KasiaRecommends: Couchsurfing #2

Dear Steemians,

Today I would like to tell you more in detail how Couchsurfing function and how to create the account on the platform.

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We envision a world made better by travel and travel made richer by connection. Couchsurfers share their lives with the people they encounter, fostering cultural exchange and mutual respect.
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Let’s start from the beginning. Couchsurfing is a social network that gathers people who:

• offer lodging (“hosts”) or
• are seeking a place to stay for a night or a short time (“guests”).
• Because the community become popular, and both internet site and mobile application work well, nowadays Couchsurfing is also a way to connect with locals in order to meet for a coffee/drink, to visit a city or simply hang out. There are also official meetings organised frequently for the whole community in a particular city.

It is based on a money-free exchange. It means that the host cannot ask you for a payment. On the other hand, it is advised that the guest offer a gift – something from his home country or invite him/her for a dinner.

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For who?

Guests.
Let’s imagine that you arrive to a foreign country and you want to spend more time with locals. You want to have an authentic experience, better understand the country and its people. Couchsurfing is a perfect solution because you homestay so you have a direct contact with locals.
There is a second group of travellers that sadly do not really care about their hosts or the mutual unwritten custom. They choose Couchsurfing as a mean for free accommodation. Sure, the community offers free stay and it is one of its main and most recognisable features which makes it unique and attractive. But it is much more and if you won’t act respectfully, you risk ending up with bad comments on your profile.

Hosts.
It really doesn’t matter if you offer an entire room or just a bed (a couch, a mattress). The most important is that you are willing to interact, share your time and positive attitude. After all, this is what most travellers value the most.

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The account

In order to be a member of Couchsurfing community, you must first create an account. You can connect to the platform via its internet site - www.couchsurfing.com and its mobile application (that you can find on both the App Store for iOS devices and on the Google Play).

After registration, you suppose to work on your profile. It shouldn’t be empty if you want others to trust you and offer you homestay/use your lodging. What you need to be ready to answer is:

“About” section:

• basic information: your age, home country, occupation, education, languages you are fluent In and that you are learning;
• “What is your Hosting Availability” – you can choose from: “Accepting guests” – “Maybe accepting guests” – “Not accepting guests” – “Wants to meet up”
• “About me” – an overview, you simply write whatever you feel is relevant about yourself
• “Why I’m on Couchsurfing?”
• What are your interests?
• “Music, Movies, and Books” that you enjoy
• “One Amazing Thing I’ve Done”;
• “Countries I’ve Visited”;
• “Countries I’ve Lived In”.

There is a huge and detailed section concerning the accommodation that you are willing to offer:

• What is the maximum number of guests that you would accept?
• Would you accept “last-minute requests and/ or “multiple groups”?
• Do you have a gender preference?
• is your place pet/kids/smoking friendly?
• What are you able to offer to the guest: shared room – public room (eg. living room) – private room?
• Any additional information that may be important, like public transportation access.

“Photo” section, where you are asked to attach a real and updated photo (photos) of yourself.

“Reference” section, that at the beginning will remain empty; this is the most important part of the profile, where other guests and hosts leave their comments about you; and based on the comments you develop a reputation. If they are neutral or negative chances are pretty small that you will be able to interact and profit from the community.

This is how it works:

Use the Reference System to let other Couchsurfers know about your experiences with the people you meet. Be honest and clear. The other member won’t see your reference until they leave theirs, or until 14 days have passed. After 14 days, members are not able to leave a Host or Surf reference.
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Sending joy! :)
Enjoy the travel &
Pura Vida!
Kasia

• More about me here :)
  and here: You can travel without being wealthy aka a girl from a "struggling" family chasing her dreams!

Some of my latest recommendations:

• Just take it S L O W. Slow movement and travel
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• Salvador Dalí Theatre-Museum by night (Figueres, Spain)