What is it?

Couch surfing is primarily a platform which connects hosts who are offering a couch (sofa for us English folks) or bed, to you the traveller looking for a place to stay. They offer this FOR FREE and you should never be asked to pay to stay.

However, it would be great to bring a small gift or offer to make dinner as a sign of appreciation.

Couch surfing(CS) has over 4 million users so I would be surprised if you have never heard of it. We have experienced so much more than just a sofa and will explain why we love it so much.

But the next step is how to use it?

The three best uses

1. Finding a host to stay with.

This is the most common use for CS and it really is amazing. Once you have signed up you can jump on the app, search the area and dates, and scan through the many hosts.

Once you find one you like, you simply put in a request to stay with them. If accepted, then you can meet the host, stay with them and live like a local.

Benefits

1. Make new friends
2. Learn about each other’s culture
3. Explore new places together
4. Live like a local
5. Find the most unique and less tourist spots
6. Helps you keep costs down
7. Knowledge about places within the city or country.

Is it safe?

Yes, if you are sensible.

Most people have good intentions and it is deemed a safe app to use. Couch surfing takes this seriously and any issues should be reported.  There are precautions, which we recommend such as:

• Always carefully select your host. You can do this using their references from other surfers. The more references, especially positive references, the better.
• Tell someone where and who you are staying with.
• You could always meet the host in a pubic place to get to know them first.

Note: we recommend that if you are a female traveller travelling alone, especially in certain countries, then you should always take caution to check reviews and let someone know where you are staying.

It is very rare, but some people can see it as a chance to hit on women. Be careful unless of course thats your thing.  We only mention this as we met a girl travelling by herself  who had a few guys like this messenging her.

Why do people host?

Well, being a bit of a sceptic, I could not understand why people would want to have you stay with them for free. This was hard for me to digest in the beginning and a good reason many people are hesitant to try it.

But honestly, most couch surfers are good people with good intentions and kind souls. Some people want to make new friends, others want some company and others cannot afford to travel but love meeting people from across the world. It gives them the feeling of traveling by learning about other cultures from those that come to stay with them.

Tips:

• Find a host with several good references.
• Find a host you have things in common with and think you will bond with.
• Read the host profile carefully and write a personal response. This way you are more likely to be accepted by them.

Number 2 – Hangout with locals and travellers

This is one of the best ways to use couch surfing.  The app is great because it has a section for meeting other active users.

There are two ways to find people who want to hang out.

1 – The “hang out” section

All you need to do is put what you want to do. For example, “I want to grab a coffee and see the city” and make yourself available. Others will see it and let you know if they are up for it.

You can make plans to meet and go from there. You can also see other people who want to hang out.

It’s so good because you get to meet local people or other travellers.  Its also really good for planning to do things and helping to split the costs. We met so many locals who love to show you their city using this.

2 – Search for fellow travellers

 There is a section on the app called “travellers”. If its not obvious this is where you can search for other travellers using this app. It will find people in your area who may want to meet up and could even be your next travel buddy.