How to Use Couchsurfing to See the World
What if I told you there was a different way to travel? A way to see the world outside of the hotel chains, guidebooks, and tourist traps. A way to intimately experience the real culture of everyday life. A way to connect with like-minded travelers and interact with some of the most hospitable locals you could possibly find.
Well, it’s not too good to be true thanks to CouchSurfing.com. Sure, it takes some effort, a little kindness, and a dash of confidence. But let me reassure you, it’s well worth it. My ultimate goal is to help take you from the “I would never do that” phase into the “huh, this might be something I should look into” phase. I hope simply to pass along just a small portion of the incredible amount of hospitality I’ve received from the site and the community in the last couple of months.
What exactly is Couchsurfing?
Technically, I believe it’s referred to as a “hospitality exchange network”. But in reality it’s a social networking site, much like Facebook or Myspace, but that focuses on enabling fellow travelers to connect, meet, and even host each other. And yes, it’s free.
After becoming a member, you fill out a profile with personal information, hobbies, passions, beliefs, places you’ve traveled, etc… You then have the option of setting your profile to be available for advice, meeting for coffee, or even hosting others for a night or two. If you are currently traveling or planning your next adventure, you can utilize a wide variety of filters to quickly search through available host profiles.
Despite the name, it’s not just for people with a literal spare “couch”. We’ve personally seen the term “couch” loosely defined as: air mattresses, futons, private bedrooms, random space on the floor, tents, camper vans, sleeping bags, and even completely empty houses. The potential hosts vary as much as the accommodations. All within the same area, we managed to find a crash pad for the young party crowd, a cozy farmhouse with a retired couple in their 70s, a family of eleven who live down by the beach, and a snug bunk on a 30-foot sailboat.
But wait, how can you possibly trust a stranger you met online?
Security is a valid concern, and the CouchSurfing.com staff and community make it a top priority. The network features a couple of different ways to verify other users:
First, there is an official “verification” system
It’s completely optional, but is a good way to help build confidence as both a “surfer” and a host. A small minimum donation is required to verify your name. It’s currently only $25 dollars for U.S. members (My wife, Courtney, and I actually plan on donating more than that once we get a permanent address)! After verifying the name off of your credit/debit card, they send you a postcard with a code to finalize your address verification. You can easily filter people who haven’t completed this process, if you so choose.
References from previous “surfers” or hosts
After you’ve either hosted or stayed with another member of the site, you can leave a reference on their profile. You can leave positive or negative comments (negatives are rare), while also ranking how well you know the person. This system makes it very easy to see which members are well-loved, connected, and/or known by other members. Also, you have the option to avoid those whom may be newer to the hosting process.
An exclusive vouching system
This simple system started with the founders “vouching” for people they personally knew and trusted. Once “vouched for”, you can continue the chain by “vouching” only those members you intimately trust. This adds yet another layer of protection to the site.
You’ll also find that as you trade messages with a potential host, they will usually give you a contact number. I’ve established phone contact with the majority of our hosts before we’ve actually met. This has been a great way to help both parties feel more comfortable.
And just in case you’re thinking this is just a tiny, niche site, let me shatter that quickly. According to wikipedia, “as of March 2009, [CouchSurfing] had more than 1 million members in 232 countries and territories.” It’s exponential growth is no surprise to those members who have experienced all the benefits of this type of network.
Why would anyone want to “Couchsurf”?
There are tons of reasons! Yes, it is a free place to sleep. But as you can tell from the title of the post, the external benefits have been so much more valuable.
Courtney and I were able to step off a plane in Australia, without knowing a single soul, and develop several great connections within a week or two. These weren’t people we met at a local bar or individuals whom we stopped for quick directions. These were families who had flung open the doors to welcome us in. They were genuinely interested in our story, our background, and our plans. They passionately shared the type of local knowledge for which you’d gladly pay a pretty penny. It was the sort of situation where you e-mail them after you’ve left to make sure everyone is still doing well, even though it’s only been a couple weeks.
I can’t imagine a better way to experience “real life” in a foreign place. Here are some of the things we’ve personally learned from our Couchsurfing hosts:
- Why rugby league is better than rugby union
- A crash course in the local public transport system
- Which budget airlines fly the cheapest domestic routes
- Why they put a “beetroot” on my vegetarian hamburger
- Why New Zealand police don’t carry guns (handy to know)
- Parts of the cities where you shouldn’t walk at night, let alone live in
- The best hole-in-the-wall restaurants in the city
- Exposure to people willing to pick you up from the airport at 2 a.m. (over 45 min away)
- The difference in home prices and how mortgages differ
- Why rugby union is better than rugby league (not the other way around)
- How the interview process is usually conducted
- The difference in public school philosophies from ex-teachers
- How rental leases and holiday-letting work
- Why no one would put gravy on their “biscuits” (a.k.a. cookies)
- How one cricket match can last 5 days in a row
- The secluded beaches that have 10% of the tourists and twice the beauty
- Why you really don’t want to “root” for the home team in Australia/New Zealand
The price for all of these experiences and lessons? A couple nights of volunteering to do dishes and the willingness to share stories about ourselves. How’s that for value?
I should also mention that hosting/surfing isn’t the only way to utilize the network. Even if you already have accommodation, you can leverage the website to find locals willing to answer questions, meet for dinner, or even take you on a day tour of the city. There’s truly something for every type of traveler.
Doing work while couchsurfing can be an adventure!
Tips on finding fantastic hosts
There are a couple of basics that contributed to my family being able to have truly amazing experiences even with limited experience. Here are some suggestions to get you out of the gate:
Spend quality time on filling out your profile honestly
This is by far the biggest tip I can give you. Regular users of any social networking site can tell you that it’s fairly easy to spot authentic people from just a couple seconds browsing their profile. Other members will want to host you because they would like to meet you, not because having strangers around is fun.
Put up as many pictures as you can
You can actually filter people out who don’t have profile pictures, which is something I always do. It’s hard to establish trust if people can’t put a face to your name. Double points if you put previous picture of you with other couchsurfers!
