A Couch to Surf On

One of the major benefits of online communities are that they allow people to seek the company of others based on shared interests and ideas, rather than simply proximity,” says Heather O’Brien, the media projects manager for CouchSurfing.com. “You are given access to a far wider pool of people than you might encounter organically in your day-to-day life.”

CouchSurfing.com provides users with the opportunity to stay in the homes of locals as opposed to hotels.

“I recently traveled to Kenya, and I don’t happen to actually have any friends, or friends of friends there,” O’Brien says. “Through CouchSurfing, I was able to meet and connect with local people who took me to their favorite restaurants, gave me advice about using public transport and helped me haggle at the crafts market.  If it we’re for CouchSurfing, I would have probably stayed in a hotel and not gotten off the beaten path.”

But how safe is CouchSurfing? “Asking ‘Is Couchsurfing dangerous?’ is like the question,’Is traveling dangerous?’,” O’Brien says. “As in any situation where you encounter new people or places, there is an element of risk, but it’s not dangerous when you take the necessary precautions. We encourage our members to make careful decisions about who they meet, and under what circumstances, using the information and tools that are provided via the website.”

For more ideas on Internet-inspired travel, check out:

• New Social Networking Technology
• Social Networking Sites for Travelers
• Budget Travel Tips for Couch Surfing Grownups
• Go It Alone Together

By Charles Edward Hicks for PeterGreenberg.com