Hi! I’m Valentina — a travel advisor, entrepreneur, student, and lifelong explorer. 🌎 I believe one of the best ways to understand the world is through travel and genuine connections with people from different cultures. I love discovering hidden places, beautiful viewpoints, local restaurants, hiking, photography, wellness, and of course trying new food. For me, traveling isn’t just about checking countries off a list. It’s about experiencing how people actually live, hearing their stories, learning something new, and hopefully leaving with a new friendship. I currently live in Florida and balance my time between studying, growing my travel business, staying active, and planning my next adventure. As a guest: I’m respectful, clean, independent, and grateful when someone opens their home to me. I’m always happy to exchange travel stories, share a meal, explore together, or simply have a great conversation. As a host: I prefer hosting women and couples. I read every profile before accepting a request, and I only host people who have references and a completed profile. Couchsurfing, to me, is about community and giving back — not simply finding a free place to stay. I appreciate people who participate in that spirit, whether by hosting, helping travelers, sharing experiences, or contributing to the community in their own way. I’m here to meet interesting people, experience different cultures, and create the kind of memories you can’t get from staying in a hotel. Life is short — let’s make memories. ✈️✨

Hi Everyone! 🗺️ I'm on a spontaneous road trip across the US with my travel trailer, traveling from June through December. ABOUT ME 🌎🌍🌏 I traveled over 30 countries (Europe, Asia, North and South America) as backpacker and hitchhiker. There's nothing quite like the open road or the thrill of exploring trails. Hiking, camping, and traveling as much as possible, while immersing myself in diverse cultures and meeting people from all walks of life, are my lifelong passions and goals. 🇺🇸 After two cross-country trips in the last three years, I feel like I've become quite an expert on traveling in the U.S. So far, I've explored: - 39 states - 37 national parks - 42 state parks - 174 cities and towns across the country. Feel free to ask me anything, lol. 📢 All personal references are from my hosts and surfers, except one. I kindly ask you to review them. ⛔️ Please do not send request if you think this site is just for finding a free place to stay rather than paying for a hotel and you have no intention in having some sort of meaningful exchange.

CURRENT MISSION A trip is in the works back to Ireland (my home away from home). This time I'll be seeing the legendary band OASIS!!! Tickets in hand and here I come, lads! I make it to Ireland at least once a year, sometimes more. Last year's trip was one of emotion, but we carried it out with love and laughter. I lost my only child to brain cancer, nearly 4 years now. He was promised a trip to Ireland with my Godson, his best friend. So we made that happen with his ashes and got tattoos to commemorate the journey. ABOUT ME Let's see...where to start? I currently work in an Irish Pub in Orlando called The Castle. We pride ourselves on bringing a true Irish experience to those who come through our doors. My owners are from Kilkenny and my Irish roots mesh into a fantastic working relationship. I moved back to Orlando in 2008 from Northern Virginia. I was up there in the mountainous area of Northern Virginia near the Shenandoah Valley. It's good to be home in Florida, but Virginia is also my home, so it's bittersweet. I married in 2017 to a Brit, who was lucky enough to grow up all over the world. He has great stories and I never tire of them. I've gone through some personal tragedy which has reshaped my outlook on life in some ways. I lost my only child to brain cancer in 2021 and life is just fleeting and we mustn't let it slip by. I live my life now to its fullest, honoring my son and his life and legacy. I've created the LegaStrings Foundation in his honour and if you'd like to read about that, you can find us here: www.legastrings.org or www.zanemakesbetter.com OLD PROFILE DESCRIPTION (I've kept it since it's still all true)! I dig da Good Vibrations.............listening to music, going to the beach, drinking lattes, swilling beer, attempting to surf, gymnastics (particularly drunken gymnastics), Good N Plenty, hanging with my boy, going to the movies, dancing in my living room, cooking in my kitchen, sleeping and stuff in my bedroom. I like hanging with my many fab friends, going downtown, staying home, going to NYC, checking out live bands, eating good food, fast, crazy roller coasters, water slides and subway trains. I like black licorice and hate chocolate. I'll take Good 'n' Plenty over Hershey's ANY day! I like afternoon brewskis and late night nachos. Sunny afternoons on a body of water kicking back....that always works. I love my Honda and hate anything diet. I like good movies in a dark theater or living room, sleeping in on the weekends with the Zaner and messing around with my camera and tripod. Watching football....good times there....go Fish!!! Go Gators!!! I can't stand sitting down for too long....I've long been accused of having a spring in my ass. I don't wear polka dots EVER or pastels (except for my pink Stones shirt)and I wear scarves with nearly everything...I can't stand when people smack their gum (very irritating)...I love to cook...I make up most of my own recipes....I love having people over for dinner soirees and trying food and wines out on them...then getting tipsy and moving to rump shakin' to random music ....I never play the same song twice and you'll never know what's to come out next!! Other stuff I like: Well, just ask me if you wanna know. PHILOSOPHY You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you get what you need...Mick Jagger