Utilize the filters when searching for hosts
If you need a host quickly, limited your options to those who are “Yes” or “Definitely” hosting at the current time. If you are planning more in advance, you may want to include “Maybes” or “Meet for coffee” status. You can also exclude unverified members, those without pictures, or those who haven’t been “vouched” for. You can even sort by gender or age limits. I have to admit, that since we travel with our 14-month old daughter, I usually search for other families with a minimum age of 25 or 30. I also sort the entries by the “most recent log-in date” to show the most active members towards the top.
Completely read the profile and references of potential hosts
You’ll want to review the type of accommodation they are offering, in addition to their hobbies, interests, and past experiences. Do their previous guests leave long, genuine references or simply “they were nice… we enjoyed our stay”. Do your best to ensure that you and the host would be a good fit. The more time you spend in this phase the better the experience will be once you get there!
Reference parts of the host’s profile when requesting to “surf”
Once you’ve located a potential host, it’s time to message them. Once again, it pays to be thorough in your request. I’ve talked to many hosts who say they often get one-sentence messages! How can you possibly expect to connect with someone like that? Instead, impress hosts by including a section about yourself (even if you copy it from your profile) and why you would like to meet them specifically. Do you both love fishing? Maybe you’d like to learn more about scuba diving and they are an instructor. Maybe you’d always wanted to experience farm-life in rural New Zealand. Be thorough and eliminate any concerns they may have ahead of time!
I can’t think of any way I’d rather travel!
Hopefully, you can start to get the feeling for how amazing the Couchsurfing experience has been for my family. We are exploring staying in New Zealand even longer and have now entered into cheap flatmate situation with one of our Couchsurfing hosts. They’ve even offered to let us house-sit for free when they visit Canada for a month in August. This is yet another benefit of tapping into this amazing community.
What are your thoughts on Couchsurfing? Any additional tips for new users? Would it be something you would ever consider?
Photo by striatic.
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There are 108 comments to "How to Use Couchsurfing to See the World".
How willing are host families with regard to children?
What a great overview! This is definitely something I will look into now. 🙂
Nice article. I would guess you also need to tell your potential host that you are bringing your child(ren)? As a parent, I’d certainly not want to impose my brood on someone who wasn’t ready for them, and I’d not want to host someone who wasn’t ready for a house with children.
I like the vouching system idea, as well.
good post on CS. Couchsurfers were our lifeboat when we moved from Seattle to Melbourne, and we learned quite a bit straight away thanks to them. I’ve seen a few articles, but this one really captures the spirit of how things are intended to work.
One thing to add: a lot of hosts resent folks who use the site for free accommodation and disregard the cultural/knowledge exchange element that keeps the true believers involved.
This sounds like a very cool concept. If I was single, I’d probably try it. I sincerely doubt that I could convince my wife, though 🙂
Yay! As the CS ambassador to Costa Rica, I am so happy to see this post. You’ve hit the nail on the head — CS offers a free place to sleep, but its real value is in the people you meet. I’ve hosted dozens of surfers (only surfed once), and have learned so much about the world though them. Thank you for highlighting the true meaning of CS, and showing people how to get the most out of this wonderful community.
Great post Adam with some really practical advice.
As someone who is location independent & travels a lot, I’ve always been a bit reluctant to try this – but from your post and hearing of your experiences on your blog/Twitter makes me think it could be worthwhile for at least a night or two!
I’d also be interested in the willingness of hosts to host those with children/babies…
To answer the above questions about family hosting, some hosts are perfectly willing, while others are not. When you request a couch, you’ll answer a few standard questions (when do you arrive? how many in your party?), and then you’re asked to write a short note. In the note, you should obviously explain that you have kids.
Some hosts will state in their profile that they are a CS family and prefer to host other families — you may want to start there. Additionally, there is a new Family Ambassador designation. These ambassadors represent “multiple people” profiles, as in, one family with one profile. If you’re having trouble finding a couch, contact the closest Family Ambassador (you can search for ambassadors only), and ask him/her for some advice. CS is, on the whole, very family-friendly, so you should be able to find great places to stay.
Great post Baker. I like your site as well. Thanks for the great tips on Couchsurfing. I love to travel and have never explored this option. Something else to add to my list of definite “to do’s.”
I’m also curious how traveling and Couchsurfing works when you have children. Looking forward to your follow up posts!
Cheers!
No, it’s not something I’d ever consider. I find travelling a chore at the best of times, but this just sounds creepy. Sorry if that sounds blunt, but there it is. *shudder*
You can read more details of his adventures on his Man Vs Debt blog – http://manvsdebt.com/ He is traveling with his young daughter and they have been hosted by families that also have children.
Honestly, my first reaction was that it sounded a bit out of my comfort zone, but this post and his other descriptions have made me want to give it a try. It seems like a great way to meet locals and get a real taste of another place that you wouldn’t get by traveling on your own. I especially like the idea that you can just meet people for coffee or a tour of the city. That option sounds great for those that are a bit gunshy on staying in the home of strangers!
Oh wait…it just occurred to me that in some ways I have done this! During RAGBRAI (http://ragbrai.com/) I have camped in the yard of strangers who were basically only vouched for by another person. Hmmm…
So JD, when do I get to come over? 😀
It was an amazing time that allowed us not only to significantly lower the cost of our trip, but to make real, valuable connections with people that we still talk to today. And the exposure to a local in a foreign place is a fantastic resource as they’re always willing to give you some guidance to make your trip less “touristy,” with tips for less known places to go, things to see, and people to meet. Many hosts are more than willing even to go out with you on your adventures
And what did it cost us? A few hours a day of really meaningful and educational conversation, a day or two of dinner preparation for our hosts, and help with the chores around the house. I should mention that we were never even asked to do any of these things, but offered to only because we felt like we were getting such an amazing deal.
Who couchsurfing is NOT for: If your goal is just to be a tourist and see all that you can see in the shortest time possible, couchsurfing is probably not for you. You need to be willing to (and interested in) making real connections with the people that host you. That is why they allow you into their home – to meet cool new people.
Also, if you’re looking for 4-star accommodations on your trip, couchsurfing is probably not for you. Its no secret that some hosts have incredibly nice places for you to stay in, but it is not the norm and you’ll be disappointed if you expect it. Again, the focus is not on the type of accommodation, but on the connections you can make while there.
In order to really get all you can out of a couchsurfing vacation, you’ll need to be willing to step out of your comfort zone a little in order to really make the most of the experience. If you put in the effort to really get to know the people you’re staying with, I think you’ll find it pays major dividends and will make your whole trip exponentially more memorable.
