Hey there, I'm Raphael

I lived my dream to travel the world for more then 2.5 years from 2021 till 2024 visiting 34 Countries all over the world...
Now since March 2024 I'm back here in Switzerland and started a regular job in the same company I left before I started traveling...

That requires me however to work 3 shifts starting Sunday night till Saturday lunch...
I'm more then happy to host but it comes with a few negative points...

Depending on my shift I have a special sleep schedule as you can imagine... So my availability will be limited to my off hours.
You can stay anytime in the house as you pleas.. But when I have to sleep then you need to be quite in the living room or go to your room which will be in the basement where it's very far enough away...

I can be available during my work hours by texting and in emergency also calls.. But probably not right away, always with a short delay...

My mom also lives in the same place as me, she works regularly from Monday till Friday and will be there for breakfast and dinner...

We will ask you once you arrive to take a photo of your passport... I didn't made that rule.. It's my mom, to feel more safe.. Sorry for that...

If you can deal with those inconveniences your more then happy to stay with us...

My travel experiences so far in my life...

2006 First flight in my life going to Tunisia 14 days
2009 London extended weekend 4 days
2012 Tunesien Djerba 14 days
2013 Cyprus 14 days
2014 Egypt in Hurghada 14 days
2015 first time flight to Asia to Singapore Malaysia 22 days
2016 Sailing the Netherlands for 14 days
2017 Barcelona Extender Weekend 4 days
2017 First time Holidays without parents and alone.. With 5 stops for 1800 USD around the world within 18 days... (My dream came true!) Basel, LHR, SFO, AKL, HKG LGW, Basel
2018 trip to Asia visiting HK, Seoul and Tokyo 22 days
2019 41 days in South Korea and 4 days in Shanghai
2020 January, Vietnam right when covid started to spread 17 days
2021 Costa Rica 16 days
2021 Start of my travel around the world, Panama, Bolivia, Chile (met my current Girlfriend) 147 days
2022 Chile, Panama, USA, Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, Guatamala, Belize, Mexico, Panama 365 days
2023 Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, USA, Vietnam, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Malaysia Thailand, Laos, UAE, Bahrain, Switzerland and France.
2024 Panama 17th of January till 26th of February

Don't you dare to request ONE night stay...
That's not even close enough to get to know each other or do something together...

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

After traveling to Costa Rica, staying in a few airbnb's I realized that those hosts are not interested at all in to personal interaction... I was looking for exactly that. Asking questions, listening to opinions and explanations, sharing culture, maybe food, experiences and stories.. You can not find all of that on Airbnb. However then someone introduced me to Couchsurfing.

Since my first experiences I'm very confident and convinced that Couchsurfing is exactly that what I'm looking for. A way to see behind the curtain of a country. To share and give back, to have fun and help each other.

Since August 2021 I'm a part of this community and I'm very happy to be.

Now since I arrived back from traveling the world for so long.. I'm looking forward to give something back to the CS community...

I know it might be not that easy to find guests to host..
But even though I might not be able to host I'm more then happy to help you out, planing, advice, researching so you get the most out of your trip here in switzerland...!

Interests

Aviation, photography, drones, travel, Consumer Tec, Electric Cars, Space, hiking and nature

• photography
• aviation
• technology
• minimalism
• snorkeling
• gadgets
• diving
• space
• apple
• airports
• streetfood
• android
• drone
• phones
• digital nomade
• travel light
• eviroment

Music, Movies, and Books

Top Gun, Heidi, Hatchiko "realistic" aviation movies
Blacklist, You, Manifesto
Action, thrillers and documentaries.

All kinds of history starting with the first world war till now.
Youtube is a great source for almost everything:-)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

-Said no to my boss (now ex-boss)
- Booked my first oneway ticket (many to come)
- Traveled to countries solo where I don't speak their language
- 3 day tour Uyuni salt flats
- Hiking Torres el paine
- Grand Canyon
- Almost got hit by lightning in Panama
- Prevented pickpocketing two times in Santiago de Chile
-Got robbed in Quito by 3 people loosing phone and wallet
-Traveled in total 200'000+ km within 936 days of traveling
- Visited Cenotes, Chichen Itza and Tikal
-Saw all 4 remaining Space Shuttles still alive (and a bunch of Mook ups...)
-Made 2x Amazonas Tours
-Visited 18 days the Galapagos Islands, diving, snorkeling, hiking, photographing and touring 4 different islands
-Skipping Bali and explore 58 days less touristic places in Indonesia
Having a motorcycle accident and still drive 150 km right after. Finished the motorcycle trip with over 1'000 km driven without license...
-Flight count #114 flights on a commercial planes

Teach, Learn, Share

I can share you a lot about Switzerland and my „previous“ life back in Switzerland. I can teach you how to use a camera or take better photos with your phone. I can teach you how to fly a Drone.
I can show and present you my photos and my blog I have from my travels. Take some professional photos/ portrait with my camera for your CV or Instagram.
I'm happy to talk about my job, my travels 2.5 years around the world or anything else your interested in...

Teach or tell, discuss about switzerland, German and Swiss German and sooo much more...

What I Can Share with Hosts

My past life, memories, lows and highs of my travels. Country specific informations photos and videos. Future plans and interesting, deep talks... Logistics, work related things and a lot more

Countries I’ve Visited

Belize, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Laos, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Panama, Switzerland