Family and friends...even perhaps friends of friends - but complete strangers? I couldn't do it.

Eww no. I can't even stay at close friends' homes for more than two nights. So strangers are not welcome on my couch and I'm not interested in being on theirs either. P.s. Although the couch at my house is never vacant so that's besides the point. Roomie has an unexplainable affinity for it.

I have hosted many strangers from CouchSurfing.com over the years, singles, couples for a few days each, it has opened my life to many different cultures and I cannot think of one issues in all that time. I now have true friends dotted all over the world.

Note: Each surfer has references and they all respect the rules. They are travellers so only usually need a place to crash.

Right, only friends and family and friends of stable friends with good introductions. But, that said, we hosted a couple for a year while their condo was being finished, and are hosting a friends teen daughter while her parents do some international mission work.

I have hosted CSers maybe 50 times and been hosted too. I can't do it anymore because of my chronic illness but I really miss it.

I met so many fantastic people. Like Yakadanda said, people have references and chose only to host women or couples. I read people's profiles and see if we have lots in common or not. I don't bother with people who didn't put efforts in writing a presentation. I never had a bad experience.

And living with locals when travelling in a foreign country makes the whole experience so much better for me! I don't expect them to be tourguides unless they offer, but seeing how people live locally is always very interesting.

yes i would from a site where folks come with references and would have been interested in doing that myself a few years ago but given the bed bug issues that abound...sadly i just cant do it.

I've hosted once, and they were the best! I can see how it's different every time and probably not a good idea, but I ended up hosting these three young architects from France. They came with late at night with groceries for dinner and got me a lavender plant! The next day, they were the ones taking me around in their rental to see The Getty, Eames house, Frank Gehry homes, and other classic Hollywood designed houses. It really taught me a lot about how to be a great guest and they told me what to see for my first Europe trip and it was really helpful.

Forget the "would you HOST" aspect... I wouldn't be comfortable BEING a couch surfer. Going into a stranger's home and sleeping on their couch with them and whatever set up they have created just seems like a set up for a really bad slasher flick. "Couch Surfing 2: The Ultimate Shred"

I have and would Couch Surf on the sofas of people I know or have some connection with (ie; friends of friends, and whatnot).

I really, really want to be open and trusting enough to experience what Sophier & Yakadanda are talking about... I just can't.

correction: not "with" them. That was an incomplete edit of "with them in the other room".

oops!~ LOL

Couchsurfers tend to be young, adventurous people looking to travel not only cheaply, but truly experiencing the place they are visiting by meeting locals. I am very glad that couch surfing exists and I love the community it creates. By meeting people from other parts of the planet, you become a much more worldly person based on the experience you created and not what expensive 'worldly' things you own. If you are an old grouchy person, please don't condemn couchsurfing because you value your life based on your possessions.

Outside of a natural disaster in which case I'd be pleased to offer a stranger a safe place to stay for a night or two...
...why anyone would voluntarily have a complete stranger stay in their house just so they can save money on hotel rooms is beyond me.

After a long night out I woke up on the couch at a stranger's apartment. On the other couch was a friendly Australian guy who was halfway through a surf-safari of all the great West Coast spots he'd read about. His next stop was 20 miles south in the town I reside in. So, he gave me a ride in his rental station wagon (which was also his hotel). Of course I offered up my couch for the night. He went surfing with my roomie, showered, charged his phone and camera, took us out for pizza and beers and was on his way the next day.

I like my privacy and routine a lot, but the idea of being able to engineer a unique 'worldly' experience every now and then-- without leaving home--has it's appeal.

Though, I'd probably opt to get a little cash out of it with AirBnB

I never would have done it (either way) but my husband was a devoted Couchsurfing host when we met, so we've ended up hosting a couple of people and a couple of bands, and been hosted once overnight during a vacation. All the experiences have been great on all counts. While I wouldn't host anyone if I lived on my own (or when my husband is out of town for work), I don't mind having folks stay occasionally. As others have mentioned, you have the option to say no to anyone online based on whatever reasons you like.

I've been a member of couch surfing for year, and even met my parner, hosting him for 2 days several years ago.

