hi BB.. just sent you a message of person you can contact, but I do think there is obviously certain risk you run by staying over complete stranger's place.  I only recently came across this concept myself. But as a member you are also expected to take on people as well.  There will always be predators out there so won't discourage you completely but beware. You can always find cheap alternatives to most places you go. 
YouMeCo, Jun 22, 2008 @ 22:28

BB - contact glocals member captstav.

He used to be an avid couch surfer (until the 'donkey in the couch' incident put an end to those happy days, but that's another story).
Nir Ofek, Jun 22, 2008 @ 23:32

Hi there BB,

I have over the last 3 years, hosted about 30 or so people on my couch/spare room, from all over the world.  For references from my guests about me and my place, see http://www.couchsurfing.com/stavros-swiss

I can tell you from the bottom of my heart that (1) some of the best experiences of my life have been given by the couchsurfing site (the only better site for me is www.glocals.com !!) and (2) the referneces/comments that people have left my wife Joanna and I are a deep source of pride to me. 

Of course all things in life carry risk, like crossing the road, for example.  I have had many girls stay by themself with me (read their refs), but if I personally was a girl travelling by myself, unless I know someone who has personally stayed with the host and recommended him/her, I'd probably rather stay with a female, or travel with one or two other people.  Having said that, read my references and ask yourself if you'd like to stay with me.  If so - look for people with the same type of refs.  It's like eBay - it's hard to fake refs and cheat the system, because it all inter-links, and fraudsters are reported by other members.  But if you're with a friend, so much the better.  Otherwise, just be choosy with who you ask to stay with.

There's no obligation for you to have anyone stay on your couch after you've stayed on someone's couch.  There's plenty of hosts out there.

I must have met 60+ people from the site, and heard of 100+ couchsurfing experiences. 99% were good or great - or really great.  I've been the first host for several travellers ie their first couchsurfing experience - and I've watched their profiles grow and grow, while they have travelled the world - it's amazing to see people set forth and use the site to achieve what they've always dreamt of.  All that's needed is the courage to take the first step. 

Couchsurfing is a truly original idea and something that has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people - truly making the world smaller, opening minds and breaking down barriers between people and cultures. 

Thanks for asking about it !!!

- Steve

ps. i'll be happy to speak more about it, give any advice etc - contact me any time. 
captstav, Jun 23, 2008 @ 00:01

PPS.  I've had 8 guests this year by the way, the last guests I had were 2 weeks ago. 

PPPS.  Glocals member "Buffalo74" is a fantastic host, and has stayed on many couches via the site - he's also a good person to talk to about it. 
captstav, Jun 23, 2008 @ 00:07

omg.. Steve, I didn't know you carried the CS badge!  not that i read every comment left by your guests, but I found one particularly funny where you took them to past GOL spring parties!! :w00t:

Glocals could easily be the spring board for a similar concept as people move back to their home countries.  Most likely there'll be some connection to you and the potential visitor.
YouMeCo, Jun 23, 2008 @ 01:03

hello bb

I'm also an couchsurfing member sine july 2004, and had the luck to be hosted by steve alias "capstav"

you can see my profil http://www.couchsurfing.com/profile.html?id=NRO9P

I love to travel by myself, and never had any bad experience with any hosts or guests, but I take care to read with attention the profiles before to ask for accomodation, avoid as much as possible to ask at the last minute in order to have the time to discuss by mail or by msn before to come with my future host. There are also a lot of women alone, couples, people who live with roomates and families whith children who offer their couch if you are afraid to couchsurf with men living alone.

don't forget that couchsurfing is not only ask people for accomodation, but also offer accomodation and share your time with your guests. In my case I never host men who don't have any reference, for couples or girls its not a problem, but at least they have to fill their profile ans send personnalised couchrequests.

you can join the local group of geneva to meet the Csers of your city, to learn all usefull tips you could need and hear about their experiences during meetings, not only in forums. http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=1240

welcome on couchsurfing BB!
karmenkru, Jun 24, 2008 @ 17:09

Someone said this was a new concept but really it isn't. When I did the "backpack around Europe" thing many years ago, I met several interesting people who invited us to stay when we were in their part of the world. It was just more informal then. Things are much scarier now and CS seems to be fairly safe.

My sister put me on to this system and I researched it. I'd like to become a host (I have a fairly comfortable couch) but I thought maybe the relaxed family lifestyle and lack of privacy a CS guest would have in my house might not appeal to most people. What do you think?
Maplady, Jul 1, 2008 @ 14:27

Paloma, Jul 1, 2008 @ 15:06

hello maplady

most of time hosts offer a couch, not a private guestroom, so don't worry about the lack of privacy, CS guests are used to it.

geneve is quite attractive for travellers and expensive for hostels, so your available couch will appeal guests, just give all informations about your lifestyle and your own rules (i.e.: smoking autorised or not, used to go to sleep early or late, hang out often or not, etc. ) so potential guests will be warned.

you can also host solo parent with a child in a couch, it could be nice for your family.

on the geneva CS group  http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=1240  , you can see often "last minute couchrequests", sometimes really desperate , so geneva needs really more hosts.
karmenkru, Jul 1, 2008 @ 15:13

Also if you want to host families or to travel as a family with using couchsurfing, there is a very useful group for couchsurfing, the family welcome group http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=513

This group gathers all the people travelling with children and all the one who can host them. It's really useful for all the travelling families!

And now the Family Welcome Map has been created to allow families to search for a host by location as this tool doesn't exist yet on CS http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=111108041083507430561.0004505bbf5463b2ff1da&ll=8.407168,7.03125&spn=162.214726,360&z=1.

If you can host families with children (even if it's just one parent with a child) and you want to be on the map, you can join the Family Welcome Map's group http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=11801 and post how many people you can host http://www.couchsurfing.com/group_read.html?gid=11801&post=1080028

so you can see that couchsurfing is also used by families

 
karmenkru, Jul 1, 2008 @ 15:21

Couchsurfing rocks!!! I've hosted and I've surfed and met some really fantastic people who have become really good friends. you just have to be smart, don't host or surf people if their profile looks a little shady, read the references people put about the person etc. Hope you enjoy it BB!

sannie05, Jul 1, 2008 @ 17:17