Hey, interesting post and comment from Tyler. I’ve been thinking of doing this for a while from the hosting side (I like my hotel rooms at this stage of my life when travelling).
But rugby union is indeed far, far, far superior to league. You were led astray the first time on that one. Sorry.
I learned about Couch Surfing a few years ago when I was traveling a lot. It seemed like such an amazing experience, and I was fascinated in it at the time. Since then, though, I’ve let my membership lapse, and I started listening to the less travel-savvy people around me who thought it was a little dangerous and weird.
This post has stirred me to start looking into it again. In fact, my boyfriend is in the process of planning a trip to Europe with some friends, and I’m going to recommend they read this post before they go.
Am I the only one interested in the abovementioned differences between US and antipode mortgages?
I’ve been hearing about couchsurfing for a while now. It sounds like a really cool and interesting program. One of the comments above mentioned that he wasn’t sure his wife would go for it. I’m the same way. My wife is very frugal, but draws some lines when I get too creative. It’s something I’m going to consider pitching to her, though.
Great post.
Couch surfing is something I have done throughout my life, but not through any organization:) I have often relied on family and friends and friends of friends for a place to stay while wandering the globe. I am glad there is a group now trying to connect people in this manner as it definitely helps to have a local show you how to get places more easily than any guidebook will ever show you.
I am definitely recommending the Couch Surfing site to my friends as they prepare to travel to San Diego for visits – especially for those that are still students! It is a definite plus for travelers who want to learn more about the area that they are visiting.
I can 100% vouch for Couch Surfing as well. Did it in Denmark, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands last Summer. It was so much better than our nights in the hostels (crammed 12-18 deep in a room)! Plus it gives you a true local perspective of the city rather than digging through guide books and maps.
Do this for life experience, not the monetary savings.
Thanks for the great feedback thus far! I wanted to help answer a few questions:
As Erin & Amber pointed out, there are plenty of great potential hosts for families. Our daughter is now 15-months old and we’ve stayed with 6 different host families now in the last 2 months. All, but 2 of these were other families with children, as well!
Everyone that I’ve had contact with has details about their children directly within their profiles. I like to include details about Milligan in the introductory message I send to host families, as well.
Some people will rule out hosting children, while other families have actually PREFERRED it!
@Tyler – Wow, thanks for such a fantastic comment. It’s extremely validating to hear from another CS’er with such a similar and powerful experience! I love it.
@guinness416 – I like it better, too. Don’t tell the Aussies!
I’m glad several of you have mentioned that the post has started to open you up to revisiting CouchSurfing as a possibility. It’s truly been an awesome experience! Courtney and I look forward to hosting our own surfers once we get set-up here!
Love this. Can’t wait for my kids to grow up so I can travel on my own & try this.
@Sara: there was a GRS post on antipode mortgages last year, I believe.
Another great post Senor Baker! Keep it up my man, I hope you get the gig 😉
Very cool. I wonder how it works when hosts have to be out of the house all day. Do you give a key to the couchsurfers? Do you arrange to meet up after work? We finally have a small guest room, and I think it would be pretty cool to host people.
First things first.
Rugby Union is far far superior to Rugby League. A hamburger isn’t a hamburger without beetroot. Thansk, that had to be said.
As a couchsurfer myself (and a New Zealander living in the USA), I have to say I recommend it highly.
When I was single and travelling alone, I couchsurfed with NO problems. You can specify female only hosts, and all manner of different criteria to ensure security.
It’s a fabulous way to see the world on a shoestring and benefit from the wonderful locals in the places you visit. You couldn’t PAY for such an experience – it’s not for sale!
As I am now settled in the USA – we are planning to be hosts to wandering travelers.
GREAT POST.
Seems like I find you everywhere these days. Great article. I have yet to take that leap….I am still stuck in the hostel mentality. The sad thing is all I have heard are good things. Suggestion while down in NZ and Aussie: Pick up Sleeping Around. It follows an Aussie writer on his journey around the world through couchsurfing. Great book!!!
Well wishes….
Dave
This is a really interesting idea. I think that for some vacations it would work better than others. I’m planning a honeymoon and I think that we’ll prefer a hotel stay or house rental for the privacy. But I’m definitely going to keep this in mind for future travels when we’re much more interested in seeing new places. I also think that if I was traveling to a place where English wasn’t the standard language, I would love the opportunity to stay with locals. It might make it less intimidating.
I also wonder if it’s possible to sort by profession? It could be an incredible way to further network with those in the same careers.
Excellent overview of the concept. Seems like a nice adventure you’re having. This is totally something I should have done more of when I was single. I can’t see my wife going for it now though. I’m a bit more flex than her.
Nice job. I’ve “couchsurfed,” before I knew there even was a website that did that…. it was in Australia, too – and parts of U.S. and Canada. Would be interesting to learn more about age and couchsurfing – it is just young 20-somethings, and what range is there for older groups doing this (less, I’m sure, but would there still be some?)?
I’ve never surfed however my girlfriend does and I have met some awesome people who have stayed at her house. We usually become friends afterwards and while we don’t stay in touch very often they are all just an email away. It is great to have a network of friends all across the world when you are planning major trips!
Hello All,
I can completely vouch for the couchsurfing project…
In fact, I just got back from couchsurfing through Oman, Lebanon, and Syria, and had some of the best travel experiences ever…
My hosts fed me more food than I could possibly eat, introduced me to their friends, took me to parties, bought me tea, and much more. If you have some confidence, an attitude towards sharing, and offer to help out your host around the house, you’ll find you get to meet lots of people and experience lots off the regular tourist track.
The first thing that comes to my mind when I read about this is creepy! But then, once the initial shock wears off, I think it would be a great opportunity to see the world and save money.
Many people want to become more cultured and see new things, so that is yet another viable alternative for them.
I can’t say whether I’d do this today. Maybe 10 years ago, though
This seems like a great idea, but one bad experience can go really bad. I would love the opportunity to get connections with natives in foreign countries, however I don’t know if I trust the situation 100%. If I was traveling alone, I wouldn’t have any hesitations. But for my wife and I, I don’t know.
Anyone had any problems couchsurfing?
