to stay. The only thing to do is register yourself on the website www.couchsurfing.com and begin the search for a “couch”. But would it be really safe?
Get to the house of a stranger, leave all the bags in a corner, make a small talk and go out for a stroll (with him or not). Will you find all your stuff when you go back? And who can ensure you will spend a night unhurt? After all, we would be alone, in the house of a stranger, on his couch.
Don’t worry! The whole Couch Surfing project is based on the mutual trust of the members of the community and that guarantees a great attention to the safety rules.
First of all, you can register and access to the hospitality service only if you have come of age. Second, the program is developed so that when the registration takes palce, several personal data are required. Furthermore, the answers are tested in three different levels. Finally, a further system to protect the community: the personal assessment, a feedback mechanism, issued both by the guest and the landlord at the end of the experience. In this way, users can determinate in advance whether the person is or not indicated to their availabilities and needs.
So why wait any further? Couch Surfing is not just a low-cost vacation. It is an experience that gives the opportunity to meet people around the world, relate to different cultural contexts, make links and friendships.
Besides the savings, in fact, the Couch Surfing aims to a more noble purpose: “to promote friendships, enrich our lives and help to create a better world, safer and more peaceful.”