A Travelers Guide To Couchsurfing

​I get it, the idea of being in a new place, arriving to a strangers home and crashing on whatever spare space they have in their home seems pretty strange, dangerous and unappealing, but that is not what couch surfing is at all! Couchsurfing as a community of like-minded travelers who want to share memories and adventures with people who have the same heart for traveling as they do while making traveling cheap and affordable.

Couchsurfing Is FREE!

Accommodation while traveling can easily be one of the most expensive things on your trip, even if you opt for cheaper options like hostels and airbnbs, Couchsurfing gives us an opportunity to travel with a small budget!

With that being said, with every host I have stayed with I try to offer them something in exchange to be polite and thankful. This can be simply buying them some beers, cooking them a meal, a thank you note or bringing something special from your home!

It's Not Always A Couch.

To be frank, I have slept on my fair share of couches, air mattresses, floors and mattresses...however, I have also had plenty of hosts offer me a warm bed in my own bedroom! Typically, a host should have photos of where you will be sleeping, their roommate situation and other things they feel it's necessary for you to know.

Tip #1 Stay With Experienced Hosts

It is always best to stay with hosts who have plenty of good recommendations. This may sound like a "duh" for safety reasons, but staying with people who have hosted many people will make your first Couchsurfing experience more at ease. Basically every host I have stayed with have hosted plenty of people, making them the most kind, accepting and intriguing people I have met.

Tip #2 Say YES!

For the longest time I let social anxiety deter me from doing things I wanted to do. It wasn't really until I traveled solo where I realized how to overcome my social anxiety. Just things like going out to restaurants would make me extremely anxious and uncomfortable, I can't explain it, it was just something that happened. I began to realize that people are just people, they shouldn't scare you. If your scared someone is judging you... who cares! Everybody is weird, everybody feels out of place... but there is something so refreshing and beautiful to share wonderful memories with strangers. On my way home from Portugal, I had about a 36 hour layover in the Azores, I contemplated being lazy and antisocial and just booking a hostel, but I decided to Couchsurf and end my trip with a final adventure. My host was so kind to pick me up from the airport along with two other Couchsurfers. We all went out to dinner, shared laughs and stories and listened to live music in the charming streets of Ponta Delgada. Memories like these are priceless, do not turn them down! Go out with your host, have fun, have an adventure! You won't regret it :-)

Tip #3 Setting Up Your Profile

I will make this simple, spend a lot of thought and detail in your profile! Add lots of photos, interests, stories..etc. Ask some of your friends to leave you references to get you started! The more elaborate your profile is, the more likely you are able to find a host.

Tip #4 Utilize The App!

Couchsurfing isn't just for accommodation, they also show events or hangouts going on in the area. You can find art shows, live music, festivals and more on the app! They also have "hangout" where you can make yourself available and state what you want to do, like go out or go hiking. You can see people around you who want to do the same things, it is really great, especially when your traveling solo!

FAQ

1. "Do you ever feel awkward around/talking to the host?"

That's a great question! Of course initially it can be a little awkward, but really it is only awkward if you make it awkward! Whoever your staying with is happy to have you there! You have read their profile, their reviews, their life story, you've messaged them and have had time to get acquainted with them, it's like meeting a friend! No need to feel awkward :-)

2. "How does the app work?"

Couchsurfing is relatively simple to use. Setting up your profile is jut like any other social media, except a little more descriptive! When your looking for a host you can search by location and also use filters like "has references". Once you find a host you'd like to stay with, you can send them a friendly message and request to stay with them! From there they can accept or deny. Once your stay with them is over you can leave them a reference, but don't worry! They cannot see your reference until they leave one for you. References are PERMANENT! They cannot be deleted or edited, so be careful!

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From having a traditional tea ceremony in Iceland, to cramming in a one bedroom apartment with 6 people in Puerto Rico, to biking through Calgary, to sleeping on a couch and being woken up to drunk Australians at 2 in the morning in Montana to simply just sharing beers, stories and laughs in a cozy night in... Couchsurfing has allowed me to have some of the greatest memories and experiences seeing life through another persons eyes. Couchsurfing is one of the easiest ways to make friends all over the world. It is not only humbling, it is priceless.

Happy Surfing!

DISCLAIMER***

Although I have had nothing but great experiences Couchsurfing, there is always a risk of safety as you are staying with someone you do not know. However, if you stay with people who have great reviews you should have no trouble! If you meet your host and you do not feel comfortable, do not stay there! Always take proper precautions like you should while traveling, let people know who/where you are staying etc... Do not let this deter you from Couchsurfing :-)