BeWelcome

BeWelcome: Open-Source Hospitality Exchange Platform

BeWelcome is an open-source hospitality exchange platform allowing travelers to connect with local hosts who offer free accommodation, facilitating cultural exchange and enabling budget travel.

What is BeWelcome?

BeWelcome is an open-source hospitality exchange and homestay network that connects travelers with hosts willing to offer free accommodation and local hospitality. Founded in 2007 as an alternative to the Couchsurfing platform, BeWelcome aims to foster cultural exchange and mutually beneficial relationships between travelers and hosts around the world.

The BeWelcome platform allows both hosts and guests to create member profiles with verifications, references, and reviews from past stays. Travelers can search for potential hosts by location and send requests to stay at their homes for free. Likewise, hosts can view guest profiles and references to decide who to accept. There is an emphasis on cultural exchange, with hosts offering insider tips on their city and region.

As an open-source platform run by volunteers, BeWelcome distinguishes itself through its nonprofit status, lack of advertising, and community-focused ethos. With members in over 200 countries, it facilitates budget travel while enabling meaningful connections and hospitality exchange between diverse cultures.

Key features of BeWelcome include member profiles and verifications, accommodation and meetup searches, secure messaging, vouching and references, discussion forums and groups, events listings, and a focus on community building.

BeWelcome Features

Official Links