For me, the security features on the sites (references, being "vouched for", history on the site and a very clear and well filled out profile) all help make me feel safe. You are always (as host or surfer) always able to say no (either you are unavailable to host or would not want to stay in a place being offered) so for me there is enough flexibility to find out more about a person (beyond their profile) before following through with any plans one way or another.

Its such a valuable part of so many people's lives that the community works really hard to ensure that one bad seed doesn't spoil it for the rest, which also makes a great difference.

I'm such a crab(Cancer, that is).
I can't just invite anyone to my shell and I don't want to sleep in a strangers one. It's a cool idea for those who don't mind and sounds like an awesome way to meet people, it's just not for me.

I've done it plenty of times! I've met so many interesting people, and hosted great new friends from around the world. I'm in my late twenties, but I've stayed with a woman in her late fifties who has been couch surfing for years, and I've found a wide age variety.

Taking a chance? Sure. But the site is well maintained and it's very easy to check references. Life is full of chances, and I wouldn't trade my couch surfing experiences for a solitary hotel room in a lonely city any day.

I haven't hosted anyone from Couchsurfer, but I've hosted strangers many times. Once I had 6 French students crashing at my place when someone from a listserv I was on said a French acquaintance of theirs was coming with 5 other people and needed a place to stay. They were super nice!

I also participated in a program in which people open up their homes to patients or the family of patients who have come for treatment at one of the many great hospitals here in Boston. That was a great experience!

I did have one bad experience with a woman who was an acquaintance of someone from a listserv I was on...she turned out to be mentally ill (homeless at times) and was looking like she had no intention of leaving. However, I made it very clear that she could stay for a maximum of 2 weeks. I reminded her that she'd have to make plans to find another place to stay, since my place was only temporary, but she didn't...probably because she wanted to stay longer. But at midnight at the end of the 2 weeks, I sent her off with some money to stay at the YWCA for 2 nights. She made hundreds and hundreds of phone calls while at my house (thank God I didn't have long distance service!), stole some of my clothing, and said some very rude things to me. But you know what? In the end I still don't regret letting her stay with me.

Funny pic but no, I wouldn't let strangers stay over. It's just me so I'd worry for my safety.

The picture terrifies me! But I've heard of people having great success with Couchsurfer. Some jobs (like mine) have an exchange unique to your job, so you'd only exchange with other clergy or with other nurses. I'm signed up with that. Otherwise, I'll be taking my hubby hosteling on our next trip, because the man has never been hosteling, and he needs to experience it!

"If you are an old grouchy person, please don't condemn couchsurfing because you value your life based on your possessions."

AnnaBot, this is a very unfair representation of what people's concerns are regarding this issue. What I would worry about is my personal safety and that of my pets, not the safety of my possessions. This is a valid concern and shouldn't be trivialized and dismissed in the way you've done here.

Wow, after reading all of these comments, I would host my place if so many people and dogs didn't live in my small house and if any couch-surfers actually came to Flint, MI.

Is there a book like "Eat, Pray, Love" out there about adventures in couch-surfing? That would be a really cool read :)

STH is an old grouchy person.

My husband and I used crashpadder to find a spare room to stay in Munich for Oktoberfest. It was a great experience, great hosts, clean apartment, and we got to stay 2 stops from the fairgrounds for less than the third of the cost of a hotel room. I'd recommend it as a good alternative to a hotel room.

I hosted my first CochSurfer in December and had a fantastic experience. By staying with me she was able to do/see more of Alaska and I was able to share my love for Fairbanks. To be able to spend time with likeminded individuals who enjoy traveling and seek out new experiences is enough of a reason for me.

As long as all individuals involved are up front about expectations and rules there shouldn't be any problems. It's not for everyone but neither are 5 star resorts...to each his/her own

I don't even like staying with friends or having them stay with me, much less let a total stranger into my house. Really, how do you know you aren't hosting a Jeffrey Dahmer type or someone who will help you declutter by cleaning out your home of all sorts of precious things? Glad some of you have had great experiences, but I'll pass.

