Photo by Betsssssy
Although the number of surfers seems to be growing exponentially, hosts have to be particular when choosing who to allow in their homes.
During a brief stint in Thailand, I had the opportunity to meet up with various people from different backgrounds: an Australian who divided his time between home and Phuket province, a couple from Ireland doing a backpacking tour of Asia, a middle-aged German woman who owned a house near Chalong Beach.
Together we chartered a long boat and set out to snorkel in some of the bluest waters and relax on powdery sand beaches.
One of the best days of my life.
Oh, and the people? Couchsurfers.
I came across Stefanie’s profile while looking for a place to stay in Phuket Town over the weekend. What I’d stumbled upon, however, was more than just a couch to crash on, but a guided tour of Thailand’s best islands, some great conversation from a diverse group, and a delicious lunch (my stomach still not quite used to spicy chicken and rice).
Couchsurfing, a website that links travelers looking for convenient and free places to stay with willing locals, is one of the better resources on the web. If you’ve done any major traveling you’re probably familiar with Couchsurfing, but have you set up your own profile, offered to host international guests, or slept on floors half the world over?
Although the number of surfers seems to be growing exponentially, hosts have to be particular when choosing who to allow in their homes. If you wanted to arrange for a guest to stay at your home, where would your attention lie? What information would concern you the most? Shared language? Interests? Age?
How can you best present your Couchsurfing profile, as both surfer and host?
Photo by blmurch
10. Get Verified
Yes, Couchsurfing does require you to pay $25 to get level three verification, but this is a small price to pay; you’re donating to an excellent cause and ensuring people know you’re genuine.
9. Post Plenty of Pictures
It’s always suspicious when your CSing (CouchSurfing) profile lacks any kind of personal touch; where are the pictures of you smiling with friends, family, coworkers? Let other travelers know you’re social, and capable of having fun when the occasion calls for it.
8. Couchsurf with Friends if you have no References
Plenty of people on Couchsurfing won’t take anyone who doesn’t have at least one glowing reference. Granted, we all have to start somewhere, so get your friends to show the world you are capable of crashing in unfamiliar surroundings without incident.
Ask people you know to sign up with CSing and add you to their friends list. An even better choice might be to try surfing locally. Although you certainly have a place to stay in your hometown, there’s no reason you cannot learn from the perspectives of other locals, and since you don’t live thousands of miles away, they might be more inclined to let you stay and build your reference list.
7. Allude to Exciting Travels Abroad
Sharing at least one preview of your travels on a CSing profile can go over well in finding a place to stay. Those offering to host may want to hear how the story goes.
Have you traveled where others have only dreamed of going? If not, do you know someone who has been there, or could share a story for you to tell in your first contact emails?
Photo by re-ality
6. Offer Your Couch at Home
Even if you don’t have a place for a fellow wanderer to stay the night, it’s important to make the offer; say you’re willing to meet someone for coffee and travel talk. Offer to connect them with your local CSing friends who do have decent floor space.
5. Don’t Use Couchsurfing to Hook Up
Maybe I’m off base here, but I just assumed that Couchsurfing was better than your average Match.com. Don’t post that you’re only willing to host members of the opposite sex and have only your single bed to share.
If you meet someone great by circumstance, that’s wonderful, but don’t actively seek it on a site like this.
4. Join and Follow Groups
True, you can just search for couches doing randomized searches under “Couchsurf!”, but another useful method to find or offer lodging is located in the local group listings. Each city should have its own official Couchsurfing group, assuming it doesn’t have ten.
Photo by blmurch
3. Don’t Lie
Don’t want smokers to stay at your place? Say as much. Not gay-friendly? Be honest. Uncomfortable with people staying more than one night? You’d better tell them straight-away, or you could be stuck with The Man Who Came To Dinner.
Couchsurfing is about expanding your horizons, but, when you’re staying with someone, it’s also about compatibility. Don’t put someone out by saying you’re a morning person and then party till 3 AM. Be honest as to who you are and what you want in a CSing experience.
2. Tell People When You Leave the Country
I cannot count the number of CSers I’ve emailed who haven’t gotten back to me; although their profiles mention the possibility of leaving in the near future, they forget to update that they have already been gone six weeks and are unable to host.
And the number one tip…
1. Don’t be Afraid
Couchsurfing is about goodwill, bettering the lives of travelers, and international understanding; the people are not out to beat and rob you. I can understand some people being hesitant about staying in a stranger’s house in a foreign country (especially single ladies), but CSing is not the “Casual Encounters” section of Craigslist.