This is the first I’ve ever heard of this concept, and it truly is an interesting idea. I’m not sure my wife would go for it, but I think the benefits of having a friendly face in a foreign place would be worth it to me. Someone who can give you all the inside info..
Great post!
Hey, if it works well for travel… I’ll have to look into it for the European tour trip I’d like to start planning. Wouldn’t be for a while yet, but my husband and I would like to cut the travel costs down so we can do the fun things we want. (All car-related, so fairly expensive too.)
If I ever live in an interesting area and have some spare room, I’d totally let people crash at my place, too. 🙂
I’m really going to have to look into this. Even the travels I’d like to do around the states would be way more awesome if I had some area locals on my side!
The idea is interesting and the post have changed my mind from “I would never do that” to “huh, this might be something I should look into”.
Hey, J.D.: when you have guest posts, the authors name should appear below the title, and not “(by J.D.)”
I absolutely LOVE couchsurfing. I’ve been a member for about 4 years now.
My boyfriend and I combined profiles when we moved in together.
We’ve hosted some very interesting people over the years. For people who don’t feel comfortable staying at someone’s place or having a stranger in yours – you can set your profile for ‘coffee or a drink’ which means you’re willing to hang out for coffee or dinner or to play tour guide. You can make whatever you want of the site. Choose your own adventure!
Hmm sounds interesting so far. I have only tried the all inclusive option down south but would love to travel somewhere new for once. I would absolutely love the idea of staying with other folks that are the same age as me.
You know I started this article with an attitude of “Sounds neat but definitely wouldn’t work for my family” to “I should show this to my husband and we could give it a try sometime”. Thanks for broadening my horizons!
Baker–Not to throw cold water on the party here, but how does this square with the folks at the Internal Revenue Service, who might conceivably view this as some sort of barter exchange?
Have there been any issues or challenges that you or anyone else might be aware of?
I lived in Hong Kong for several years, and as a result of living among the ex-pat community there had the chance to meet many people from all places around the world. I now live in a tiny little backwater of a place (Tybee Island, GA) where world travelers are a bit more rare, tho it is surprising how many Europeans and Asians i have met here! At any rate, i miss the daily interactions with such diverse people, and you BET i’ll be checking into this further. Thanks, Baker, for sharing, and JD – yours is one of the few blogs i’ve got in my RSS Reader. Keep up the great work.
I heard about this a few years ago and spent some time poking around on the site. I’m intrigued by it and think it would be really fun, and know people who do it (both host and travelers) but I (sadly) have to agree with the person above who said it was out of their comfort zone.
I have concerns about it not only as a petite female, but as an introvert who doesn’t always have an easy time “connecting” with new people — it sounds like it could very easily be super-awkward.
I did think about hosting, but my roommates nixed that idea pretty quickly. Maybe someday. For right now I think I’ll stick to the tried-and-true “friend of a friend of a friend” network. 🙂
First let me say… kudos to the Baker’s for doing what a lot of us DREAM of doing – throwing caution to the wind and setting off on globe trotting super adventure! Also, how cool to be able to share your experiences… thanks a ton for sharing.
Secondly, you have motivated me. My wife & I have a trip coming up in two weekends. We are going to the Adirondacks and were considering renting a cabin or a Yurt… instead I’m going to talk my wife into couchsurfing. WHEN she gets skeptical, I’ll take her straight to GRS & this post.
Awesome Baker, thanks.
I am a big fan of traveling and although never have personally used the service, have known people who have used it with great success. Really helps you meet people and get to know the locals better, and save money.
I’ve been thinking of doing this when I go to New Zealand, which I’m planning to do in a few years. Seems like it might be a little less awkward than “friends of people you don’t actually know all that well,” which I have done some, not to mention “relatives who live in the middle of nowhere and watch TV from supper until bedtime”.
Is that pickled beetroot? Sliced? I suppose if you’re eating a hamburger, one stain more or less isn’t really a big deal.
Posts like this are what keep me coming back to personal finance blogs when I get a bit bored with the financial side of things. This sounds like a great way to travel AND save much needed cash. What a great post Baker, and keep ’em coming!
Great summary of Couchsurfing. I’m vacationed out for this year, but I’ll definitely keep it in mind for our next trip. Convincing the wife may be an issue though, as others have mentioned.
Baker has quickly became one of my favourite bloggers and clearly a favourite of many more. His writing is always personal but relevant, I like this post as well.
I’m going travelling in a few months and have no set destinations so I like the idea of this. Safety is a small concern, but besides that, I think it’s a feasible option for the future!
Thanks!
Great post!
One of my good friends is huge into Couchsurfing. He always has someone at his place (in the Netherlands) and used the network to go all over Europe for just the cost of food and train tickets.
I’ve always been skeptical as a single female as to the safety concerns. And personally just feel safer staying in hostels, but if I were part of a couple or staying with female hosts I would be fine with it. =)
im sorry but i wouldnt try that couchsurfing thing
I’m ecstatic that some of you are up for considering it after reading the post. That was my goal! Also, it’s neat to hear all the other CS’ing experience. It amazing me how positive it’s been for everyone I’ve talked to.
@Ophelie – Everytime we’ve been in an extended situation, they’ve just given us a spare set of keys. However, some people only host on weekends for example if this is going to be an issue or have a stay-at-home spouse, etc… It’s case-by-case really.
@MoneyEnergy – There are two distinct groups really. The young 20 year-olds are plenty, but so are the amount of families and older couples. Like I said we’ve not had a problem yet, especially in the more established cities. It all goes to finding host who mess well with what you want to accomplish.
@Matt – We are slowly building up this network, as well. You’re right it feels awesome to know we have a trial of awesome contacts where we’ve been!
@John Bardos – I’ve heard very little, even though I’ve had long conversation with each of our hosts. There are no HORROR stories, but a couple stories here and there about not messing well with a certain couple or traveler. No intense fights, security issues, or anything along those lines have ever been recounted to me! I know anything like that is a HUGE exception in the community, rather than a rule.
@Kevin – I’ve never heard or can imagine this ever being an issue. First, the only thing we’ve ever done in exchange is tidy up a bit or do the dishes after being cooked for. I do that for my mother, as well, though. Formally agreements, bartering, or paying aren’t really part of the CouchSurfing culture. We just love returning the favor in whatever way we can.