I have a friend who fell into financial straits through divorce and has been making quite a tidy profit by listing her one-bedroom Brooklyn apt. with AirBnB. Granted, she has a country house to escape to and is not there when her "guests" are in residence, but so far, six months into it, she has nothing but great things to say about the people she has met during the key exchange and the way they have treated her apt. Evidently the whole BnB community vetting process really works, everyone in the world wants to visit NYC, the cash is definitely nice, and thus far she's had no bed bugs. In fact, she's been so enthusiastic I'm somewhat intrigued with the whole idea. (Though not enough to get past the bed bug issue. Isn't luggage the biggest culprit?)

As many mentioned above, it's not about a free place to stay (for most) it's about having an authentic experience when you travel. When I went to Greece, I spent 3 days in a hostel (met other travelers and partied), 3 days in a luxurious hotel room on an island (relaxed and enjoyed the beauty) and my last night couchsurfing with a Greek student, who lived outside the city. I had a great time the entire week, but it's hard to really get to know a place when you're just another tourist, so my last night there is what stands out when I look back on the trip. It's definitely all about the references but I can see how it might be too close for comfort sometimes...there's an option to say you're not offering a couch but are willing to meet up for coffee...

We live in (family) student housing, and at Christmas-time, someone usually asks to rent out our apartment while we're gone, usually a friend-of-a-friend situation. Every year I stress all 2 weeks that we're gone that we're going to come back to a wreck, or our kids toys will be dripping with e-coli, but we've always come back to a clean home, two or three hundred dollars, and usually some kind of yummy snack in the fridge. It works. But I don't think I'd do couch surfing; and not even just because I have 2 young kids.

I did CS and was hosting as well. Great experience! Now my bro and his gf started it and they love it (they are on budget). Now I prefer not to be disturbed but if I were on a budget ever again, I would go for it again!

Gee, AnnaBot, sorry if not wanting to be raped or murdered makes me old and grouchy. Sheesh.

KayinKCMO: How did your friends become your friends? You met them and got to know them. You chose the people you spend your time with. If you took the time to investigate couch surfing, there is the option of CHOICE. You get to choose IF someone stays with you and/or WHO stays with you. That gives you a lot of control. No one is being raped and murdered here.

you can check the people you stay with. there are lot of comments and previous experiences.

I would do it for sure. Especially if I was traveling through Europe and wanted to do it in an inexpensive and authentic sort of way.

I would also host as well, especially if I had a granny flat or extra bedroom. The couch thing is cool, but an extra bed and bath really make the difference to me.

No way. I can't even do family - I prefer they stay in a hotel! :)

I too have met some of the most interesting people in my life through Couchsurfing.com. We used it when I travelled a couple of years ago and I found that some of the people we met as hosts were the highlights of our trip.

I've hosted too and would gladly do it again. The site makes it a lot safer and it's a great way to meet new and interesting people.

I would love to do it but I'm not capable. S.O. doesn't have such an open mind, but I'm working on it. :) Love all the good reports in the comments, you guys do a very convincing job to keep my mind open!

I have been a guest and a host in an international homestay organization called Servas (it used to be called Open Doors). Travellers and hosts are interviewed and screened. The organization is dedicated to promoting peace and international understanding through travel. Both travelers and hosts get to learn a lot about other cultures and peoples. Travelers get a free place to stay (for two nights, sometimes more) and get to visit places very much off the beaten track. Hosts get to show their part of the world to new people. Accommodations range from an air mattress on the floor (or a couch) to a private guest chalet.

I've met people who've traveled around the world as Servas guests. If you're inclined towards international peace and goodwill, I highly recommend it! www.usservas.org The membership is aging, and really would benefit from more young people!

I've been on both ends of couch surfing. As a community organizer doing election work if it weren't for couch surfing I would have been out of a place to sleep a lot of nights - you can't rent an apartment when you don't know how long you're going to be in town and hotel rooms are too expensive.

I think the CS security features are great and nothing has ever happened. Since I do not have children I have never given it a second thought. When we have kids I will change my mind. It's not that I think anyone would do something but I can't take the chance with someone else's safety.

I've been on both sides of the Couch Surfing spectrum, and I have to say, they were both overwhelmingly positive.

