Couchsurfing is a website that was created for travelers to find free accommodation by staying with locals, but it has grown into so much more than that. You can read more about it here https://www.theodysseyonline.com/couchsurfing-not-free

Couchsurfing sounds a little on the sketchy side at first. I mean, you are messaging a complete stranger and asking them if you could crash on their couch, but it’s seriously the best thing since hostels! How many of you travelers have stayed in a hostel? I’m sure plenty of you have. They’re great and you get the same thing and more, but for free!

So, here are the 6 reasons why I love Couchsurfing.

1) Locals

Meeting locals is one of the best parts about traveling. They teach you about the country you’re visiting, they give out tips for transit or the best places to eat. They share the hidden gems about their country that you might not have heard about;Couchsurfing gives all of these things to you, plus a home to stay in. It’s the perfect way to see a country, see how the people live, and experience life there through their eyes.

Throughout the times I have Couchsurfed, I have stayed with recently wed couples, college students, and families. I have also hosted a wide range of people, which have all shared so many amazing things with me. I am still friends with many of the people I have met through this site and have even met up with them more than once. The Couchsurfing site expounds on the idea that we have friends all over the world, but we just haven’t met them yet. Oh how true that is!

2) Friends

Which leads me to my next reason, friends! I have already semi-expounded on this idea, but there is more to be said. When you stay with a local or an expat who lives in the country you’re visiting, they become instant friends. They take care of you, they show you around, and you will tag along and meet their friends. You will literally meet so many more people than your host. This will lead to many other opportunities and experiences. You might get invited to go on a mini trip with someone or you might be invited over for a dinner and get together. This is a way to broaden your horizons and see more of a country than you originally planned.

You also don’t have to stay or host someone to get this experience. You’re also able to meet up with people who are visiting your city or maybe meet up with someone in your destination. You’ll most likely get the same results. If you’re showing someone around you’re city, you will see it in a new light. It can change your whole perspective on where you live, which can be a good thing. It was for me!

3) Knowledge

This is a big one. I travel for the adventure, but also for the ability to experience and gain knowledge about another world outside of my own. I enjoy becoming a part of the culture to better understand it, which is what Couchsurfing is all about. When you immerse yourself into the lives of the locals you see what their country and their world is like compared to your own or what you view through the media.

During a trip to Israel I had the opportunity to stay with three college girls in Beer Sheva. I was not mentally prepared for what I heard and learned from these girls. I stayed with them for three days and was able to learn more than what the media shares or what I read in textbooks. I was able to learn more about the history and the beauty of the present by listening to their stories. That is something I could never have gotten by staying in a hotel and something I would never forget.

4) Experience

Because of the reasons listed above, a couchsurfer will most definitely gain a lot of experience. You are able to see non-touristic sites, able to eat food that might not have been seen before, or history that was never taught to us in school. Even when I show people around my own city I am floored by the amount my eyes are opened . I personally was not a fan of my town, but now I love it and I truly enjoy sharing it with travelers.

You’ll be able to go to the best clubs, best hikes, and so much more. I cannot stress it enough the things that a person will encounter through this site. Each one is going to be unique and awesome in it’s own way, and also, special to you as a couchsurfer.

5) Groups

Another reason, I strongly support Couchsurfing is because of the available groups. The site offers the ability to create a group or join a group that interests you.

I am a part of the language exchange group, cheap airline ticket group, and more. I am able to practice and learn another language, while practicing English with others. With the airline group, I am able to post that I need a cheap ticket to a preferred destination and someone helps me find one from my home airport. Couchsurfing is a giant community of travelers helping other travelers out, and this is why it's great!

6) Laid Back Accommodation.

And lastly, the most obvious, accommodation. It’s free and charging is not allowed. So, it’s perfect for people who think that they can’t travel because of cost and people who want a laid back place to sleep for a night or two.

Your host will take care of you, you’ll want to take care of your guest, and most of all, you’ll find so much more than a free place to stay. Some people can only offer a mat on the floor and some can offer dinner and a private room/bathroom. It all varies, so make sure to ask questions and message more than one person, to find someone who will be best suited for you.

This website is perfect for any kind of traveler, even if you’re not one to stay with strangers. You can check it out here https://www.couchsurfing.com/