„I am a travel reporter with a preference for countries that have a bad reputation,“ Stephan Orth describes himself. On the ground, however, the motto of the professional couchsurfer, despite extensive travel preparation, is: „Approach everything with an open mind.“ And that’s exactly what is needed: Couchsurfers look for free accommodation at strangers’ homes via the Internet. Where, and how comfortable this form of travel away from the tourist trade ultimately is, is almost always a surprise.