COUCHSURFING BASICS
What is Couchsurfing?
Couchsurfing is a social platform, allowing you to connect and share with people across the globe. It can be used to host, stay with, or simply meet travellers and like-minded people. A cultural exchange where the more you put into it, the more you’ll get back.
Having dinner on the balcony with our host in Liechtenstein
How does Couchsurfing work?
Couchsurfing.com is a social platform, so in order to participate you need to create a profile. You can then choose whether to host guests or not, or if you just want to meet up with other members of the Couchsurfing community. Selected criteria will determine whether your profile shows up in various types of searches. Couchsurfing used to be free, but since Covid came along they’ve introduced a small fee to use the website (the cost is adjusted depending on which country you are registering in).
To Couchsurf during your travels, all you have to do is search your destination and dates, then scroll through the hosts in that area. You’ll be able to read through their profiles and see if you’re likely to get on. If you find a host that fits the bill, send them a request to stay through the website. Couchsurfing isn’t just about free accommodation though, so make sure to read through potential hosts’ profiles before sending a personalised message.
Tip: Try to incorporate something from the Hosts profile in your personalised message to increase your chance of being accepted. They need to know you’re not just looking for a free bed for the night.
Staying with a Couchsurfer
If you’re accepted as a guest, you’ll then exchange messages with your host to arrange a time and place to meet. Couchsurfing is all about getting to know your host, exchanging stories and experiencing a small part of their life. So be flexible and don’t expect to just do what you want. Spend time with your hosts and be open to skipping the main sights to hang out with them in a local bar, a friend’s house, or at a Sunday lunch with the extended family.
Our host in Dushanbe worked at the American Corner, an American funded cultural centre
Similar to AirBnB, once you’ve said goodbye and continued on your travels, you’ll need to leave them a review of your stay, and they’ll do the same for you. These reviews make it easier for other Couchsurfers to assess whether they want to host or surf with you in the future. In addition, the more positive reviews you have, the more likely someone will accept you as a guest.
Is Couchsurfing safe?
Now, you might be wondering how safe Couchsurfing can be. As stated, you’re going into someone’s home or hosting someone you’ve never met before, so of course, there is some risk involved. That said, there are lots of things you can do to minimise the risk.
When considering whether to host someone or stay with them, read their profile thoroughly and check their references. Take some time doing this and don’t compromise; if you don’t find someone that you feel comfortable with, stay in a hostel and give Couchsurfing a try another time. If you feel uncomfortable staying alone with someone, consider staying with families or couples instead. Couchsurfing also has a verification process to confirm your identity; consider only surfing with verified members for added peace of mind.
It's All About Feeling Comfortable
An additional consideration when you’re Couchsurfing is to have an idea of other accommodation options nearby. This gives you a backup plan in case the host cancels at the last minute or the situation isn’t what you expected once you get there. If you’re more risk averse, consider not giving out your personal details until you’ve met the person, and let a friend or family member know where you are.
Lastly, make sure you understand the culture and etiquette of your destination before you travel. Most Couchsurfing hosts are pretty worldly and liberal, no matter where they live. Still, it’s good to have some background information before you arrive. If you have a bad experience, make sure to leave a review and report this to Couchsurfing.
How should I get started with Couchsurfing?
If you’re new to Couchsurfing and don’t have any reviews, it might be difficult to be accepted as a guest. You may have more luck hosting or going to some Couchsurfing meet-ups to get some references. Additionally, consider starting Couchsurfing somewhere you’re relatively familiar with, or where the culture isn’t too different from your own.
Tip: Another way to obtain reviews is through your existing friends or family network. Couchsurfing syncs with Facebook, so you should be able to see common connections and request reviews that way.
Our Couchsurfing Experiences
We have been both hosts and guests many times through Couchsurfing. Without exception, we have found these experiences to be rich and rewarding. We’ve learnt so much more about lifestyles and cultures around the globe than we would have through staying in hostels or hotels.
We have also learnt not to expect anything in particular when Couchsurfing. Your host might be working all day, and you may have plenty of time to go sightseeing, or they may be available and want to hang out. It’s essential to be flexible and accommodating.
We enjoyed having breakfast on the verandah at Ulumani Treetops Lodge
Just like in any walk of life you might hit it off with some people straight away, while otahers will be more of a struggle. In the end if you put in the effort, you’ll still get something out of it. We’ve met many people from around the world through Couchsurfing, from a Greek guy biking around Africa for over a year to a Tajik student hosting in his student flat, and everything in between. Check out the blog posts below for more about our Couchsurfing adventures.