@kat-As an introvert, this would probably rock your world! For me, it’s been 100% positive and eye-opening. I’d do it for sure! You can sort by gender and find plenty of other females hosting only females, etc…
Rock on!
This is fascinating; I am stumped however by the friend / voucher network aspect. As far as I know, none of my friends participate in couchsurfing.org, so I couldn’t get vouched or friended and would never get hooked in. (2451 members in Seattle alone!)
Not only is this article great but your website is wonderful. I am now a huge man vs. debt fan and daily reader!!! Hopfully you will be the new poster here…
I’d definitely consider this, I’ve looked at it before, but you’re the first person I ‘know’ who’s done it!
As interesting as stories like these are, they’re not very relevant to me because they’re not something I’d actually *do*. And my reasoning isn’t that I’m afraid to try couchsurfing.com or that I don’t want to meet strangers from the internet, but it’s actually something that seems more and more uncommon to me the more I read sites like Baker’s:
I actually like my life.
What do I mean by this? I mean I don’t *want* to give it all up and wander around the world living on people’s couches. I like my job. I like the city where I live. I like my house. I even like to travel, but I like having somewhere to come home to — and so, I’ll travel, a few weeks out of the year. And I’ll have fun, and new cultures will feel different and exciting because I wont be there long enough for the novelty to wear off.
And so “how to spend your life wandering the world” isn’t a line of advice that appeals to me, because I just want “coolest places to go for a couple of weeks each summer”. And sure, couch surfing could even save me money on those sorts of trips, but it isn’t really a big problem for me. I’ve got all year to budget for my trips, and even without staying at other people’s houses, there are a lot of less expensive places to stay in any given country than all-inclusive resorts. I’m going to Costa Rica in September, and I’ve got two weeks of accommodations booked for a total of about $900. It’s not insignificant, but it’s not out of reach for a year of planning, either.
The biggest cost of trips for people like me isn’t the cost of hotels or airfare — it’s the cost of time off. How much time can I reasonably spend away from work? That’s the limiting factor, not the cost of lodging. If you give up on that and say “I don’t care if I *ever* go back to work” then it ceases to be a factor, and lodging becomes the biggest one, but that’s not something I’m likely to do.
I did this as an undergrad, but now make enough money to travel comfortably. I agree with Tyler (#54) – the biggest cost of travel is time off. Slacking off for a few years doesn’t sound that great to me because my job is rewarding, I like my friends and family, and would rather take my kids backpacking in the woods instead to another random couch.
I did not relate to this post at all.
Tyler (54)–I’m with you, I like a sense of permanence and can’t see much purpose in going to this place or that on a continous basis. But that may also be an issue of age. If you’re in your 20s and just starting out in life, it can be a real life’s experience.
There does seem to be a trend accross the web toward younger people at least planning to break free and just go where ever the wind takes them. Cell phones, widespread air travel, the internet, and the ability to earn a living somewhere on or thru the web are feeding this too. Hard to say at this point if this is a fad or a real trend for the future, but something is happening.
Also, there’s a real possibility of a future without borders, or one in which borders just don’t mean what they once did. If that’s the case, then the globe trotters will be the pioneers of the movement (and Tim Ferris it’s patron saint!).
In the meantime, it seems we’re all enjoying their experience vicariously. There’s something about it that touches the soul, even for those of us who might never consider doing it.
Adam! Great work here. I am about to embark on my first couch surfing experience in September in Darwin Australia and I am so excited. I have heard from several fellow travelers and backpackers that it’s a fantastic system that connects you with locals who share your community values. Hosteling is just a huge party scene that I grew sick of in about a week. I am traveling for the real experience with the locals…exactly why couch surfing is perfect! I will be couch surfing for three months, but i have met many a people who have done it for six months or so. Thanks for the great info and writing 😀
As a veteran couchsurfer, I was very nervous to see the title of this post. I am afraid to share this site with too many people whom I don’t know, for fear that the site loses its reliability for quality people.
But this post was well written and sends the right message about couchsurfing. The more the merrier on the site, just make sure your giving as much as you get 🙂
Thanks for the great perspective. Don’t be so quick to assume that I don’t *like* my life, though! 🙂 I love it! There are just some areas that I’m committed to constantly improving. One of these is broadening my horizons outside the boundaries of Indianapolis, IN. (among others)
Unfortunately, I did a poor job of conveying the real message here. It’s not “how to spend your life wandering the world”. It’s meant to convey the hidden value of CouchSurfing. In your example, I’d much rather stay with a genuine host family in Costa Rica (at least for a portion of the time) than get a great deal on accommodation. For us, the money saved is a tiny factor.
Even in your situation, you could leverage the network to meet a local for coffee or obtain information ahead of your trip (maybe a one-of-a-kind restaurant, etc…). In this way you can maximize your value on your *time* without even bringing lodging into the equation.
Don’t get me wrong, our plan all along has been to locate jobs, get visas, and really experience life/culture here. CouchSurfing is just an incredibly valuable tool we’ve found to help!
@Karawynn – We started in the exact same shoes you did. If you use the tips towards the bottom when getting started it’s still possible to find great hosts. Once you get a couple friends (from your first hosts) it only gets easier from there!
There have been 3 CSers on my tatami mats over the last 2 weeks, and I’m looking forward to several more soon. But hosting or being hosted is only part of the Hokkaido and Sapporo groups in northern Japan. Members promote 5 minute “freezes” in public places (YouTube footage available), do cycling & rent-a-car tours of the island, get together in the ubiquitous coffee shops & beer gardens, sponsor language exchange lessons, and just generally enjoy being together. You could do a lot worse for the price of admission.
My sister spent several months’ salary on a time-share condo. By hosting CSers, I have pretty much the equivalent in scores of major cities. The close friendships I’ve made with dozens of nationalities is beyond price.
Petty detail: please set your browser to couchsurfing.org, not couchsurfing.com.
I have been intrigued by CouchSurfing for a while and can’t wait to begin hosting folks. Thanks for writing this post.
