Dec 5, 2008 7:30 pm US/Mountain
'Couch Surfing' Latest Trend In Travel
FORT WORTH, Texas (CBS) ―
Many of us have had friends crash on the couch before, but would you let a complete stranger, someone who lived in another state or even another country, do the same thing? That's the idea behind the latest trend in travel - couch surfing.
A number of North Texans are joining the growing couch surfing community. While the concept may cut the cost of travel, some say it also raises the risk.
When CBS station KTVT-TV in Dallas spoke to Megan Eiland she was looking through a scrapbook with her roommate Heather Keel. The two say couch surfing 'opens a window to the world'.
"One of my passions is meeting these people and sharing with them what we have here," Heather explained.
Over the summer, Heather spent a month traveling across Europe. The young woman was able to take in a number of sights. "My first was Dublin and then Paris."
There were no 4-star hotel stays during the trip. Heather crashed on couches pretty much everywhere she went... for free. "Once I stared staying with people I totally fell in love with it," she explained.
Heather and Megan are part of a growing group in North Texas.
To understand the concept, think MySpace or Facebook for travelers.
Couchsurfing.com is a social networking website that gives travelers access to couches around the world.
The two friends loved the idea so much that they became hosts. So far, a hand full of visitors have come calling.
The girls admit safety is a priority -- so they rely on the reference section of the website. "The references are the biggest part. If someone has positive references, more than two or three, they can stay," Heather said.
Megan is hoping to find a safe couch in Ireland. She says she's looking for an adventure, a glimpse of the world, from the cozy confines of a couch.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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