How did you start with couchsurfing?
First I registered there by my friend’s advice,
as I wanted to make friends with local people in Belfast where I have planned
to live for a year.
How do you choose your guests?
First I read the message that the person
sending to me. The message can play very big role. Then I look photos to see
what kind of activities the person want to show with his/her pictures and also
how does he/she look. Then read reviews about person and then read description which is written in
his/her profile.
Why do you host?
I like to meet travelers as I feel I’m traveler
too and most of the time they are super interesting people. And I
just like to support people, why
not if I’m able to host.
How many countries did you traveled yet?
Not much, UK area (Northern Ireland, England,
Scotland, Russia, Georgia)
In How
many countries did you stay by couchsurfing or other similar websites?
I used CS in England and Scotland, I tried to
use CS for Georgia but then with my friends we decided to stay in a hostel as
we were too many people for one apartment.
How is your experience while providing hosting
in your place to other travelers?
I had many guest when I lived in Belfast. I
lived with one housemate so it was more comfortable then here in Armenia where
I live with my family. But anyways I liked all my guests, they were very nice,
polite, interesting and I had very good talks with all of them.
Which is one is your most memorable and worst
experiences?
I met a guy who was a photographer and that
period I was organizing photography exhibition for refugees so he donated a
photograph for that exhibition later on I was glad to meet him. Once I a Japanese backpacker who left me 10 mini
books in Japanese as I was interested in Japanese language and it was a great
gift to me then. Then I met him once in London so he used a chance and gave me
another book :D
I had no bad experience so far. But once I hosted German guy who wrote many
interesting and unbelievable story about his life and his Grandpa. But then I
discovered the stories wasn’t true although his life was interesting anyways.
And he travels all over the world and writes articles for German Traveling
Magazine. Mostly all my guests are now
my friends in FB and we keep in touch.
How is your experiences with hosts during your
travelling in other countries or in the same country?
No troubles during hosts, it’s just hard to
find suitable place to stay and be sure it’s safe. I have no bad experiences so
far.
How do you split the bills with hosts or
travelers?
Most of the time I provide food and everything what they
need. Once as a ‘’thanks’’ a German guy cooked for us some German
delicious dishes.
How much money did you spend on your trips?
It depends on country
and how much money I have as more I have as much I’m ready to spend. But
approximate amount would be 30-50 USD
per day (included hostel if I couldn’t find other options)
How much money did you save because of CS?
In London I saved a lot of money as we could
find great place to stay in the city center so we don’t needed to spend money
for hostel and for transportation as well. Nearly 30 pounds per day I saved but anyways it was
expencive city :D
How far is the public transportation or railway
station or metro station or bus station or airport from your home?
We have only bus station close to my place and
it’s about 4 mins by walk. But my place is not close to the city so you
spend nearly 30-40 minutes to get downtown.
How is the public transportation in your city?
It’s cheap (100 AMD for one way by bus or
minibus or city train and 100-120 AMD
per KM by taxi but the minimal price you pay is
600 for taxi) and it works quite good but depends on directions how frequently the
buses works.
Do you have Uber services at your city?
I guess no, as I don’t know what is it.
How far
is the shopping mall from your home?
There are a lot of small markets and shops
close to my home like 5 minutes by walk, for the Shopping Mall 20
minutes by bus or minibus, or 45
min by bus or minibus, depends which one you need.
How is the wifi availability or internet
availability in your city or during travel?
In the city centre there are some several spots
for free wi-fi but if you are planning to stay longer then 7 days use local sim cards which is not
expensive and the internet is quite good everywhere.
Did you
make any rule list for travelers whom you like to host at home?
No needed so far J
What are you bad experiences with hosts or
travelers?
I had no bed experiences with hosts and
travelers yet.
What are the things you learn about different
cultures?
No exactly things of culture, but many stuff such
as how to act what to do to be safe and how
to travel budgetly. Recently learned to negotiate with taxi drivers.
Have you changed since you started to host?
I have changed just because of life not only
because of hosting people.
Which are the tourist places or secrete places
to go in your country?
In
Yerevan I find lately some interesting places in city center which I
didn’t know I can show that.
But most of touristic places are very close and very well known by all such as
Garni, Geghard Ejmitsin Zvartnots, Sevan,
Dilijan, a little bit far ones
are Vayots Dzor and Syunik Regions touristic areas. And everything depends on what
kind of activity you prefer cultural or hiking places.
Do you like to HitchHiking or travel by riding?
Yes sometimes I do HitchHiking, depends on
company or where I am.
What are some good alternative sites or methods
for couchsurfing?
Last time I used just to ask people about
prices and to know where worth to go.
What are qualities of a good couchsurfing
guest?
Be tidy and polite.
What advice would you give to a first time
Couchsurfer?
Be careful and read all reviews and keep your profile account open
informative for people J
Which kind of places do you like to visit
during your travel?
I like either cities museums and natural
landscapes and at the same time I just like to hang out with locals and get
know people of the country their behavior.
Which are the place do you like to travel in
future?
My next long term travel will be to Japan. I
don’t count places in my country.
Do you
make travel videos and post on YouTube?
Not yet, but I’m planning something like that
first in Armenia when I go for hiking and then in abroad.
