If the idea of staying with a stranger makes you feel queasy, it’s probably time to give it a go. Here are first-hand reports from travelers who use CouchSurfing and Servas on a regular basis.
CouchSurfing
“I connect with communities wherever I go,” says Leigh Shulman, artist, writer and seasoned traveler. In 2007, Leigh and her husband left New York City to travel the world with their adorable daughter Lila in tow. Since then, they’ve been through Europe, Canada, the US, and Central America.
CouchSurfing.org is a worldwide network for making connections between travelers and the local communities they visit. Leigh says:
Staying with with someone through Couchsurfing can be like staying with an old friend, even if you’ve just met. On our way back from Israel, we had a stopover in Zurich. I hadn’t made plans for a place to stay, and last-minute posted on the Switzerland emergency couch group.
A man named Werner responded to Leigh’s post and shared his home with her family for three nights.
We stayed up late talking over coffee and chocolate. He showed us around, played with our daughter. We had a huge snowball fight. When we left, he took us to the airport and waved goodbye at security until we turned the corner. His generosity and spirit will be with me forever.
Not only can you forge lasting friendships with people around the world, but Couchsurfing also makes it easy to get tips on navigating around town, Leigh says, such as where to do laundry, get your coffee fix, or buy groceries.
Servas
Shel Horowitz, a popular speaker, consultant and author of eight books, has been a member of Servas since 1983. Now an accredited NGO and recognized by the United Nations, Servas is the oldest hospitality exchange organization. At Servas, the process is a little more formal than at Couchsurfing. You have to go through an interview process and be approved as a “Servas traveler.”
Shel has used both Servas and Courchsurfing to connect with hosts in other countries. According to him, it’s been an overwhelmingly positive experience. “By staying with real people in a real neighborhood, I find I get a much deeper sense of place, as well as advice on what to see and do and what to skip,” he says.
Because of his authentic connection with place, Shel’s travel memories are specific and deeply personal, rather than being a whirlwhind of tourist activity and postcard scenes.
When I think of Prague, I think of my 11-year-old son being sent along with the child of our host family to go to the tavern and buy a pitcher of beer for dinner–something he couldn’t do at home in the US. When I think of Athens, I think of the incredible concert my host’s sons performed in their living room. When I think of Martha’s Vineyard, I think of our long and relaxing bike ride along the dunes. Even when I think of Tijuana, I think not of tourist-infested Avenida de la Revolucion but of the fascinating neighborhood two or three blocks off, a real Mexican city.
Shel also points out that avoiding “the anonymity of hotels” helps him stay grounded when traveling. Staying in a real home is a good beginning, and he builds on that by familiarizing himself with the wider territory. “If it’s a tourist area, I also make sure to walk through the non-tourist areas, go into local supermarkets and stores, and when possible use public transportation. All of these things create anchors in my mind.”
What’s the best method you’ve found for turning strangers into friends? Share your stories in the comments.
I want to help you find your calm center and experience travel with courage, curiosity and compassion.
[...] you cough up the money for a posh hotel? Bunk down with the motley crew of a hostel dorm room? Crash on someone’s couch for free? Live in an RV? Rent a furnished apartment? Maybe you want to try a variety of [...]