What if I’d tell you there is a way to travel around the around without paying for accommodation? Would that pick your interest?
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If you are trying to reduce your travelling expenses, but you worry that you won’t get a quality service, you might want to learn a bit more about CouchSurfing.
When you are tired of sleeping in impersonal hotel rooms and you are searching for something that looks like home, CouchSurfing might be the right answer for you.
If you wish to have an authentic experience in your host country, then you are on the right path. I have exactly what you need. You need to learn how to CouchSurf! Yes, you read it right! CouchSurf! In case you don’t know what that is, let me introduce you to the concept of CouchSurfing.
WHAT IS COUCHSURFING?
You may have surfed crazy waves in California or Portugal, but I bet you never surfed a couch before! Am I right? Let’s dig a bit deeper and see what does CouchSurfing mean.
Spoiler alert: You won't need one of these!
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CouchSurfing means that you meet and stay with local hosts, wherever you travel around the globe.
There are people all over the world who use the CouchSurfing platform to offer or find a couch to surf. The hosts offer you, the surfer/traveller, a couch/bed to surf/sleep at night, FOR FREE, so you don’t sleep under the stars.
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As magical as that thought might be, having a roof over your head, is safer!
HOW DOES IT WORK?
There are several simple steps to follow, before you can actually get to surf a couch:
REGISTER YOUR ACCOUNT
First you go to the CouchSurfing.com website and create an account. You can do that using your email or signing in using your Facebook account. I would suggest using the first option.
CREATE YOUR PROFILE
Next step is to create a profile and let the other users know a little bit about you. Nothing fancy. Before you complete this step, feel free to navigate a bit the website and check out some profiles of other members. It might help you get an idea of what information you want to share on your profile. Add a photo of yourself, describe your hobbies, what you will be sharing with your host/surfer, etc.
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LOCATION VERIFICATION
While filling out your profile, you will be required to provide your address for verification purposes. You will be sent a postcard with a code that you will have to type on your account, in the Settings section.
This step shows the users where you are located and that you are a real person, not the bogeyman. It is not a mandatory step, but it does offer some piece of mind to the travellers.
SELECT A DESTINATION
This step will narrow down your research area and allow you to see all of the available hosts within the city or area you selected. There are over 200,000 travellers using this platform.
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SCREEN THOROUGHLY ANY POSSIBLE HOST
Scroll down and read more about some of the possible hosts. If their profiles and reviews are appealing you, send them a message asking about their availability for your dates. Yes, you can contact them through the platform.
Always check both profile and reviews for each user that you wish to contact. The reviews are written by real people that had surfed their couch. They are the best in position to describe how they were treated during their staying. Keep in mind, that you need to listen to your gut at all times.
CONTACT THE HOST(S)
Write down a message that you can use as a draft and send it to those who you have selected as a possible future host. Greet them, let them know a little about yourself, why are you travelling to that location, how long you will be in there and what are you hoping to do.
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Then address some questions about them, their city. Be creative! They are people and won’t bite. Feel free to inquire about their availability, the curfew or if they have specific rules. You will be sleeping under their roof, which means you’ll need to respect their rules and schedule. If you are planning to stay within their city for more than one night, question if you could stay with them an extra day!
WAIT FOR A REPLY
Wait to get a reply from your possible hosts. When that happens, reply in a timely manner (24 hours max) and address any of their concerns. Some hosts may simply state: “Here’s the address, just pop by!” while others may want to know more about you before they accept you as their guest.
It does make perfect sense to act in a cautious manner, especially for those who live alone, have young children or for women. Safety is a concern for everyone: hosts and guests.
CONFIRM YOUR DATES
If you got an email or a message saying that the host has a couch available, please confirm your dates, to ensure that everyone understood when you would be there. Inform them about the time of your arrival, if possible.
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FOSTER COMMUNICATION
Before you actually step into the host’s home, communicate with him. Inquire about possible things to do or see within the city. No one knows a destination better than the locals. From them you can find some incredible hidden gems or secrets that you would not find on your own.
COUCHSURF
Before you hop on the bus or the airplane, don’t forget to ask the hosts for their address and phone numbers, as this information can’t be found on their profile page! Once you reach their city, it is your responsibility to get yourself to their place. They won’t come to pick you up from the airport or train station.
It is true that some users go an extra mile and do offer to help you out with transportation, but not everyone does it. Thus, keep in mind that you should not expect this from your host. Not transportation, meals or time to hang out with you. They have already done you a favour by allowing you to step and sleep into their homes.
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REVIEW YOUR HOST
Write a review for your host once you left their house. Note that the host will also leave a review on your page. Since you are reviewing each other, try to leave a meaningful comment that will describe your staying. Think of the things you liked or disliked and write them down in a respectful and polite manner.
SAFETY CONCERNS
How can you make sure you will be safe? What steps you need to take to make sure nothing bad will happen?
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Before you decide on contacting a host, ensure you read all the reviews and the information displayed on the profile of your possible host!
Here are some tips that you might find useful:
- While you are within their home, be polite, kind and follow the house’ rules.
- Keep your belongings within the room you are given. If you sleep on a real couch in a common area, keep an eye on them.
- Make a habit of having your passport, IDs and wallet on you. I did not hear any story about abusive or negative hosts, but that it does not mean it could not happen.
- If the hosts have small children or pets ask where you go place your bags so they won’t be on the way, or taken as an invitation to chew on or pull things out of them.
- When the hosts offer you a meal, be thankful and volunteer to help cooking it, clean the table or do the dishes.
LIST YOUR COUCH and BECOME A HOST
If you liked the experience of CouchSurfing, take a moment and think if you’d be tempted to become a host as well. You could go that extra mile for your surfers, if you feel that they would deserve it.
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When you are completing your profile, you are asked if you wish to become a host. You are given several options:
- not available
- no, but I am available for hanging out
- or maybe/yes.
It is entirely up to you to decide if you offer a couch or no.
Some people try first hanging out with some travellers, to see if they feel comfortable around them. I personally chose this option. Later on, I offered my couch to the surfers I had been going around the city within the previous days.
NOTES
The hosts are under no obligation to provide you anything! By no means, this is not a contract! You don’t pay and the host does not owe you anything. It’s an agreement between you and the host.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF COUCHSURFING?
- Access to a global community of travellers
- Free accommodation
- Opportunity to learn more about the destination
- Immersion in a new language/ culture
- Exposure to a different way of living
- Possibility to create new long lasting friendships
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Here are other travel related posts:
TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE A LIVING WHILE TRAVELLING THE WORLD
FEELING UNINSPIRED? VISIT A WELSH RETREAT: GLADSTONE’S RESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
TURDA’S 400 FEET UNDERGROUND AMUSEMENT PARK, A HIDDEN GEM OF TRANSYLVANIA, ROMANIA
CARIBBEAN PARADISE: BOCAS DEL TORO
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BOQUETE’S FLOWERS AND COFFEE FESTIVAL, PANAMA
VISIT TO SAINT-JOSEPH’S ORATORY IN MONTREAL, CANADA
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Please leave your feedback in the comments, I would love to hear your thoughts!
@2018 LaviPicu aka The Lyme Poet. All rights reserved.
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