Couchsurfing can be a great way to meet new people and travel without breaking the bank. If you know how to better organize your holiday, you will have the opportunity to touch the unprecedented facets of local culture, share stories and experiences with your guests, and maybe even forge lasting friendships.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Planning Your Stay
Step 1. Write a clear and precise hospitality request
Tell your potential guests when you will arrive, why you chose them and how long you intend to stay. Describe the reasons for the trip. Will you be in town to explore it as a tourist? Or are you interested in a particular event to be held near your guest's home? Will you simply be passing through, headed for other destinations? Also remember to fill in the section relating to personal information, to allow guest candidates to get an idea about you.
If you are concerned about personal safety, only choose hosts with full profiles and positive reviews. Women traveling alone can choose female hosts or hosts with families, and look for the address of the nearest hostel where they can take refuge in case of need
Step 2. Look for hosts with whom you have common interests
Read the personal information contained in the profile of possible hosts and choose those who are similar to you or who have hobbies you want to learn more about. All hosts are volunteers, and it is very likely that they have chosen to join couchsurfing to get in touch with new people. Then think about the stories and skills you could and would like to share with your host, as well as the activities you would like to do with him or her.
- Pick a topic to break the ice with, such as shared musical tastes or a place you've both been to. If you can't think of anything, ask the host if he is on his first experience with a couchsurfer or what are the main attractions that can be reached from his home.
- Communicate via the internal messaging of the site, rather than using personal contacts, until you are sure that you have found the right host and decide to use his sofa.
Step 3. Coordinate with the host
Once the request has been accepted, let him or her help you with the logistics of the arrival. Be clear with the dates, if you will arrive on a specific day or if you may have to expect some flexibility. Whether you are traveling by plane, by car or on foot, make sure you know how to get to your host's home and that you have a number to call in case you get lost.
- Ask if you will have a copy of the house keys available or if you will need to show up at certain times to be able to enter.
- Find out in advance what the host will make available to you. You may need to bring a sleeping bag, pillow, and towels.
Step 4. Get advice from the host to discover the beauties of the place
As a long-time member of the local community, your landlord will be able to give you advice and warnings that are hard to find online. Feel free to ask for any information regarding your stay: he will be happy to help you. Below is a list of useful topics to explore before your arrival:
- Are there any day trips worth taking to nearby cities or attractions? Would he be happy to accompany you?
- What is the best way to get around the city? Is public transport reliable and up to what times is it active? Should you rent a car?
- What are the neighborhoods to avoid? What precautions should you take?
Part 2 of 3: Live a Beautiful Experience
Step 1. Share something with your host
Part of the fun is getting to know your landlord. A small gift will show your appreciation for his hospitality and will act as a catalyst to encourage dialogue, especially if you bring him a nice gift from your hometown or from the last visited destination. Better yet, reward him with the surprise of a shared experience:
- Show your skills. Many couchsurfers travel with a musical instrument or small drawing kit. Others offer to carry out small home repairs, make handicrafts, arrange the garden.
- Teach each other something. For example a song, a local tradition, a sports council or one of the activities described in the previous point. If you speak another language and your host is interested, teach him a few words.
Step 2. Exchange stories
Talk about the places you traveled, the customs of your hometown, or personal experiences. Ask your host about local customs and traditions, the history of the place, its life. These exchanges of cultures and stories, if you know how to seize the opportunity, are the essence of couchsurfing and are what differentiate it from a hotel stay.
Step 3. Respect the house rules
Do your best to adhere to the instructions left by your host, whether they are about which entrance to use or what time to make less noise. Pay attention to your landlord's habits and adjust if necessary. For example, many people leave their shoes at the entrance of the house and do not find it necessary to emphasize how common this is in their culture.
Don't hesitate to ask questions or apologize if you made a mistake. A positive approach forgives any small slip
Step 4. Offer your host a meal
Food is a great vehicle for pleasant experiences as well as a simple introduction to the respective cultures. If you know how to cook, offer to cook in your home kitchen and share the meal with your host. If you have little or no cooking skills, or if the host is not comfortable with the idea of leaving you in charge of the kitchen, invite him out for dinner and pay the bill. If you don't have time to share a whole meal, or a restaurant is out of your budget, bring a taste from your home country or buy something from a local rotisserie.
If your host also knows how to cook, do it together
Step 5. Be flexible and patient
If your host can't be home to open at certain times of the day, make sure you know when this will be possible. In the meantime, find something to do to fill the waiting hours profitably.
It costs nothing to be in a good mood, enthusiastic and grateful for the hospitality received and can make a difference in how the host will consider and treat you at home
Step 6. Stay in touch throughout your stay
Tell your host the time you intend to return from an excursion and, if you change plans, always let them know.
Step 7. Make yourself useful around the house
At a minimum, try to clean up after messing up and volunteer to wash the dishes after a communal meal. If your host is a busy or reserved type, doing some housework together is a great way to connect.
Part 3 of 3: Finishing the Journey
Step 1. Clean
Ask your host for the cleaning products you need. If you have been provided with pillows, linens, towels, or a mat, find out where to store them. Return whatever you have borrowed.
Do not leave anything except gifts. Take out your trash and offer to take out the dirt bags if you helped fill them
Step 2. Recommend your host
If you are happy with it, say so. A good review will help your host find new couchsurfers that match their interests and habits. To describe your experience with a host, go to their profile page and click the… button, then click "Write Reference".
Write an honest review on the general attitude of the guest, plus a couple of specific examples of situations that have added (or removed) value to your trip. Mention anything you found surprising or pleasant, other couchsurfers will appreciate this type of information
Step 3. Stay in touch
Friendships will not always be established, but if this happens, do not hesitate to ask your guest for his email contacts or friendship on social networks. Make yourself heard every now and then and keep him updated on the continuation of your journey.
Advice
- When calling or texting your guest for the first time, make sure you introduce yourself appropriately: “Hi, I'm [name] from CouchSurfing”. Otherwise it will not be able to recognize you.
- Try hosting if you get the chance. Otherwise, try going back to when you had a guest or shared a flat with other people. What did they do to make you nice? Or, conversely, what did they do to annoy you?
- When you cook for someone else, especially if from another culture, always ask if there are foods that they cannot eat and adjust the menu accordingly.
- If you find yourself in trouble, please contact the CouchSurfing Safety Center.
Warnings
- Always make a plan B in case something goes wrong. This includes having enough cash to go home right away or spend a few nights in a hotel if needed. Or bring camping gear.
- If your guest or the neighborhood where he lives makes you uncomfortable, shorten your stay. Most hosts are welcoming and friendly, but there are always exceptions.
- Follow your host's directions for smoking, alcohol, soft drugs, etc. while you are his guest.
- CouchSurfing is not a dating site, so meeting a partner shouldn't be your primary goal when using the service. Although it may happen to meet your soul mate while traveling, proceed with lead feet. If you think there is room for a love story, it can be a smart move to move to sleep in a hostel and continue to hang out with the guest while staying there. In some cases, the onset of feelings and attractions can upset normal coexistence.