I tried very hard to find some “cons” in my searches, though. As adventurous as my boyfriend and I are, we also have a lot of very expensive camera equipment for our side business and safety and security of our “stuff”, as grounded in the material world as it may be, is really important to us. So I tried to find some devil’s advocate stuff — the “what can happen” kind of thing — but didn’t find so much. It’s probably a good thing but I find it hard to believe nothing bad has ever happened. It is not easy to search through “bad vouches” to find some descriptions of this so we can be ready. I mean, all the stuff about knowing who you’re hosting through their profile and their pictures and yadda yadda is fine, but what standard are you supposed to apply to that if there’s no way to know what the red flags are and what has happened to others? So I have that hesitation though I am excited to start.
I also commend Baker for writing about something controversial. To be blunt, the comments above that are negative (I’d never try this nooo way) are likely among those for whom this is not a part of their culture, so just skip it rather than judge others. Relax. If it ain’t your think don’t sweat it. (Nobody is claiming that anyone doesn’t like their life or should change it…)
Unfortunately, I have a strong reaction to Baker’s personal situation, and I think this makes it difficult for me to see him as someone I’d like to “learn with” (like I learn with JD through his personal finance growth). I try but find it difficult to be sympathetic to the mistakes that have taken place in this writer’s travels — they seem a bit… well, reckless, to be honest. Ultimately, it seems more like more of a waste of money due to things that could have been foreseen but weren’t rather than it does a cool adventure. I guess it’s also my parental instinct that gets really tripped when I see the baby in tow through it all. With $50,000 in student loan between them, and just $17,000 in the bank with no jobs foreseeable and in a bad economy worldwide, I just can’t really see taking the wisdom of this person personally.
While JD is at an age where he’s getting past some of these humps, Baker seems to be stumbling through a lot of inexperienced young person mistakes. This will likely not resonate with a lot of the GRS readership, and while it would be cool to read *about* Baker’s adventures I don’t feel any personal interest in learning from them, even though I’m as young as he is and about to go travel around the world myself! On the other hand, I think in our play-it-safe culture we often miss some adventures. So, go for it Baker!, but I don’t see taking the lesson from it.
I love it, just wish that I could break free from the “traditional” way of life and actually do this. I think it might work best for an extended (1-2 month vacation). I am not sure that I could live like this 100%, but it would be a great experience.
I have always wondered how you decide if the people you are staying with aren’t crazy – its good to know that some sort of system exists for evaluating people.
Excellent article, Adam.
While I don’t think I could bring myself to couch surf, I do think the coffee or drinks option would be a great way to meet locals who aren’t out to scam the tourist out of their dollars.
@honeybee – Wow, It sounds liked you are ready to get hosting! I can definitely sympathize with your security concerns, especially with such expensive equipment. Rather than searching for bad vouches, we usually take into account the number and intensity of the “good” vouches. We’re on the other side of the equation, but I think this would go both ways.
I’m actually quite happy with the amount we’ve spent so far! We’ve had some extra costs in getting to NZ, but overall have spent far less than we budgeted on lodging. Our lifestyle allows us to easily obtain *basic* jobs back home and a big portion of our savings is reserved for an emergency fund (for return) if needed. Most importantly, I promise our daughter is happy, healthy, and showered with love. 🙂
What’s cool about the situation is that you are the same age, part of the CouchSurfing community, but are willing to point out the differences in philosophy. I really respect that and appreciate the honest feedback!
I’m afraid the reason you don’t see any negative reviews of CouchSurfing is because all of the people who have had negative experiences are… well… dead.
Snort. 😛
Something tells me the only reasons more people around here don’t know about it are a) nobody has died and b) if even a single American was ever harmed the teeveenews would go NUTS.
Baker — as soon as I had posted my comment, I immediately felt it was too strong and so edited it. I especially didn’t mean to imply that your daughter is lacking for love! Two clicks through some of your posts to see her happy face (and yours and your wife’s) is proof in the pudding of that. Probably a large portion of my own personal difficulty is exactly what I was talking about above — our challenge with seeing and accepting alternative ways of living the one life we get. So, I’m guilty of committing the exact issue I described. Shame on me!
Baker – thanks for the reply! We’re not in much of a position to go gallivanting off very far for very long — contemplating a weekend in Portland or Vancouver, BC is a big deal, what with the pets and the kids and all. So I was contemplating more the hosting side of things than the hosted. Any tips for becoming ‘linked in’ as just a host for now? (Not that I’ve gotten my spouse’s buy-in on this yet, just considering.)
I love couchsurfing. I have already used it 3 times this year for travel with the US.
Thank You for this post! I will be doing extensive travelling over the next couple of years…including a full “sell it all and go” trip. This post is the first of its type that has really gotten me excited.
Very thorough. I will definitely be looking into CouchSurfing.
In reply to #44
is that pickled beetroot? Sliced? I suppose if you’re eating a hamburger, one stain more or less isn’t really a big deal.
Sliced (from a tin).
Great post Baker. Definitely something I would consider. And this:
Why you really don’t want to “root” for the home team in Australia/New Zealand
made me laugh out loud. I can’t resist buying something from Roots each time I’m in Canada.
I’ve heard of house swapping, but this is the first I have heard of CouchSurfing. I’m not big on traveling or having strangers in our house, but the concept is very fascinating. I will have to check into the “you can leverage the website to find locals willing to answer questions, meet for dinner, or even take you on a day tour of the city.” We’d have a blast being one of the locals answering questions or giving tours!
Is comment#65 true? 😉
Nice post. I discovered your blog a couple of days ago and immensely enjoyed.
The picture of your kid smiling on your back was awesome!
I am not sure I would try couchsurfing even though it sounds like it is really cool when everything works out.
Good luck the rest of your “trip”!
@Karawynn – If I were in your shoes (starting as a host), I would try to network with the other established hosts in your area. There are well-established groups in larger metro areas that often meet at least once a month. The one in Auckland meets EVERY wednesday. Attending one of these would nearly guarantee you come away with a couple new friends! It seems most of the frequent hosts all know each other anyway. I’m sure they would help answer all your questions you had when getting started, as well!
@Ana – YES! I’m glad someone got it! 😀 That was an amusing 30-minute conversation the first time my wife asked which Rugby team to “root” for… poor Courtney! 😀
I have been a member of Couchsurfing (CS) for a year and a half now. I have only hosted once, but I have “surfed” on many couches. I can honestly say it is the greatest social networking site I have been a part of (ok, facebook is pretty cool too :p) and it’s SAFE. The hosts are regular people like you and me, and if a criminal joins up, they are immediately called out on their references, which they can not edit. No references? Then don’t meet them until they have some.
