Couchsurfing is a unique way to stay for free around the world with travellers who are part of the worldwide couchsurfing community. We’re sharing some tips on how it works and why it might be for you.
What is it?
Couchsurfing is an affordable way to see the world, meet new friends and find accommodation during your travels. The online community at Couchsurfing.org has 7 million members, which allows you to find places to stay in 100,000 cities worldwide. You can also be a host and share your home as well as your knowledge of your hometown with fellow travellers. The couchsurfing community is about more than free places to stay (although that is a pretty big plus). By being hosted by locals as you travel, you’re getting an insider’s view of a destination, learning about where someone lives through their eyes, and ideally, making some new friends in the process.
How it works
The first step is creating a profile at Couchsurfing.org. Your profile will be a way for you to connect with other travellers. This is also where you indicate whether you’re looking for places to stay or whether you want to host (or both). Once you’re signed up and have created a profile you’ll get access to events being hosted in cities around the world. It’s a good idea to attend events in your area to get to know some fellow couchsurfers and find out more about how the process works from the people who do it. Simply search your city’s page on the site to see what events are going on, and click “join” if you’re interested.
Finding a place to stay
Once you’re signed up with a profile and you’re ready to start surfing (i.e. you have a trip planned and need a place to stay) you can browse available couches in the cities that interest you. Read through profiles carefully for people you feel you would get along with, and who you think would be a good host for your stay. Once you narrow it down to a few, send requests for the dates you’ll be there and wait for a response. Couchsurfing.org recommends sending out at least five requests and sending messages that help convey who you are and the type of experience you’re looking for.
Why do it?
A guidebook, travel blog or city app can only tell you so much about a destination. What better way to really get to know a place than through someone who lives there? As much as couchsurfing can offer a budget-friendly way to see the world, it can also connect you to other travellers and give you the opportunity to get to know locals everywhere you go.
Tips to get you started
Before you start couchsurfing, make a point of going to an event in your city so you can talk to people who have couchsurfed or hosted couchsurfers. They can answer any lingering questions you might have. Read through host profiles carefully and be sure to read reviews, which will tell you a bit more about what to expect when staying with a host you have in mind. Most importantly, have fun and take advantage of the fact that the person you’re staying with has a vast knowledge of the area and can recommend off-the-beaten-track food, activities and excursions you might not otherwise hear about.
Lead photo: Ana Majkowska
