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As far as AirBnB goes, I'm not a huge fan of it. I use CouchSurfing.org for 95% of my travels though (and I travel a lot).
CouchSurfing works similarly. Travellers need a place to sleep and people offer their couch/floor/spare room for a few nights while the traveller is in town. The difference is that you (the host) is still at home while the surfer is staying with you. You are rarely just given the keys to a house while the owner isn't home but it does happen.
Also, there is no money changing hands through CouchSurfing. CouchSurfing is more of a community while AirBnB is a transaction. You leave references for surfers and hosts through CouchSurfing. People with negative references are rarely considered by either hosts or surfers. On a few occasions people have been kicked off of CouchSurfing for reckless or inappropriate behaviour. It is essentially a self-policing system.
AirBnB lacks references which really does make a huge difference.
I have personally never had a bad experience with CS. The people have always been extremely welcoming and thoughtful. Most of my family members have said something along the lines of "You could be staying with an axe murderer." Which is a totally valid concern.. I absolutely could be. However, if you think about it from the other person's perspective, I could be an axe murderer. There is a certain level of trust you both have to have for each other for it to work.
Right now actually I have two people staying with me. One 24 year old girl from Sao Paulo, Brazil. The other is a 26 year old guy from Kabul, Afghanistan who is in the Afghan army. He fights the Taliban.
I also found my current roommate through CS. He is probably the best roommate I've ever had.
CouchSurfing is all about cultural exchange. AirBnB is about making some extra cash on the side.
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