If you’re wondering what couchsurfing is and what it’s used for, you’ve come to the right place!
Couchsurfing is a travel community that connects people looking for a place to stay, host, and hang out. While it’s an excellent tool for budget travel, it’s way more than just that. Couchsurfing is about cultural exchange, sharing experiences, and creating new ones.
How does Couchsurfing work?
The first step to using CS is to create an account online or in-app. You may be asked to pay a certain fee depending on your location, and the next step is to fill in your profile.
This is the first thing people will look at, so try to be yourself. Some couch surfers don’t include personal information here, but that can be more harmful than good, especially when trying to find or host someone.
Once your profile is set, you can join hangouts and meet up with travelers who are available to meet in your area or send a request if you’re looking for a host.
With your account, you can accept travelers, be hosted, and meet up with people near you.
Is Couchsurfing free?
You only need to pay for a monthly/ annual subscription; after that, you’re good to go. Unlike Airbnb, which shouldn’t be mistaken for Couchsurfing, you don’t need to pay host. However, bringing a small gift from your country is always appreciated.
How safe is Couchsurfing?
Couchsurfing is pretty safe. While staying with a stranger may sound dangerous, it doesn’t have to be.
The platform has a verification process that lets you know which couch surfers have been ID’d and verified.
Profiles also have references that cannot be changed once published, and you can look at other experiences you have had and how many. There are several other Couchsurfing tips to practice to ensure your safety.
But more on that later!
What I love about Couchsurfing
I first learned about Couchsurfing while studying in Turkey. One of my Turkish tutors was talking about cultural exchanges when she mentioned the app, and I was very intrigued. I had never heard anything like it before.
A few months later, I booked the trip and stayed with my first couchsurfing host in Bodrum, Turkey.
Fast forward to today, I’ve couch-surfed in many cities in Europe. Namely Stockholm, Copenhagen, Malmo, Vienna, Bruges, Barcelona, Ljubljana, Bari, Prague, Milan, Zürich, Brussels, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam.
And if we count Turkey, I’d also include Bodrum, Antalya, Pammukale, İstanbul, Cappadocia, Mersin, and İzmir.
What I love about the platform is how unexpected it’s. You never really know who you’re going to meet and the type of connection you’ll have.
As a solo traveler, I also love how conveniently it gives you a friend in the city. Some of my hosts have become really good friends and have visited me in my city. I’ve met so many incredible people and learned a lot from them.
Meeting locals also enriched my experiences abroad, and a lot of my trips wouldn’t be as memorable if I hadn’t couch-surfed.
What are the advantages of Couchsurfing?
A few things that make staying with a stranger a little less difficult.
1. You get firsthand information from locals.
You can read travel blogs ( like this one) and look up things to do on Instagram or TikTok, but nothing beats getting the inside scoop from locals. The perk of staying with someone who’s a local resident is that you can get the real, unglamorized version of a place.
Depending on how long you stay, you can see how locals shop, where they go, and what they do.
2. It allows you to learn something new.
Couchsurfing isn’t just about getting a free place to stay. It’s about a shared cultural experience. As a host and guest, you can learn about somebody’s culture and way of thinking and doing things.
Being open is crucial here, and that’s why it’s important to have the right intentions, communicate openly, and do your best to have a meaningful interaction.
3. You meet people you usually wouldn’t have met
Nothing makes couchsurfing more special to me than this.
If it wasn’t for Couchsurfing, I wouldn’t have stayed in a penthouse in BLOX in Copenhagen or an old mansion just outside Brussels. If it wasn’t for Couchsurfing, I wouldn’t have made good friends in Ljubljana with whom I’d travel to Trieste. Or perhaps I wouldn’t have been invited to Zürich by my host from Austria.
4. It’s a good way to travel on a budget.
In this economy, traveling isn’t the most budget-friendly activity one can do. Especially if you don’t want to sacrifice comfort, CS can help bring down travel costs when you travel because you don’t have to spend on accommodation.
And as we know, accommodation can account for a considerable part of our trips so cutting those costs can allow you to spend on something else like eating out and trying other local activities.
5. You don’t have to live with strangers
A couchsurfing feature that most people overlook on couchsurfing is hangouts! You don’t have to stay with or host strangers if you don’t want to!
You can turn on hangouts and meet with travelers and locals for a drink or sightseeing.
What are the disadvantages of couchsurfing?
I get it; couchsurfing sounds a little too good to be true. And it kind of is. While you may meet incredible people and have beautiful experiences, Couchsurfing still has some cons.
1. Safety
Despite being able to see someone’s profile and references, they’re still a stranger, and you can’t always be too sure about what’s going to happen. You’re always going to be taking a risk whenever you couch surf, so you have to be okay with that.
How can I stay safe on Couchsurfing?
- Staying with female hosts or couples (if this makes you feel safer. Remember that most hosts are male).
- Only staying with hosts with references. Aim for more than 10 references and ensure that they’re recent.
- Always have a backup plan
- Share your location with your family or friends
- Trust your instincts
2. Communication Barriers
The beauty of Couchsurfing is that you can use it in different parts of the world. The disadvantage that comes with this is that you may experience language barriers and have a difficult time communicating.
Communication is crucial when couchsurfing because you want to ensure that you and your host/guest are on the same page. One of my worst couchsurfing experiences occurred because my host and I didn’t effectively communicate our expectations, and as a result, the experience didn’t go as expected.
Tip: If it makes you more comfortable, choose a host with whom you feel you can easily communicate.
3. You don’t always get a host
It’s much easier to find a host in some places than it’s to find hosts in others. People don’t always respond to requests, and even if they do, they don’t always say yes. They don’t have to.
But it can make things a little complicated or stressful if you were hoping to have a host in a specific area.
Tip: Have a look at other accommodation options like HostASister, Airbnb, Hostels, and Hotels.
4. You can’t be too picky
Another thing with couchsurfing is you sort of have to accept what you can get. You have to remember that the other people on the app don’t run a hotel and that they’re welcoming you into their home.
With that in mind, everyone’s house is different. Some hosts will be able to offer you a private room and an extra towel, while others can offer you a couch or a mattress.
Always have a look at the host’s profile and their home section because they’ll most likely have this information here.
5. You might have less freedom
This is something you and your host will need to discuss, but their house, their rules.
To be a good couchsurfing guest, you’re going to have to adhere to some of their rooms. For instance, you can’t return to your host’s house whenever you please (unless they say it’s alright). Some hosts also want to hang out all the time, and this might not be suitable for all guests.
That said, communication is key and you need to address your expectations and also know theirs beforehand.
Conclusion: Couchsurfing 2024
Whether you choose to host or be hosted, CS, when used correctly, is a helpful tool. I recommend starting off slow with the app. That could mean meeting people on hangouts or only using it when you’re not too far from home.
