Couchsurfing is a great way to travel and see the world on a budget. Plus, you get a local perspective.
What is Couchsurfing?
Couchsurfing is a social travel platform that allows travelers to stay with hosts in the place they are traveling to.
A traveler will log on, search the location, and add any filters they would like such as the gender of the host.
As a female traveler and host, I only stay with and accept females as a safety measure. It is a stranger after all.
But I know people who stay with the opposite gender and have had no problem. I have also had male friends who have stayed with male hosts and have run into an adventure or two if I can say it like that.
However, that is totally up to you!
There is also another filter to not stay with couples. There are couples on Couchsurfing who open their homes to travelers in order to meet new people and just be nice to travelers. Some might not like this.
The goal is for everyone is to feel safe and comfortable- host or traveler.
Each travelerβs and hostβs profile has reviews of past interactions along with other biographical information that the person wants to share. Hosts can also add information regarding where the person will sleep.
This is a free site meaning there are no membership fees to use. It is also made aware that payment for your housing is not allowed in money.
However, paying for your hostβs beer or bringing them some treats from your home country is appreciated!
Here are some tips that I have learned about Couchsurfing that have made my experience more positive.
5 Tips For CouchSurfing Travelers
Make sure to read the profile of your host
In very popular cities, hosts are flooded with requests for a place to stay. In order to filter through all the requests, they have a special keyword in their profile.
For example, βIn your request, please write βrainbow.ββ As a host, I have received messages where it was clearly a copy and paste. For example, I was sent a message telling me how excited he would be to meet me and my husband.
I was not married and had no mention of any significant partner on my profile.
I took it with a grain of salt as I knew he was just looking for a place to stay. But I was still a bit annoyed because I believed my profile was simple and clear enough.
Make sure to interact with your host
Since it is a free stay, a nice reciprocation along with a small treat is just to simply talk with your host.
Grab coffee or drink a beer together and share travel stories. This platform encourages users to do just that.
You can use it just to meet and not stay
You donβt have to sleep at that personβs place if you donβt want to! Many just want to meet for a drink or a walk around the city.
That is totally doable! I have met many for a meal, a tour of the city, or a drink.
They didnβt want a place to stay, but all they wanted was to meet a local.
Write a personalized request
Yes, there might be those keywords, but your request has a higher chance of being accepted if you mention something about their profile or interests.
Maybe you share the same interests? Comment on that, or even ask them questions about their city.
You are under no obligation to stay
If you end up not feeling safe, you are under no obligation to stay the rest of your planned trip. You can always go to another host or a hostel.
Related Content:
How to book cheap flights on Skyscanner
MUST-HAVE travel essentials for travelers
How to travel Europe on a budget
How to survive a long-haul flight?
5 Tips For CouchSurfing Hosts
Realize that the travelers are there to see your city
I know many hosts get upset that their guests donβt want to spend every minute with them.
Yes, Couchsurfing encourages interactions and sharing stories and experiences, but it is also meant for travel.
Schedule time with them for dinner for coffee, but donβt expect it to be all the time.
Accept what your living space is
In order to get guests, sometimes hosts misinform travelers what their living space can accommodate.
Meaning, hosts might write that there is a spare bed, but in fact, it is just the couch. Or it is a small apartment that can barely fit one person and yet the host is hosting two more.
It is okay if the living situation is small or not ideal for hosting, but make sure it is clearly identified on your profile.
You donβt have to host
If you just want to meet people, but donβt have the room or donβt want people in your home, you can.
Simply mark your profile as up for meeting. You can also reach out to other hosts to meet up as well.
Sometimes, individuals hold gatherings for local hosts and passing travelers to meet at a bar or restaurant.
Donβt have words hidden in your profile
In my tips for travelers, I mentioned that hosts might have hidden words to make sure you have read their profile.
I understand it makes their filtering process easier, but as a traveler and then a host myself, I found it rather annoying.
For my profile, I put some fun facts about myself- 5 to 6 sentences maybe more.
I can tell when I receive a generic message that it is copy and paste and I respond.
However, whenever I did receive a message that was personalized with questions or comments on my interests, it made me feel special and perhaps we would get along in person as well.
Respond to all messages
It is always annoying when people donβt return messages.
I understand life gets busy and notifications donβt always work, but it was nice when I received a message letting me know they canβt host me. Just so I know.
This article was contributed by Marinella Yule of myopenpassport.net travel blog.
She has traveled throughout North America by car, plane, and bicycle, and to over 40 countries.
She is currently working on improving her third language (French) and sometimes writes blogs in Spanish as well.
You can learn more about her work through her website: marinellayule.com. You can follow her via Instagram and Pinterest.
LIKED THIS POST? SHARE IT!
Great post! I live in Ethiopia and would love to have couchsurfers visit the great country of Ethiopia.
I have my bouts if being anti social, so your suggestion to treat couch surfing like a tour guide and a day time friend sounds perfect for nights I just want to crash alone at my house for the night.
I would love for you to visit my blog and check out short flash fiction. It’s great to read while sipping on a cup of coffee on the couch of your new friend across the ocean! A new take freshly brewed each morning!
https://creativitybrewing.blogspot.com/2020/01/contending-for-culture.html
Brilliant. I never really considered couch surfing but you have some good tips here.
I love your tip that you are not obligated to stay if the situation just doesn’t feel right. Always go with your gut!