Riccardo G.’s profile on CouchSurfing.com, the internet site that partners intrepid wanderers with prepared hosts, records which he lives into the “best community to venture out and have now drinks,” that he delivers a “cozy/clean/nice sofa/couch” and that he’ll also allow you to bring your “small dog, in the event that you simply can’t live without him.”
He defines himself as “amazing, outbound, funny, smart” and states their passions consist of buddies, eating, drinking, the fitness center and puppies. Their pictures show the good-humored Latin american— that are native, handsome, and fit — in exotic locations around the globe, from Cairo to Capri. Nowhere does the profile state clearly that you might skip the couch entirely and wind up in Riccardo’s bed, but it’s a good possibility if you are an attractive female traveler.
In eight months with the ongoing solution, Riccardo, that is 32 and works for an ad agency, has let eight site site visitors crash at their apartment, of whom he’s hooked up with five, for a 62 % “success price.” Then fell asleep, the percentage climbs even higher if you count the additional two who climbed into bed with him for a cuddle and. (Riccardo along with other Couchsurfing users quoted in this specific article asked become identified by pseudonyms.)
In the company front side, the crowdsourced hospitality website happens to be experiencing a rough spot recently. Following a controversial change to a for-profit model in 2011, which brought $22 million in financing in past times couple of years, growing problems have actually occur. In October, layoffs claimed an calculated 40 per cent associated with staff, and CEO Tony Espinoza announced their departure — offering an opening to rivals like BeWelcome and Hospitality Club.
Even though the business has initiated a doubling down on mobile, the ability of users like Riccardo might recommend another way to profitability.
I just don’t know of a simpler method for some guy to have laid with exotic feamales in exotic nations. Long live Couchsurfing!
Never mind OKCupid and Tinder. The couchsurfing that is almost decade-old that is obtainable in 100,000 urban centers throughout the world, is starting to become the go-to hookup application for a specific course of young globe people. Bloggers like Maverick Traveler can help you spot the “8 Signs and symptoms of the Slutty CouchSurfer Girl” by decoding her profile, and advice that is female-centric YouQueen has also provided tips about “How to Use CouchSurfing as being a Dating Site and acquire Away along with it.” Meanwhile, a niche site called CouchBangs.com, which declares that “Couchsurfing is not only for Couchsurfing,” supplies a forum for proud couch-cuddlers to talk about their experiences via quick posts with titles like “French woman in Istanbul” and “Brazilian Girl in brand New York.”
CouchSurfing’s Community recommendations explicitly alert against calling other people for dating, noting, “we will think about this harassment” — albeit without stipulating exactly just what the charges are for breaking this guideline. The site’s interim CEO Jen Billock told Business Insider that “members are in an email interview . motivated to report other people that are abusing your website to your Trust and protection group, that will simply take action that is appropriate in accordance with our policy, whenever Terms of good use violations are reported or seen.”
Maybe, but utilization of the site to locate intimate lovers (a training known in a few bro-friendly sectors as “cooch surfing”) is however quite routine.
“Get within my bed”
“All of my buddies, they love these stories,” Riccardo informs company Insider over beers in a peaceful club in Midtown Manhattan. “They call me the day that is next exactly exactly what took place. I’m like, вЂYou understand, whatever, we sought out, had intercourse. ’ They’re like, вЂNo, no, no—tell me personally when she got here, for which you went, do you kiss her, each and every detail.’”
We had the questions that are same.
“My first Couchsurfing hookup occurred once I ended up being sticking with my pal in Miami,” Riccardo recalls. “ He has got a studio and ended up being hosting two girls from France.” He slept for a expansive air bed with one woman, while their buddy shared their sleep because of the other. They didn’t get all of the method. “She had her period,” he describes. Months later on Riccardo got a phone call through the exact same woman, asking if she could remain at his invest new york. This time around, it was made by them formal. “I never ever chatted to her once more,” he admits, adding, “I mean, we’re friends on Facebook.”
Couchsurfing was created following a budget-conscious tourist known as Casey Fenton sent a mass request rooms in Iceland and received 50 invites from pupils with a free of charge extra futon. Fenton soon recognized individuals all around the globe may well not mind sharing their space that is extra gratis making brand new buddies along the way. Today, all the site’s 7 million people features a profile that is unique checks out like an individual advertising, showcasing passions, areas traveled, information regarding their rooms and, most significant, recommendations. This method permits buddies you’ve made globally or locally to vouch for your needs plus the unlikelihood of you being fully a serial killer. Users can request a sofa, host a tourist, or find friends that are new get together with locally.
Riccardo agrees to host only female travelers and stipulates which they be more youthful than him. He takes them centered on their attractiveness “of program,” but appearance is not the only criterion. “I’ve seen girls that are cute have boring images and I’m like, вЂYou look boring, sorry.’ At the end regarding the i’m going to spend three days with you day. I would like to have 3 days with someone I am able to talk to. Perhaps perhaps Not someone simply empty.”
In Riccardo’s situation, it all begins with a request approval — from their pal in Miami. “I’m always sending him links like, вЂHey, do you prefer this chick? Should we invite her?’” he says. “There’s more and more people arriving at nyc than Miami, therefore he’s constantly like, вЂYou bastard!’ Then he always asks doing Facetime them. because he would like to see”
“The very first time,” he says, tilting over their beer, “I had two girls that remained … we didn’t sleep with either. Big fail!”1++
He got a closer that is little their 2nd try, a woman from Slovakia with blond locks (their weakness) and little, dark, squinty eyes.