Couchsurfing.org

I know Flickr has been the biggest photo sharing website popular to photographers. I'm a casual photographer and I had to sign up for this when I took a course in digital photography. First, I'm not too happy about having to sign up with Yahoo just have to a Flickr account. It's like what Google pulls people to do with having a Gmail and a Google Account.

Second, the navigation is complicated and confusing, in my personal experience. It's really hard to navigate and the batch organizer looks really outdated. It's like you could go to the same page in two different ways for no reason. Deleting photographs or editing data on it is hard to find and also could be done in multiple obscure ways.

I'm deleting my account right after my photography course is over.

Couch Surfing can be really cool. I've stayed with two nice people and had a really great guest stay with me. But lately I've been getting 2-3 requests a week from backpackers wanting free accommodation. I wouldn't mind so much if they didn't just totally ignore me when I respond to their messages with information about how to get to my house and some ideas for things they might like in my local area. I put effort into responding to their requests and they never let me know whether or not they are going to turn up, leaving me keeping nights free for them and then discovering they don't bother.

Dear Couch Surfers - Have some courtesy to potential hosts. Tell us if you are not going to turn up.

Do I recommend it - yes, with caution.

Couchsurfing is a great concept: don't waste you money in an anonymous hotel, but meet a local who can show you the everyday life of a city.
I always use it when I visit a place, even only for a coffee with locals. By chatting and having fun, you can understand a lot about a different culture.
Unfortunately in the last years CS has been experiencing many technical problems and became quite confused. Not to mention about the mobile version - almost impossible to browse.
Anyway CS is a great project: they should just put some money on it and try to improve it!

I just got to know the website through someone I met on a social network. I like the idea that the website represents but I have a question to women especially but also men. Have anyone of you had also intimate relationship with the people who hosted you or did you feel like you are expected to have sex with them?. I respect privacy of others and would like to check that my privacy will be respected by others while traveling.

The person who introduced me to the website was a man who had reviews only from women and this appeared to me a bit strange. Anyone who can share his experience with me, I would appreciate it a lot.

Thank you!
Areen