There are very few people who get to travel for free around the world and experience luxury travel services.
Still, through Couchsurfing, you can at least get to live for free during your trips and experience different cultures.
Furthermore, if you are a travel writer and you work remotely, you will get to meet local people and have more exciting stories to write.
There’s no need for planning though, go to the Couchsurfing website or download their application and sign up for free straightaway.
Then you can follow our comprehensive guide about things to remember when Couchsurfing.
Things to Remember When Couchsurfing
To ensure that you have the best time while traveling abroad and that you have the best experience as a surfer, you will need to remember a few things.
Finalize your travel plans before finding a host
Whether you are touring as a family or going on a solo trip, you must have your travel plan finalized even if you are a freelancer.
Prepare your itineraries with details of your travel plan and packing list, your visas, travel documents, luggage, and then look for a host on Couchsurfing, so you know where to stay.
Look for a like-minded host
Couchsurfing is a fantastic way to meet like minded people and make new friends.
Making friends in your home country is easy, but quite challenging when traveling to a foreign country.
To ease the process, it is better that you start looking for hosts that share common interests with you.
Moreover, when you are going to meet someone new, you will have more fun talking about the topics that only interest you but the other person as well, and it will be easy to start a conversation with them.
Furthermore, try to find if they can communicate with you in your language, as it will help you in chatting with them efficiently.
Make sure you know where you will sleep
Whether you are a solo traveler or traveling with family, you must make sure you know where you will sleep in the host’s house.
Sometimes, you might get a private room, and sometimes you will have to sleep on the couch.
Look for an experienced host if you are a new surfer
If you are surfing using Couchsurfing for the first time, then we recommend that you look for a host that has lots of references on the Couchsurfing website.
Furthermore, look for a host that is a surfer as well so you can get as much information as possible as a newbie.
Try to notify your host in as much advance as possible
Imagine someone calling you a day or a week before and informing you that they will be staying at your place for a few days.
It is impolite and not a proper way of socializing with people.
Furthermore, it can end up a negative experience for both parties.
Once you plan your trip and have all the destinations and dates finalized, the first thing that you should do is notify the host.
Informing him in advance will let the host adequately accommodate you without any inconvenience.
Bring a small gift for your host
Couchsurfing is a fantastic way to travel for less and one of the best ways to save money during your trip.
The host is not allowed to charge you any money for hosting you; therefore, Couchsurfing is always at the top of all the budget travel tips you might find.
Being a freeloader in such a situation won’t reflect well upon your social skills; hence, we recommend that you take a small gift as a token of appreciation for the host.
It is one of the kindest ways to meet new people.
Spend time with your host
If you like to travel the globe and are fond of meeting other people for cultural exchange, then the best way to achieve that is to connect with your host during your travels.
Try to learn about their culture and learn a few greetings from their language like how to say hello and thank you.
Once you are comfortable with the host, tell him that you want to meet local people to experience their way of living further.
Travelling solo is a great way to meet people, convert totally strangers into friends.
Say hi to the next person and strike up a conversation, and if you one of the introverts, it will help you overcome your social phobia as well.
Introduce yourself to other travelers, meet up in person and become friends.
If you want to travel around the world, meet people nearby, talk to people, visit coffee shops with them and enhance your social life.
Gather information about the city from the host
Now that you are done with planning a trip or a dream trip for that matter.
Also preparing travel itinerary, and listing down the places to travel on your journey and are finally at your destination.
It is time to gather travel information from the locals.
Although you can get lots of information from the internet.
It can never match the valuable experience and knowledge of a local residence.
Furthermore, the host can provide you precise travel advice regarding the places to visit as a tourist during your trip.
If you are a traveler who fancies to eat and try foods of a different culture, then ask the host.
They can recommend the best street food in the new city you are visiting.
Additionally, you can ask the host about the local rental car system.
And whether you should get one to commute to various locations or use public transport.
Moreover, get travel tips to reduce your travel costs further and other precautions that you must take while traveling the city.
Clean up after yourself
No one likes an untidy guest, and you must ensure that you are not one either.
Make your beds and fold your sheets as long as you stay at the host’s house.
And make sure that you hand over the room as it was given to you.
Pay for any goods that you use
No one is getting paid for hosting travelers on the Couchsurfing platform.
It is the goodwill of the people who host you.
And it is of uttermost importance as a surfer that you don’t take advantage of that.
If you use any food or beverage from the host’s house or any other item.
Make sure that you offer to reimburse them sincerely.
Although most will decline, you should always try to pay them back somehow.
Invite the host to your country
A grand gesture that you can do after your trip is to invite your host to visit your hometown.
In this way, you can host him if you had a pleasant experience.
It is a simple and useful tip on socializing and expanding your social circle.
Trip cancellation
There could be some unforeseen circumstances due to which you might have to cancel your trip.
If you face such a scenario, then make sure that you let your host know in time and apologize.
Leave a reference for your host
If you thoroughly enjoyed your trip and your host, make sure to leave positive feedback for them on the Couchsurfer website or the app so that other surfers can make the appropriate decision and enjoy their company as well.