I've stuck to people who were given positive reviews by other users and who seem genuinely like someone I would get along with. As a result, I've made a couple of friendships that have lasted long past the surf and it's been a worthwhile experience, as a whole.

Especially for adults who are unsure how to meet new people or who feel a little lonely, I think it's a great way to make a short-term friend and to get a "local" perspective on what you should do in a new city.

I *want* to like the idea, but sadly, the first and only experience I had with hosting a couch surfer was fairly disastrous. She proudly told us about how she didn't believe in paying for food and that she'd been kicked out of her family home for stealing, she never cleaned up after herself, and instead of meeting my roommate to collect keys, she opted to break into the building in order to bring home a man she'd just met for sex. (She got hers on that one: my other roommate came home with some friends to find our guest and her date in flagrante delicto on the couch facing the front door.) While I'm sure most couch surfers are not like this, it really put me off the idea of hosting.

I would like to be more open to it, but sadly I just don't feel comfortable with strangers in my home even just for a party (not knowing what they like, what they might want, etc) and it would drive me insane overnight. I can't even sleep well at others houses - and they are people I know or are related to.

I don't disbelieve the positive comments here, but I've lived mostly in this county since seventh grade. After all I've witnessed, my home's just for friends and family and their friends. My gut says stranger couch-surfing, from either end, would be foolish of me to the point of indicating a death wish.

I recently met three older ladies who became great friends through couch surfing. What they liked most was being with a local who could either give advice on what to see or actually show them around. They highly recommended it.

My sister and I used AirBnB in France. For $100 we got a loft that was a 15 minute Metro Ride from the center of Paris. We arrived, were shown around and our host flew off on his moped. We got to pretend to be real Parisians for a night, and met our host for a drink before we left. We felt safe, since we had the apartment to ourselves, yet got an authentic experience by being in a real neighborhood.
I would definitely do it again!

i've hosted a few different couchsurfers and also must say that my experiences were extremely positive. super nice, respectful folks that stayed with me. great conversation and interesting to interact with people from different locales, cultures, etc...

I'd love to host CS but I live where no-one wants to go, so that's not an option...
Sleeping on someone else's couch is nothing I would do though.

I am surprised by the popularity of the concept. I wouldn't allow a stranger in my house regardless of background checks. I can just imagine going to bed and somone stealing all my valuables. Doesn't seem like insurance would cover couch surfer damage.

I was skeptical when my husband first suggested joining Couch Surfers, but I have to say everyone we've encountered has been a wonderful and respectful person! Plus our local chapter of surfers has become a great new group of friends for us! We've hosted and we've been hosted and it works well and saves you a LOT of money when traveling. Plus most hosts will show you the cool sights that the tourists normally miss. I understand why people wouldn't want to do this. Admittedly, I was uneasy when my husband said we'd have 2 guys from Saudi Arabia staying with us (since it's generally known to be an extremely sexist country) but they were nice kids and very respectful. It really just comes down to trusting in your fellow human beings and trusting in your own instincts to evaluate if they're "okay" or not.

Absolutely. I've hosted someone from Turkey on my couch here in Toronto & it was a great experience. I learned all about his culture & I got to play tourist in my own city for a while as I showed him a few landmarks.

I chatted with him online before he arrived to suss him out & I told my BF and family everything about him just in case it got creepy (contact info, etc.)

He left me with a lovely Turkish trinket as a thank-you gift & I'd love to host another traveler as soon as I can!

I have hosted a few Couchsurfers. Having a positive experience is pretty easy as long as you use common sense. Being a single woman, I only host female travelers and only those who have been vouched for by other surfers. That being said, I've never stayed at another CouchSurfer's place simply because I like to have my own space when I travel. I have met up with someone for coffee while traveling which I think is a nice middle ground.

While living abroad in Cork, Ireland in 2008, my roommate and I hosted a few couchsurfers -- a wonderful experience to meet others and to boost our credibility as couchsurgers ourselves. While backpacking for a month we stayed with 'strangers' in Amsterdam, Paris, and Florence. We found that it was a nice balance and affordable alternative between hostels and 2-star hotels. Also: it makes for excellent stories.

