Couchsurfing abroad: a way to meet friendly locals and save money

More and more of you are wondering about the concept of couchsurfing. What is it? Is it free? How do I find a host? This article will introduce you to this accommodation option that can be great for some travellers.

What is couchsurfing?

By definition, couchsurfing is the concept of sleeping on the couch of a stranger who is willing to shelter you for free for one or multiple nights.

Couchsurfing is also a great way of meeting locals and experiencing their way of life. Conversely, as a host, it is a great way to meet travellers who are passing through your city and hoping to make some connections.

Some couchsurfing hosts may also kindly offer to show you their town, the key words of this community being “encounters” and “sharing”.

How to join this community

As a traveller, you have many ways of finding a couchsurfing host, including via Facebook groups. One popular platform dedicated to couchsurfing is www.couchsurfing.com. You just need to create your profile and send requests to hosts in your destination city.

Membership requires a payment of a couple dollars per month (if you decide to go with the annual plan).

If you want your account to be verified by the Couchsurfing.com team (which could inspire more trust in potential hosts), you will need to pay an additional one-time fee. This is fully optional.

Sending a request to a host

Before contacting a host, you should fill out your profile as completely as possible. This will show hosts that you are committed to being an engaged and trustworthy member of the couchsurfing community (rather than just another stranger looking for free housing). A complete profile will also allow your host to learn more about you. Consider adding a few photos of yourself, so that hosts can put a face to the words you write.

A passion in common? A shared language? A similar career? Many things could catch a host’s eye and make him or her give you that yes. In short, the idea is to create a profile that you yourself would be comfortable hosting.

In your search for hosts, verify a few important things:

• That the host is actually available to host. They might be on vacation, or already hosting other travellers, or repainting their walls… You may also want to specify that you are looking for accommodation, and not just a buddy to accompany you for a drink or a tour of the city.
• If you are travelling with companions, confirm that the host can host all of you.
• That the host can adequately communicate with you in English or another language.

You will likely need to contact several hosts and you’ll be tempted to copy and paste the same email for them all. It is certainly important to introduce yourself to all hosts, communicate your travel dates and times, and state your housing needs. However, we recommend that you also include a couple of sentences tailored to each specific host, in which you might mention for example your shared interests or background. Blasting the same generic message to everyone is less likely to move someone into action.

Don’t announce from the get-go that you are looking for a week or more of accommodation. This can be quite imposing to many hosts. Instead, start by asking for 2-3 nights. Depending on how you both feel, you may be able to extend your stay more naturally later on. After all, unlike with Airbnb and hostels, you are not really a paying customer.

After your stay, you and your host can leave reviews for each other. The more positive reviews you accumulate, the easier it will be for you to secure future couches!

Also consider preparing a meal or a little gift for your host as a way of thanking them for their hospitality. Most hosts would really appreciate that care.

I tried couchsurfing

I had the chance to try the platform three times (twice in New Zealand and once in Australia), and they all went super well.

The first time was at Christchurch, with an American who was sharing a home with some Kiwis. Their heating was broken and we were in the month of July (winter down there). The nights were freezing but the evenings were very nice! It was worth it.

The second time was in Nelson, at the home of three Americans and one Québecoise. The house was going to be repainted, so we had fun by writing all over the old walls before that happened. The hosts were really lovely.

The last time was in Darwin, at an Australian’s who was staying for six months at a hotel. Having just spent two weeks sleeping in a car, I really appreciated those two comfortable nights in a hotel. We spoke with our host for hours about travelling. It was really cool.

Becoming a host

Being a part of the Couchsurfing community (usually) means that you plan to host other travellers once you are settled. On your profile, indicate your willingness to host only if you have housing that authorises it and if you have the time to do so. You will see that within minutes, requests will come in, especially if you are living in a large city.

If you are inspired to meet other travellers but can’t necessarily host them, remember that you also have the option of just offering meetups and city tours to them. There are a lot of solo travellers who would appreciate company from a local for a little while.