A VERY IMPORTANT POINT FOR ME: I love hosting and welcoming guests into my home. However, due to a few unpleasant experiences on CouchSurfing, I feel it's necessary to clarify a few things: If you're not interested in meeting new people or building friendly connections... If you prefer to stay in your room with your partner all the time... If you're just looking for a place to sleep and plan to be out all day... If you have no intention of engaging and sharing experiences... PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT SEND ME A REQUEST TO STAY! CouchSurfing is about cultural exchange, meaningful connections, and shared experiences. If that’s not what you’re looking for, we may not be the right match, and that’s okay! Due to my job, I usually have time to spend with my guests in the evenings. I truly enjoy talking, getting to know people, and sharing experiences—whether it’s cooking together, playing games, celebrating, or simply listening to music. 👉 If you've read this text and agree with the house rules, include this emoji 😉 at the end of your request. Thanks a lot!

Hi, I'm an Orlando Native/ Local who pretty much knows every bit of Orlando. If you want to stay with me, I prefer 1-2 weeks notice. I enjoy going to local bike trails, natural springs, beach, and chilling at all the local cafes. I'm a huge foodie and love to cook!!! Also I hope you like coffee, bc I promise mine is the best in Orlando 🗿. FYI, I love surfers who cook me meals 🤩.

I have travelled to so many places, and I live to make new friends from all over the world. I have been in Orlando for a long time, so I know all of the ins and outs of Orlando, all the tips and tricks to have an amazing time here.

CURRENT MISSION To spread love and joy around the world is my true purpose ABOUT ME I am all about LOVE, PEACE AND HAPPINESS! Life is so beautiful and I want to explore all that it has to offer. I have such a strong zest for life and choose to keep a positive mental attitude through this wild ride called life 😎 PHILOSOPHY Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness.

CURRENT MISSION to expand on all my potentials...and yours. ABOUT ME Well, I know I am a very cool person. I also know how important it is to travel and meet someone with a smile who would like to befriend you. I have been traveling since I was a teenager and I know how important that is. I am very energetic, like to entertain, and have a variety of tastes from playing sports to sampling different types of culture. I like meeting people and discovering what makes them , "them". I like adventure. I was a former Peace Corps Volunteer in Africa. You can find more about me from comments people wrote about me. I am of Cuban and German/Irish ethnicity and I'm known as Felipe. Do not hesitate to contact me if you are in Orlando. I will be happy to show you around. You are most welcome here. I prefer travelers who speak Spanish or German so I can improve my SPANISH & GERMAN, I have no desire to learn another language. PHILOSOPHY GUESTS. You must be traveling alone not with your significant other or another friend. If you are traveling with someone, then you really do not want a cultural exchange in my opinion. If you do not have a car, rent one, use the bus system or use UBER. I charge the same as UBER I lose respect for non-generous guest. Whenever I was a guest at someone's house, I paid for gasoline, food, entrance fees and I still was ahead financially. I am not hosting to save you money. You want to save money, go camping. My goal with you is to make you feel totally COMFORTABLE & SAFE. I consider myself an ambassador for my region. I am blessed with being a member of a very large family and having many friendships. When I was young a lot of people opened their doors to me when I was traveling. Now it is my turn. I always count my blessings. It keeps me in a positive and humble mood.