I've been Couchsurfing and taking in Couchsurfers since 2008 and have only great things to say about it. Okay, true, I've had a few misadventures (lost keys, broken window) but nothing horrendous and more often than not I've received as much if not more than what I've given. I even started a blog inspired by my experiences: http://couchsurfingcook.com.
I Twitter at couchsurfngcook.
Give it a try, I think you'd find it's not as dangerous or bad as you think.
Heck, you may even make a new friend!
I now have a guaranteed apt. swap in Paris.
Not bad for letting a cool professor stay on my air mattress! Wylie G., Couchsurfing Cook

AnnaBot, what a ridiculous comment. You told KayinKCMO "How did your friends become your friends? You met them and got to know them.", and then implied that you could do the same thing with couchsurfing.

Really? You can meet your prospective guests in person in a public place? And do this multiple times to get to know them before agreeing to host them? I find that hard to believe. I can guarantee you that I don't count anyone as an actual friend that I have not interacted with face-to-face multiple times, though I have plenty of acquaintances who don't meet those criteria with whom I am friendly (not the same thing at all). It is too easy to misrepresent oneself over the phone, through text, or in a brief meeting.

Sorry to say this but some of you have pretty crappy lives. Not trusting someone is one thing, but to think you are going to be ambushed, burgled and preyed upon is pretty hilarious.

I suggest you turn off Fox News and live a little. The vast majority of human beings are good, honest, respectful, interesting people.

Wow! This sounds like a great concept! I will definitely have to check it out.

I've found that most people with open minds tend to be the most interesting people i come across. It's always so easy to make conversation and the people are generally respectful and FUN!

It's so nice to read all the positive comments from people who have done it. I can't wait to check it out- my husband and I want to travel badly but can't really afford to. This would be a wonderful way to go.

I am a frequent AirBnB host. I love it for several reasons - my husband and I meet all kinds of interesting people from around the globe, AND, we make a not insignificant sum of $$ in the process. Our guests get an "authentic" experience, a cute place to stay for less than the over-priced hotel rooms in our resort community, plus breakfast, and a couple of friendly locals at their disposal. All of our guests have treated our "mother-in-law" cottage very respectfully. I can't recommend AirBnb highly enough!

I've hosted and surfed through Couchsurfing since 2006, and have rented through Airbnb since my honeymoon this fall. I've only had positive experiences with both sites and the people I've met through them.

Sounds like a lot of people have seen a few too many slasher movies.

I am a host on airbnb, and have had a fantastic experience, and it is different than couch surfing. On airbnb, the guests pay up front for your spare room (or couch or entire apartment). And since I charge $75/night, I figure they aren't going to pay $ to rob and rape me. And, I don't give them the key to the deadbolt, just in case I get any creepos. But the reality is the guests I have had have all been amazing, polite, and respectful! And from all over the world and all ages. From parents in town for their daughters graduation, to individuals in town for conferences, to two 20 year old girls from Thailand, to an older Australian couple staying an extra night before their cruise to Alaska. And, they are rarely in your place, since they are out and about.

I've also been a guest when I was in Barcelona, and that was also great.

I do understand the fear that people have, and I had it at first. But then I read about a single woman in my city who did it, but runs background checks on people. So I tried it, and it has been fantastic. And a great way to meet people as well.

before doing couch surfing and airbnb (i've hosted and been a guest for both) i was freaked out by the whole idea, but after having done both many times at this point, i too have had only very positive experiences. it is kind of a hard concept to wrap your mind around if you haven't done it (putting myself at the mercy of STRANGERS?!), but it is a great reminder that on the whole people are good and kind and generous. and i love that.

I would like to mention that if you're not "sure" about it, but vaguely curious, that CS has a "coffee or a drink" option so you can "host" someone as a tour guide in your city for an afternoon or a over couple of days, without ever having to have them in your home.

Maybe with a better sense of how CS works and a couple of good experiences under your belt you can decide if you feel comfortable enough to "up the ante" so to speak.

I notice commenters here who registered today just to push their agenda. I see no legitimate reason for them to politicize this post, e.g., ascribing Fox News viewing to those not supporting them. I have even less interest in joining these groups after this display of sophomoric deprecatory debate technique and see-through propaganda.

