Have you ever been a couchsurfing guest or hosted any couch surfer from another country? How was your experience? Did you like it or not? Is it safe to stay in someone's home when we don't know them?
I have hosted a few people.
Hosting people can be fun, and allows you to learn a bit more about yourself and make new friends. I think it is best to stay for 3 or more nights if possible, because then you can relax more and become more comfortable with your host and their community.
It is a little more safe to stay at a couch-surfer's home than a big corporate hostel. But when you are arranging a couch-surf make sure to understand the expectations.
Everybody is different, maybe the host will invite 20 friends over to meet you (who may also share your couch, or guest room), or want to just have a quiet beer or two and watch TV. I have heard of some hosts offering their bed to their guest, with the host sleeping on the couch. Some hosts will also want you to not tell people you are a stranger, and will prefer you told their mom or landlord that you are a friend of a friend, or that you met years ago online.
Make sure you feel comfortable with the situation.
Unfortunately, me and my tiny little cave have not yet got the opportunity to host someone, nor have I ever been hosted by anyone. But I have seen quite a lot traveling videos where people often prefer hitchhiking and couchsurfing to get an authentic experience to live and know the locals. It gives them the real picture of the people of those countries who are often being maligned by the biased coverage of media houses!
I have seen lots of travel videos especially people made in Iran and their experience is very positive. And all of them said one thing that Iranians are hospitable and the most friendly people in the world! :)
Roze khoobi dashte bashid!
I have hosted several people from my country and foreigners, but I have never been hosted, probably be a man 50+ makes me not attractive couch surfer :).
The idea is very good to communicate with locals when you are in a foreign country.
On the internet you can find many articles about couch surfing, but some people have the opinion that couch surfing has become sex surfing in recent years.
But in any case, if you want to have a good experience of visiting a foreign country you should communicate with locals as much as possible.