These people are real, and others will attest to them. Don’t let any fears you might have show through your profile words.
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9 Comments... join the discussion!
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Thanks for the post — Csurfing is awesome!
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You forgot a very important way to improve your odds: go to CouchSurfing meetings. Everywhere I’ve traveled, I’ve done my best to make it out to CS get togethers. In this way, not only do I get to know my host, but dozens of other people.
Meets usually have a mix of locals and Surfers who are just passing through, giving you the opportunity to meet people from a wide variety of backgrounds, many of whom have good local travel recommendations. There’s even the possibility that they may be doing something fun the next day that they’d love to invite you along for.
So, even if I am unable to offer a couch, when I’m living abroad I always come out to meet-ups, and I usually end up showing around other travelers. I’ve also been trying to organize the community in my local city (Morgantown, WV, USA). In this way, even though I’ve only hosted or surfed a total of 7 or 8 times, I have about 28 references, all from people who know me well. Remember, CouchSurfing is about PEOPLE, about having a greater travel experience and making lifelong friends. The free couch is, and should always be, secondary.
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I only can say good things about couchsurfing:
it is like a school where everyone’s a student and everyone’s a teacher. Surfing isn’t just be about a place to sleep. It’s about EXCHANGE, KNOWLEDGE. From esoteric knowledge to practical skills, EVERYONE have special knowledge that others will benefit from knowing.I recommend it to EVERYONE and if u don’t like to sleep in couches, just go to hostels but join Couchsurfing people because they are doing plenty of things everywhere you go!!
Trust-trust relationship for the indecise ones!!
Cheers from Barcelona, spain
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I found Couch Surfing to be the most unrewarding experience. I hosted many people and yet when I was trying to find somewhere to stay in New York and Washington for two nights, I felt like that scene in “54″ when they are deciding who is cool enough to enter the club. One of the guys in New York even had rules about how it wasn’t cool to wear Crocs so you couldn’t do so in his house! And unfortunately, he wasn’t joking. We need something like Coach Surfing that focuses more on safe environments (I’m referring to the recent sexual assaults) and less on the attitude.
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i tell you what, as soon as i read this Page i went over to my CS account and started to make a small changes that it’s mentioned here, more or less i know these , but i havent pay attention well, but i think , yeah! you are right maybe we should do our best. also it’s great that beside hosting and surfing you can make friends around the glob which i count it as the best part. i will do my best and i hope this site would be here forever. for a guy like me i havent surf using the site but i will travel just to see how does it goes when someone travel and see the new things coming to me. Thanks AGAin!!!!
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These are good tips.
My #1 tip would be when sending a request, make sure to mention something personal about the person you’re trying to stay with, so they know you actually read their profile. That is far and away the best way to increase your chances of getting a “yes” response.
The #2 tip is to send your request out at least a week or two in advance instead of waiting to the last minute.
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Hey boys and girls !
i found a new website for gay hospitality exchange : http://www.mygayst.com
nice website, nice community and very open minded people. i already used it to travel through europe and it works ! i found a code for one year free access (instead of 24€) and i give you the code to register : HNUX8ZN1
hope to see you soon there and meet you everywhere on the earth !!
hope it will be useful for you all !
have nice trips !
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Well, don’t think my comment can quite compare with the awesome website for gay people above, but I’ll do my best:).
I have only ever hosted CS’ers (as I’ve not been backpacking since I joined) and it was 99.99% awesomeness! I would give them spare keys, show them around if I wasn’t working and help where I could. I’ve met some amazing people and had some incredible conversations thanks to CS.
I always checked all of the things which Turner has mentioned in his well-written article, using my common sense to avoid me being robbed blind by travelling bandits, heh.
For me though, what really did it (as I hosted many CS’ers who were first timers and so had no references at all) was how they approached me in the first message. People who were friendly, open, honest and mentioned a few of their interests and passions were much more likely to get a nod from me than anyone who just said that they needed a place to stay and could I help.
My advice is to always search for people who have similar interests to you, so you know that you can relate to them in more ways than just being someone who likes to travel. For example, I had many people stay who were also into health or music or Surfing (as in waves) and so we instantly had loads to talk about. Generally you can find one or two places where you agree, so focus on those in your initial contact.
This all may seem to be common sense, but I’ve come to realize that often sense is not all that common;).
CS rocks my world, some of the friends I’ve made on there will be friends for life and I can’t wait to use it to find couches to lay my head upon when I’m in need!
Love to all
inJOY↵