I've hosted via the Couchsurfing website and they have been uniformly positive experiences. I am a single woman, so I only host women. I've done a variation of couchsurfing my entire life, often staying with the friend of a friend of a friend when I am traveling. If you are interested in an older crowd and you are a woman, you can always check out JourneyWoman or Women Welcome Women. Both sites use this idea to encourage international relationships.

I spent almost a week in Scotland with a woman that I meant through JourneyWoman's Hermail networking website and spent some quality hours with a delightful woman in Copenhangen during an 8 hr lay-over. If you think about it as a community building experience, it doesn't seem so strange.

That said, I have a long family history of hospitality to friends, soon-to-be friends and strangers, so this doesn't seem weird or scary to me.

Another note--with couchsurfing, or any other situation where you are meeting strangers and thinking of inviting them into your home, it is common practice to meet in a neutral space--online, in-person, or both--before you actually let someone into your home. This allows either party to decline if it seems like a bad fit in any way.

The benefits of couch surfing are limitless!! I understand the objection, but the purpose of the website, to me, isn't really to connect the casual vacationer with a random place to stay. It's about connecting people who genuinely LOVE traveling and want to share their homes and cities with fellow spirits.

I couch surfed for the first time last summer and it was amazing. My host was delightful and I think of her as a friend. I would TOTALLY open my home up to fellow surfers!!

I wish I had surfed more abroad and fully intend to do so in the future.

hahahahaha. ditto @yakadanda

i do this all the time. i've met some great people this way. those of you who are opposed ... well, as a single woman i can understand. but i will tell you you're missing some great experiences.

The hard sell in this thread almost seems orchestrated, e.g., voluminous comments of a sun-shininess usually associated with pyramid schemes, cult conversions, and infomercials. No one's trying to stop any one from couch-surfing, so if this is legitimate then why push so hard for approval?

Yeah, that's what I thought. Bepsf's right, again.

? People were just relaying their personal experiences -- most of them being great. Just as you are relaying your…apprehensiveness/paranoia (?). I don't know the age range of the commentators, but couch surfing (especially when backpacking) is a wonderful, affordable option. As a 21 year old student, I didn't have the funds to stay in a hotel or even some of the hostels. Aside from the financial benefits -- it also offers an entirely different experience, especially if staying with someone from the country you are visiting. In case you have missed the content of the comments entirely, no one is trying to make any one couch surf, either.

I'm a member of couchsurfing but only used it to meet locals to enjoy a meal or drink with. It was a uniformly wonderful experience while I was travelling in Thailand. I met dozens of cool people and got great travel advice.

@modernguy,
I'm a crab too (Cancerian) and I've been a member of CouchSurfing for years. Once you get started it can be a bit scary but you'll get addicted soon enough. Cancers do like to come out of their shell; invite others into their circle every so often. We're not complete hermits shut off from the world.

I think the major problem here is that people are too worried about meeting the 'bad' people they forget that 99.9% of people are good, and by submitting to their fears they are cutting themselves off from all the good people they could meet.

I've got no idea and can't seem to figure out why anyone would have a problem with staying with or giving a place to stay to their friends, and while I can understand the apprehension to have strangers in your personal space there are other ways to participate in couchsurfing as well, such as coffee.

As for the benefits of couchsurfing: the surfer has a place to stay, access to local knowledge of the area, if they are travelling alone they have company for a bit, and they get to build relationships with locals; the host gets to meet people from other places while they are not travelling, may even be given ideas on what there is to do in their area if the traveller has done research, the likelihood of a reciprocal couchsurf if they ever travel to where the surfer is from, and some quality conversations (usually about their shared interests in travelling).

Personally, as a solo 24-year-old female traveller I have never once felt afraid, in terms of belongings or personal safety, of anyone I have stayed with. As for my hosts, they have all very graciously given me spare keys, left the house unlocked or made other arrangements so I could come and go when I wanted. Why such trust? Simple. People who are a part of couchsurfing generally like to be optimistic and hopeful about the human race.

The people I've met in couchsurfing support every reason I am optimistic and hopeful about the human race. There are still so many amazing people in the world and I love that couchsurfing gives me a great way to meet some of them.