Couchsurfing has several million followers around the world. This is free accommodation with a host during a trip. Couchsurfing is based on a desire to meet, exchange and live the daily life of one or more people by being hosted for one night or more. The exchange of hospitality is the key word of couchsurfing.
The translation of the term couchsurfing in French gives something like this:couch surfing. The idea of couchsurfing is there:to stay for free all over the world with individuals who offer their hospitality by lending their sofa, a mattress on the floor or a corner of their lawn to pitch a tent, etc. The objective of couchsurfing is to be able to share the daily life of its guests for a short stay and to benefit from their advice. But this way of traveling the world goes further. This exchange of hospitality aims to promote exchanges between peoples in order to advance peace in the world.
Initiated after the Second World War through the “Servas” association created by an American conscientious objector, Bob Luitweiler, couchsurfing developed with the Internet. One of the first specialized sites The Hospitality Club was invented by a young German in 2000 and the most visited and used currently is Couchsurfing.com, created in 2004 by the American Casey Fenton.
Couchsurfing works like a social network. All you have to do is register on a dedicated site, most often for free, create a profile indicating whether or not you also want to host couchsurfers. But couchsurfing does not require reciprocity of this service. It is important to detail your profile in detail to give a clear idea of your personality, interests and values. The photo is essential on the site. Once registered, it is the other members who will comment on your profile and make your "reputation" with other Internet users. Couchsurfing is above all a philosophy of life based on sharing and the desire to exchange. He also asks to be quite flexible as to the dates of his trip. This is why couchsurfing is aimed more at backpackers who prefer meetings without too many travel imperatives.
For the person who is staying for free, it is important to adapt to their way of life, to respect the instructions and the rules in force at the host. Do not forget to bring a small gift on arrival that will always please.
You have the possibility to choose between a very large number of couchsurfing proposals whatever your destination. The interest is to contact a host who interests you by his profile, who corresponds to your values, who has the same interests as you and who makes you want to meet him. In addition, the opinions and comments given by the members of the site are valuable information for making your choice.
