Couchsurfing changes
Jul 2, 2013 | 4:48 pm
#1
Original Poster
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,708
Couchsurfing changes
I was, a few years ago, a very frequent couchsurfing user. I hosted and surfed several times.
More recently, however, I feel like the site has changed for the worse. It's become very difficult to find a host, and the hosts that are available have less references and less experience. It's also difficult to find surfers; I used to get a few requests a month from travelers, mostly foreign, who wanted to meet locals and explore together, but now I tend to get a lot of poorly written requests from people who seem homeless or are just looking for a roof over their heads for the night.
Is it just me or has anyone else noticed this?
More recently, however, I feel like the site has changed for the worse. It's become very difficult to find a host, and the hosts that are available have less references and less experience. It's also difficult to find surfers; I used to get a few requests a month from travelers, mostly foreign, who wanted to meet locals and explore together, but now I tend to get a lot of poorly written requests from people who seem homeless or are just looking for a roof over their heads for the night.
Is it just me or has anyone else noticed this?
Jul 2, 2013 | 6:13 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2011
Location: LAX MIA SXM
Programs: AA PLT, DL Gold, SPG PLT
Posts: 48
I've found it difficult to find a host anywhere but Scandinavia. Agree that there's less hosts available and random people with pretty much an empty profile. Really only rely on it for meet ups if at all.
Jul 2, 2013 | 6:27 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: DFW/SEA
Programs: *A Silver, AA Gold + Miles Scattered Everywhere.
Posts: 2,045
I agree with the OP. This is in part because they're commercializing the site as a for profit organization and also the publicity it's gotten in various news articles about traveling for free/cheap etc. I use it more of a networking tool when traveling. Most recently last week, coordinated a car share to tour around Iceland which was awesome. So it still has purpose when I travel..I just don't rely on it solely(Or at all) to find a place to crash.
Jul 10, 2013 | 6:50 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: New Jersey
Programs: Credit Cards
Posts: 3,009
CS has been horrible lately! Couldn't find a host in London at all two weeks ago... similar story for Toronto this weekend. I can't say that the hosts aren't responding, because they are... out of 30+ requests already 10+ rejects. But still, like the OP mentioned most of the people I'm finding have very few references making me wonder surely there are more experienced hosts in Toronto.
Surprisingly I got two accepts at Le Mans in France which I wasn't expecting, and even got a few invites once I was already there. So obviously results vary by region. But overall I'm not too thrilled with the new site.
Surprisingly I got two accepts at Le Mans in France which I wasn't expecting, and even got a few invites once I was already there. So obviously results vary by region. But overall I'm not too thrilled with the new site.
Jul 10, 2013 | 7:40 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 439
Many people I know in London had to stop because they were inundated with proper homeless people who obviously had been out on the streets for a while, and using it to get a shower, food etc. It is rough to turn someone away, so it is easier to not offer publicly.
Also lots of people starting using it as permanent solution, go from host to host for months at a time carrying loads of bags along...
Also lots of people starting using it as permanent solution, go from host to host for months at a time carrying loads of bags along...