Couch Surfing

As the trip details begin to fall into place and excitement continues to grow, it is time to start aligning the core logistics of the trip: transportation, lodging, etc. This week my attention has been on lodging. So far I know that in Brussels, Belgium we will be staying with some friends, but other than that I have yet to firm up our lodging arrangements. The group is open to considering “all options,” which includes the traditional venues like hotels and hostels, as well as untraditional avenues such as “couch surfing.” (Disclaimer: To put my mother's nerves at rest let me clarify...At some point I may consider this...not this trip but someday...)


According to UrbanDictionary.com, couch surfing is a cheap form of lodging used mainly by college-students or recent college-grads, where one stays on acquaintance's couches rather than a hotel.

Over the years I have had an increasing number of friends swear by couch surfing to make their travel plans fit into a limited budget. For many of them, couch surfing is the primary form of lodging that they seek.

CouchSurfing (an organization that is the leading the trend in couch surfing) is an international non-profit network that connects travelers with locals in over 230 countries and territories around the world. Since 2004, members have been using our system to come together for cultural exchange, friendship, and learning experiences. Today, over a million people who might otherwise never meet are able to share hospitality and cultural understanding.

Testimonial

"Through CS, besides visiting new places, we get to know new people and their culture. The trips get even more interesting. And we can also bring the world closer, when contacting people who come to our city. There's another thing too: with CS we learn to trust almost unconditionally, to share our little world, and to meet new people without expectations; and most of the time, we have good surprises. I can say I've made some good friends and I've met nice people thanks to CS. At least for me, it's so important or even more than the places I've been."
IARA SANTIAGO (Brazil)
Apr 4, 2009

I would be completely open to this, but I think for this trip the whole group would want to surf together if we do this.

Any suggestions on where to stay in the following locations? Hotels, hostels, home stays, anything really as long as we can go as a group. We are currently looking for lodging in:
London, UK
Prague, Czech Republic
Vienna, Austria
Budapest, Hungary
Zagreb, Croatia
Milan, Italy
Rome, Italy

Have any of you participated in the CouchSurfing phenomenon yet? If so, share your experience!