CrashPad

Websites such as couchsurfing.com are growing around the world. The concept is simple. People like to travel cheaply and other people have unoccupied houses or rooms to rent out for extra cash. These websites connect one party to the other and allow users to review places they’ve stayed to help with safety concerns. My idea is to take a similar concept but apply it to a very specific target market, college students. I have never met a college student who has said they do not like to travel. In fact almost every college student I know loves to travel but can’t afford to travel as much as they like. On the flipside almost every college student has a house or apartment they live in with extra beds, futons, and couches. There are colleges located in prime travel destinations around the world from major cities to mountains and beaches. I want to create a website specifically for college students to connect these two parties.

Those with extra places to sleep can post them on our website for free with dates of availability, how much per night, and pictures. They will also post any specific rules or guidelines for staying at their place including how many people can stay. Users will then be able to search by location, price, and availability to find the perfect place to stay. Users will also be prompted to review places they’ve stayed and we will compile a “top places to visit” list. We will also have suggested college student activities located near the houses people will be staying in. (clubs, bars, events, etc.) Through discussion boards we will try to build a community of college travelers to talk about their best experiences and how to travel cheaply.

Users will book rooms directly on our website and pay via credit card. After payment has been confirmed we will send the renter the exact address. This cuts down the chance that users will try to bypass our website and contact the supplier directly. We will take 10 percent of the total price and pass the rest on to the person providing the room or bed. There will also be advertising space available to bring in extra revenue. We will keep the credit card information until after the booking in case of any damages or theft. While users will be able to set their own price we will offer suggested prices. These prices will be much cheaper than hotel rooms in the respective area. The costs will be website development/maintenance and marketing.