Hospitality Club finds a middle ground between the super-secure Servas International and the ‘anything goes’ Couch Surfing Project. Hospitality Club requires travelers to show their passport or other official ID to the host when they arrive, as a safety precaution for both parties. A prospective member must submit detailed personal information when joining Hospitality Club via their web site, and then must wait for a few weeks for their membership to be verified before they can access the listings.
In contrast, The Couch Surfing Project allows new members to access the listings instantly, and their verification system is optional for a $25 fee.
“I don’t bother with that,” Page said. “I think the way they do it is safe and conscientious. There’s no pressure whatsoever to accept someone’s request to stay at your place.” She noted the web site’s feature of providing references from other couch surfers on member profile pages. “If they have a few friends who have vouched for them, and they’ve been on there for a while, then that’s enough for me,” she said. As a trusting attitude might not be for everyone, aspiring couch surfers who would feel more comfortable with a bit more verification can choose to contact members who have had their identity verified.
Some might scoff at the idea that staying on someone’s couch could be a first step on the path to world peace. However, understanding cultural diversity is key if we humans are to stop regarding those who are different from us as subhuman. These three organizations just might be on to something, that the greatest changes begin at the most humble levels. So if you’re intrigued with the idea of getting to know some regular people from the country you want to visit—or maybe like the thought of hosting people from another area of the world and showing them your neck of the woods—hop on the web and browse these sites. It might bring a whole new meaning to the cliché, “World peace begins at home.”
Editor: Elizabeth Hilbig Managing Editor:Amar Georgeson Copy Editor: Christian Shields Layout Editor: Jessica Painter Web Editor: Chris Hoff
Humboldt State University- Arcata, CA 95521