One thing that I tell friends of mine that are kind of hesitant to joining is that there is also the “coffee & a drink” setting that tells people that you can not host, but you are willing to meet up with someone for whatever reason (i.e. to tour the city, meet for an actual drink, hit up the beach etc).
There are group gatherings, a message board, and heaps of people everywhere setting up activities of many different kinds. If nothing there interests you, then its only a click away to start your own. Meeting locals is the key to a great travel experience, trust me.
I wrap this up by saying that I am currently “surfing” with a friend here in Singapore that I met a year ago on CS. She has become one of my greatest friends, and sometimes we travel together. I am getting my bachelors degree from an (legit) online University in Florida, and I have been able to balance my love for travel while living on a (lower than) student budget. My budget is $150 USD a week, including everything, and I always have spare. Asia is cheap in general.
Join now, if only to meet the local CSers in your city.
Well – I´m in couchsurfing since October last year and I absolutely love it – the only slightly negative thing I can mention is that sometimes I get mail that feel a bit spammy – me not being a “chat” person. But those are waaayy better than the enlarge/snore etc. spam-mails that sometimes sneak past the spamfilter on my regular mail.
It is a truly great system and I think it is not only about saving money but mostly about to find out that the fear of strangers is irrelaistic
I’ve heard a lot of good stuff about coachsurfing, but I’ve also heard several bad things. Once you have the crazy, axemurderer as part of your network, it’s all over. It only takes one! There’s frugal, and there’s being safe.
Just be safe guys!
Rgds,
RB
I signed up for couch surfing awhile ago, but never ended up using any of the connections I made. I think it takes a lot of planning, because you never know if people will change their minds. 😉
Still, it’s a great alternative to hotels/hostels and you can get to know the local culture so much better.
I’m not sure what lesson on personal finance this post was trying to convey. It was interesting, but not the kind of thing I’m looking for at GRS.
I enjoyed the article as a whole (especially since I have the travel bug of late, according to the Travel Channel at least!), but as a personal finance article it might be a tad off topic. Fortunately, I welcome that especially since we will still see JD’s well written posts and I suspect Mr. Baker will not focus all his topics on this specific article’s subject.
It has inspired me to give CS a try (at least when I will be able to afford a plane ticket) and I much look forward to Mr. Baker’s next article, both the choosen article subject and his writing style.
I agree with Chickybeth. It’s not a topic that interests me. May be practical for a few, but not for most people.
I have a four year old daughter, and the thought of strangers in our house with her, or her in the house of strangers gives me an anxiety attack.
I like the idea in theory but I don’t think I could ever be comfortable with CSing or hosting. The idea makes me squirm.
As a subscriber to GRS, this article struck me as very far off-topic. I’m all for a second writer and another voice, but where does this fit into personal finance? It sounds like something out of Tim Ferris’ book, but not a GRS topic. Also, the post strikes me as being much longer than JD’s usual.
That said, I still look forward to Baker’s second post and to the other candidates’ posts.
Love reading about your adventures Baker!
We neither have the space/time to offer to CouchSurfers a place to sleep or to meet up with them (much less live in an interesting place! We’re in the ‘burbs after all!), nor to actually use the service.
A family of 6 is not ideal for most host I’d imagine.
That said, I could see using the service if I was younger, had more time, and less kids, or maybe we’ll use it when we’re older and the kids are able to be on their own more. 🙂
I am curious if there is any kind of background/criminal check required?
So glad to see a post on couch surfing, both cause it’s an awesome “small world after all” experience, and because it’s a money saver.
From a GRS standpoint couch surfing saves you a good chunk of change when it comes to getting a room when you travel, and can help you save on food as well. A couple things I have experienced being a member of couch surfing…
Surfer:
Saving on the room – Outside of the cost of groceries for making your host dinner while you stay with them (optional) and a “thanks for welcoming me into your home!” gift (also optional) you’re out no money room wise.
Food – Quite often your hosts will let you store a small amount of perishable groceries in the fridge and you can keep a nice and neat little stash of non perishables with your things, wherever they happen to be in your hosts home. This allows you to eat breakfast at “home”, pack your lunch/snacks for taking with you while you roam the city. You can then eat out only at night (or not at all) if you choose. Groceries from a recommended grocer or farmers market in the city your visiting tends to always be cheaper than eating out 3 meals a day.
Free Guide – Hosts are usually happy to show you around for an hour to a couple days if you want the inside scoop.
As a Host:
A good meal – Almost all the surfers who have stayed with my fella and I have made us dinner or taken us out at least once during their stay. We never bring it up (it’s not required or expected), it just happens. It’s always so appreciated and interesting seeing most of our guest are from out of the country and make things unique to their area of the world, often things we have never tried. A free meal or two is a savings.
A potential host for your travels – if the experience is a good one your surfers will most likely be game for hosting you when you leave your neck of the woods. Free room!
The fella and I will be spending 3 weeks in Copenhagen and Stockholm in September and will couch surf our whole time there. I’m very much looking forward to it.
Woo, long comment. Sorry!
This is my favorite of the guest posts so far, with the broadest appeal.
My ex-husband loved couch surfing and has been urging me to join, even just for the “coffee and drink” option. He had a great time seeing other parts of Europe while he was in the Denmark.
what does couch surfing have to do with GRS, well isn’t that the very definition of frugal living, getting the maximum value for minimum dollar.
I agree with rob in madrid, this has everything to do with GRS, because it is about having real experiences that don’t cost anything and taking the time to make the most of a visit and connect with people.
I have posted here about CS before in comments and I think it is a perfect article! Me and my parents couchsurf all the time (like another poster, they CS’ed at RAGBRAI!). CS is not just for people who are gallivanting around the world for months, I used it when interviewing for jobs around the USA: I’m a young, petite woman and I stayed with other young women and it was great. The women I stayed with were kind and didn’t mind the fact I was just passing through and crashing for one night. They told me what it was like to live in the places I stayed.
My dad just couchsurfed through Iceland this past week and had a blast. He’s almost 60 years old to answer the person who asked about older members of CS.
