Couch Surfing

Anyone done this? Gonna give it a bash in February.

If there's anyone West Coast US on here (Reno then across to San Francisco & south) give me a shout :-)
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33
some friends did it in london, said it was awesome
Sweet. I've done similarish meeting people at gigs for random bands but this could either be very awesome or very awkward.
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yup it was great
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Also experiences of / best way & place to rent a car Stateside.
Ive met a few people who've had great success, particularly in the states. I'll be in San Fran first week of Feb if you want a drink.
I've met a few great people recently that've done it for years. I was planning a trip somewhere, ended up talking about Couch Surfing with them in the pub then Dave Gorman's Googlewhack was on the box so I'm calling it fate.

Booking the flight on Friday but I'm thinking fly to Reno the 2nd & be in Santa Cruz by the 9th to them bounce around Oregon, Sacremento & then maybe head a little further south. There's quite a few bands playing in the area that I'd like to see so I'm using that to sort of plan my route. It'll be 3 weeks at best, possibly 2 depending on whether work give me the time.

I'll hold you to that drink if I end up near as I'll be passing through.
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If you're going to Oregon make sure you make it to the mountains, its beautiful there. Portland is a little dull, but if you're digging the indie vibe then you might like it.

What about work?
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Will check it out... they a Homeward Bound type landscape? Always wanted to see that.

My biggest hurdle at the minute is car rental - an additional $25-27 per day as I'm under 25, bastards! If you've experience with the car rentals out there do share. I'll probably bite the bullet as I don't want to be tied down but I'll resent the hell out of it.

What about work? Some of us do it rather than jetsetting around the world dicking around with computer games!:) I've responsibilities, a team of people working for me and such. Sadly can't just drop everything and fuck off for months without consequences.
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What are you doing for work these days, but yes it also did sound like you were gonna do it for a while :)
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One day... I've to be here a little longer then I can take extended leave (anything up to two years unpaid) and do it properly. But 2-3 weeks is enough to see some things, do some things & meet some people. I want enough hours left to take at least a second holiday later in the year. I'm still working for Amazon.co.uk as an Area Manager - all those years spent organising tournaments being put to good use :-)
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I'm always fascinated by Amazon, whats it like to work there? Brutal efficiency or painful bureaucracy
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Fairly brutal (it has to be). As an operation inside the warehouse the concept is relatively simple; you stow, pick, pack & ship. You meet the customer order at all costs. System side of things is as you'd imagine impressive but it's the kind of thing you get in trouble chatting over :-)

Everything is target driven but how you meet those targets is up to the individual warehouse which does give you a lot of flex. I've made changes to global processes just because we thought of a better way - there was no red tape to doing it, just an idea, a proof of concept, a kaizen & some work quantifying the saving. All done inhouse by a couple of us. Getting that support & freedom is liberating (if not somewhat terrifying).

I'm just glad to be a part of the company. It's got a very open culture with core values I can buy into & is constantly expanding. 1 new site in 2010, 2 during 2011 & 2 more planned during 2012 - all in the UK. The opportunities are there if you've the right temprament.

You hear a lot about how good Amazon are with customer satisfaction. The lengths we've gone to ensure people got things on time for Christmas was insane. There's some good stories but I'm conscious of the public forum.

(I'm really struggling without spellcheck)
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My aunt & cousins are from there. Small world.
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Too small...
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Did it once in Lodon, was great :)
I don't really see the appeal, tbh.
It's free! Basically hitch hiking for the 21st century.

From what I've been told it can be a real mixed bag - friends for life to people simply offering a place to sleep with little interaction. I like to travel alone as it gives you that extra freedom but obviously want to meet people when I'm out there, this sets you up for that.
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I know people who did it, and they had a great experience with it! I'm considering doing it again when I get to travel again
many friends of me did it this semester. it is no problem at all... you get to learn many new people ;)
Ofc you have to behave, because it isnt your home and you have no own key etc. (most times)
wth is it?
gonna do it in february. Hopefully some nice person will offer us a bed and some company in Athens
my experience with this was pretty good :)
Yea, been a member for sometime, haven't slept on anyone elses place yet, just accomodated few people, previously two Poland girls. No bad experiences yet :)
haha, did they send picture beforehand so you could pick or? ;D
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Neeh, actually referred by my ex-gf :) Showed the city to them, lead them to the gig where there were going and organized the afterparty too ;)
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Dude you be trippin, Oulu is a village.

But kudos.
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You're going to the wrong side of the US sorry : /
Philadelphia, Atlantic City & New York last October. I don't deny the east coast is brilliant. I aint no gangster.
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Shame you didn't visit Boston, I prefer it to NY and probably Philly too
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Friend did it all around europe, and said it was fine.

Might do it next year around DE for certain places, as long as im not going with a friend.
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