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BANG FOR THE BITE
If 10,000 Biters opt for a couch instead of a hotel room, we'll save up to 11,000 bathtubs of water each day by sparing the water used in cleaning hotels.
COCKTAIL FACT
Earlier this year, the city of Murfreesboro, TN, made it illegal to keep "indoor furniture outdoors."
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home › tip library › Couch Surfing
Wanna (pillow) fight off high hotel rates?
The Bite
Camp out on a friendly sofa or guest room instead. Couch surfing's not for everyone, but try it, and you'll find change between those cushions (both penny-wise and planetwise).The Benefits
- A less trashy vacay. Big hotels generate a lotta waste - up to 8 tons per day - just think of all the fire-hose showerheads, partially used shampoos, and copies of USA Today you probably never read.
- More cash for a comfier plane seat. We can't guarantee you won't get stuck with a lumpy couch littered with dog hair, but hey, couch surfing's free.
- Making friends all over. The Couch Surfing Project is responsible for forming more than 37,000 relationships (some closer than others).
Personally Speaking
While Jen's on her monthly biz trip to NYC, she stays with her BFF (also named Jen) who lives there, because A) it's more fun, and B) it lets her stick it to the hotels that charge for literally everything...HBO, Internet, breathing...Wanna Try?
- Couch Surfing Project - the most-trafficked network to connect you to hospitable couch owners, with an easy-to-navigate social networking layout.
- Global Freeloaders - Aussie-based site for self-professed freeloaders who wanna save money and make new friends while seeing the world.
- Hospitality Club - international social group with a mission to connect people from different cultures.
Aug 01,2008
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All editorial suggestions in this tip are the result of testing and a preference for the tip topic. No advertiser has paid to have its company referenced in the tip. For more information, please read our Editorial Policy.
Reason #1 to Keep Up Correspondence with Far-flung Friends and Family
While I'm a fan of HBO, maid service, and fluffy pillows, I'd trade it all for a couch and a local tour guide. I try to travel to places where I know people since guide books and solo exploration aren't my thing. Thankfully, I've got friends and family in a lot of "destination" places (Miami, Paris, Tokyo, Doha...San Bernardino), so I've got plenty of couches to choose from, plus insider info they don't print in Condé Nast Traveler.
-Toshio...off to make like Bran Van 3000...
Biter Comments...
Thanks for highlighting CouchSurfing! I spent two weeks this summer couchsurfing through Belgium and the Netherlands and it was a fantastic experience. Yes, it did help financially to not be paying for a hostel bed or hotel room, but the biggest benefit was meeting wonderful people and seeing how they live. It's cultural exchange (long conversations about everything from politics to transportation systems to romance) and the chance to see firsthand that it's not only possible but preferable to live more efficiently that makes couch surfing such a powerful experience. We have a lot to learn from new-found friends the world over.
I heard about the couch surfing thing about a year or so ago. It sounds like a great idea, and I love to meet new people, whether they're in my neighborhood or from the other side of the world. But I worry about safety both as a traveler and host.
I'm a twenty-something female living alone. I would not feel safe hosting a complete stranger in my home, nor would I feel safe staying on a stranger's couch by myself. And if I didn't live alone - i.e. with roommates, partner, or husband - I would still worry about theft or violence.
Maybe I'm just being paranoid and I need to have more faith in people. I'd be interested in hearing more stories of people who've participated in this couch surfing thing...
How funny, I was just having a conversation about this last night. I agree on the safety thing, I would have to have a male companion with me! I recently met some guys when I was traveling in Prague, they had just come from Ireland. Before they left for their trip, they heard that it was acceptable to knock on a random person's door and ask if they could camp out in their backyard. They tried it and it worked out for them. Pretty funny, and I bet it was a nice free way to have an awesome view and meet new people.
Part of the problem with hotels and environmental waste is that they don't honor their own stated policies most of the time.
You check in: there's a card in the bathroom and one on the bed that says OOO...unless your towels are on the floor or this card is on the bed we will not replace your lines as this helps save water, energy, blah, blah, blah. So you hang up your towels like you're at home and you stick the indicator card in the bedside drawer and sure enough: fresh towels and (probably) fresh linens on the bed when you come back after your day out. Getting hotels to adhere to what they say they'd do would be a good start as well since couchsurfing isn't viable for every trip.
I love the idea of couch surfing. I have taken many trips to visit friends in great locations and friends who live in remote locations with great amenities. I find that a couple of trips and I meet more friends and the network spreads to friends of friends. It has been great for my budget and for my social life. I need to add amenities to my house, cause the remote location will never be a draw. off to price an eco hot tub (is there such a thing?)
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: cindy | August 01, 2008 at 09:29 AM