Couchsurfing in New Zealand

We would be remiss if we didn't say a few words about Couchsurfing on our New Zealand blog, since it was an important part of our trip here.

What is Couchsurfing? Well, check out their site for one thing. But we think it's one of the most exciting and creative ideas in travel. Why stay alone in a sterile hotel, when in almost every city in the world there are open, friendly and generous hosts who are willing to offer you a night or two in their spare bedroom or on their couch? It's one of the best ways we've found to connect with like-minded people all around the world.

Laura and I have been participating in Couchsurfing for years. We've hosted some 20-25 people--from places like Austria, Belgium, Brazil, London and of course New Zealand--in our Manhattan flat during the three or so years we lived there. And many of the people we have hosted have become good friends. Laura even says that in some ways Couchsurfing restored her faith in humanity.

As it turns out, thanks to Couchsurfing we already knew three of the Kiwis you've already met on this blog: Richard and Colleen, as well as Dan, all spent time with us in New York. And a big part of why we went to New Zealand in the first place was to "return the favor" and visit them in their home country.

As if that isn't enough, we also stayed with Steven in Wellington, and Jen and Mike in Tauranga. All together, we "couchsurfed" for eight of our 27 nights in New Zealand. There is no better way to get to know local people, learn far more about a community than any guidebook will ever tell you, and last but not least, dramatically reduce your travel costs.

Take a close look at Couchsurfing's site. Consider being a host or a guest. And if you have any questions about our experiences or about Couchsurfing in general, feel free to email us any questions.