I have heard of cs before, sorry but I didn’t get anything out of this article that I didn’t already get off their website. Handy in the tip arena, and other people’s frugal adventures are often a good read, but color me less than impressed.
I heard about couch surfing a few years ago and had my doubts. Now that you’ve laid out ways to find good hosts, I feel more comfortable using the service. Travel can get expensive. As I continue to strive to meet my financial goals, it’s good to know that I have the option of free lodging when I travel. AirfareWatchDog.com, Kayak.com, and BusJunction.com have helped me find inexpensive ways to get to my destination. Thanks for the awesome post.
I couchsurfed for the first time last weekend in Oslo, Norway, one of the most expensive cities I have ever been. It was a good experience, and I would do it again.
I love couch surfing! great artcle here!
I’d heard of couchsurfing, but wasn’t aware that there were varying levels of contact available. I don’t feel comfortable having a stranger in my apartment, but I’d be happy to tour someone around my town! That’s great to know.
Interesting topic, but not why I read Get Rich Slowly.
I enjoyed the article & reading the comments. I have hosted CSers for a year and, with only one minor exception, each exchange has been a wonderful experience. I live in a beautiful vacation area and enjoy sharing the local sunsets and seashells with my CS visitors. It is a great way for me to meet adventurous people from all over the world without leaving my home. CS is not just a free alternative to a hotel room, and I would probably not host someone who only looked at it that way. I especially enjoy hosting CSers from outside the USA.
Great post. Really enjoyed learning about a different kind of program that can help save me money. Looking forward to more posts.
I started out couchsurfing in China and Tajikistan in 2006 and have “paid it back” by hosting surfers in my apartment in Chicago over the past year. I love the idea and meet interesting people but I heavily screen requests and say no more often then yes. That said, I do let people stay that seem interesting, that have actually read my profile and seem like a good fit.
As a single woman living alone I have to be careful so, to answer some comments up thread, I usually only allow women to stay with me, almost exclusively from different countries. I have had 1 man stay, but he was traveling with a woman. If I had known it was a man traveling with her I might have said no. If someone contacted me that was very interesting and was a man traveling alone I might be open to it but it would have to be one great request. I usually suggest that we meet for coffee instead.
With the uptick in stories on Couchsurfing lately the site seems to be flooded with people who are looking for a free place to stay. I find it pretty insulting when someone emails me one day in advance and has obviously not read my profile. I very much view it as a cultural exchange and I hope that future surfers embrace it as that as well.
On the family thing, you’ll probably find that the over-30 crowd is more willing to host kids. I’ve hosted a family of 4 before…I’m sure others have as well. CS isn’t just for young people — there are individuals and families in their 60s and 70s that are active in the CS community.
If you’re coming through Dallas, look me up on CS
Great post, I’d love to give Couchsurfing a try. Save money and experience the “real” culture of a given location. Is there a certain etiquette for singles surfing alone? Stay with same gender only?
Actually most is said above.
I am with CS now for 3,5 years and it changed my life!
And it is at first about meeting people, saving money is just a positive side effect. I have hosted from 11 months old (with parents of course) to a lively lady of 71 years (coming back soon again).
All I want to add here is the slogan “Just DO it!”
Enjoy…
I actually wrote a speech for class about Couch Surfing! Really incredible project and system for seeing the world.
Two other great ways to meet new places are Americorps and WWOOF. With Americorps you help develop the infrastructure of places across America and you are paid a small stipend. WWOOF stands for “World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms.” By paying a small member fee and plane tickets to wherever in the world you want to go, you can explore a new region of the world, help a citizen around their farm, and learn new techniques for gardening!
Informative article and it reminds me to never ever get myself involved in anything like couchsurfing, I would hate it like a bad rash. I however can see the appeal of this type of concept.
I had once been the member but, I wasn’t really much into it. Maybe because, I wasn’t much traveling during that time. I’m planning a vacation soon in the new year and this wonderful post has sufficiently motivated me to go for it, again. Thank You. I hope to see myself as an ambassador in CS in near future. Thank You again.
I’ve been a travelling couchsurfing host (not so common) for over 4 years and hosted over 1000 people in cities across the world. I can’t recommend it enough!! As well as the amazing social and cultural aspect, from the host’s perspective and saving money etc. you can use it as a free means of learning languages 🙂
I’ve been CouchSurfing for 3 years now, and I’m addicted. I’ve tried to break out of it and settle down here and there, but I just miss the road. It’s an affordable way to meet the greatest people. I seriously feel blessed to have met the people that I’ve met. I don’t use CouchSurfing.com often though- I’ve used it 2.. maybe 3 times so far. One of my best stories is from there– I ended up staying at an all girls’ college, and didn’t even know that going into it.
CouchSurfing is a blast- I recommend it to anyone… but don’t think you’re limited to that one site. I get a lot of my couches from Twitter, and good ol’ fashion word of mouth.
For the more adventurous ones out there, you can always Freestyle Couchsurf — which is to just show up some place, and try to meet random people to couchsurf with.
I love it.
Never really surfed abroad, but met people for coffee, beer, got involved in CS meetings and met a lot of interesting people in the city where I’m currently living – honestly, you will meet cool people with loads of interesting stories. If you’re not sure, just sign up and go to a meeting near you and talk to someone face to face.
The thing is CSers usually have a diffent attitude towards life, they value people, sharing, learning. It’s awesome.
There’s something happening around the planet today, I’d say this is (not intentionally but I think it fits) part of the Creative Culture that’s emmerging (or maybe it’s always been here?) in our world – and some of us are not even aware we’re part of it. According to wikipedia, the creatives are:
– unhappy with the left and right in politics
– optimism towards the future
– want to be involved in creating a new and better way of life
– dislike the emphasis of modern cultures on “making it” and “success”, on consuming and making money
– like people, places and things that are different or exotic
Not saying everyone in CS is like this, but the part that says “people wanting to make the world a better place to live” is certainly true for 99% of CSers.
We’re better together, and we’re happier this way.
I like the idea, but I’m not sure I can get over the trust issues. Sleeping in a strangers house, or having them in my house goes against everything my mom taught me to do!
Great post! I really appreciate the detailed information as I love the idea of Couchsurfing (particularly as it allows fabulous connections with locals) though have yet to do it myself!