CouchSurfing is a system for exchanging accommodation (“couch stays”) in the homes of people you haven’t met before and who are contacted through the official website www.couchsurfing.org; today, it is a well-known platform widely used by travelers.
CouchSurfing is nothing more than a cultural exchange between two or more people: the hosts and the guests. It’s not just “free” accommodation; a good host won’t put up a couchsurfer who’s only there to sleep. The host seeks a cultural exchange where the two people get to know each other and share insights into their respective cultures. The surfer requests a couch, and from the moment the host accepts, the surfer becomes their guest; therefore, the host is responsible for showing them real life in the place where they live and helping the surfer with whatever they need.
In short, CouchSurfing is much more than just free accommodation in a home. It’s a way to discover a tourist destination through the eyes of a local, to have experiences a conventional tourist wouldn’t have, and to fully and directly immerse yourself in the local environment.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The CouchSurfing website has a very simple system, consisting of three basic areas:
- Your profile, where you’ll show others who you are
- The CouchSurfing community
- The couch exchange system.
Of course, it also has a system for managing couch requests and private messages between users, as well as other features. But basically, the website is divided into these three main sections.
HOW TO CREATE A PROFILE
The user (host/surfer) registers and from that moment on has a profile which they must fill out completely to provide the rest of the community with as much useful information about themselves as possible (photos, hobbies, countries they’ve visited or want to visit, languages they speak, etc.)
The user profile is the most important part. That’s where you choose the type of “couchsurfer” you want to be.
Simply by having a profile on the network, you become a surfer, which means you can crash on the couch of anyone who accepts you, as long as you send them a couch request. But aside from being a surfer, within your local community you can be a “host,” “coffee or drink,” or “traveler.”
- A host is a user who has a couch, bed, or guest room—a place where a surfer can come and stay.
- "Coffee or drink" hosts are people who don’t have a place to host a surfer but can meet up with surfers to help them and show them around the city or town they’re visiting.
- "Traveling" is a status indicating unavailability, as the user is traveling and cannot contribute to their CouchSurfing community.
The CouchSurfing profile system works through feedback—that is, positive or negative comments from other users about their experience with you.
That’s why it’s important to get involved in your local CouchSurfing network to meet people from around the world and have them share their experiences with you.
THE COMMUNITY
The CouchSurfing website created groups so that people from a specific town or geographic area could come together to organize activities and get to know each other. This way, if you go to the “Community” tab, you can search for your town and see what other nearby couchsurfers are doing.
The idea is to meet people, share hobbies, and help surfers visiting your area. Keep in mind that if you’re busy one day, you can reach out to another host or members of the community to help your guest. CouchSurfing is a network of people who help one another, who want to share experiences, and who want to help travelers discover places in a different way.
LOOKING FOR A SOFA AND MAKING A PROPER ACCOMMODATION REQUEST
To find a couch on the CouchSurfing website, just go to the “Surf/Host” section of the website and enter the city, town, or location you want to visit.
A list (sorted by relevance) of available users in that city will appear.
TIPS
1) It’s important that you read the user’s profile in its ENTIRETY—whether you’re looking to stay with them or just meet up for coffee.
Keep in mind that just because they appear in the results list doesn’t mean you have anything in common.
2) Send them a nice, well-thought-out message.
Greet them by name; don’t send the same message to 10 hosts. Personalize them—it’s much nicer for the recipient and almost guarantees an instant “yes.”
3) Bring them a gift.
From the moment a surfer is accepted by a host, they become the host’s guest. Ask them what they like. Usually, people bring hosts some kind of gift—typically food typical of the surfer’s country—or, if you’re traveling for a long time, a nice little token.
4) Buy your own food and drinks
Keep in mind that, as a surfer, the host is inviting you, but they don’t have to pay for your vacation.
5) Don’t stay more than three or four days.
As a general rule, three or four days is considered the perfect amount of time—not too many days and not too few. It gives you time to get to know each other and explore the area without becoming a burden to your host, who is likely working and managing their daily responsibilities.
CouchSurfing is a very useful tool for discovering new places with the help of locals who will make you feel at home in a way you never could as a mere tourist. Use the platform responsibly so that it can grow in quality with your participation.
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