Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Planning Your Visit
• Part 2 of 3: How to Have a Great Time
• Part 3 of 3: Ending the Trip
• Tips
• Warnings

Couchsurfing can be a great way to meet new people and travel on a modest budget. Take the time to plan your trip and you can find great opportunities to discover the local culture, share stories and skills with the hosts, and maybe even strike up friendships for years to come.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Planning Your Visit

1. 1 Write a clear and understandable couchsurfing request. Tell the landlords of the apartment you will be arriving in, when you arrive, why you would like to meet them, and how long you will stay. Tell us a little about your visit. Do you have a tour of their region? Are you coming to town for an event? Will you be passing through on your way to another location? Also, be sure to complete your profile so that they know a little about you.
   • If you are concerned about security, choose hosts with a detailed profile and positive reviews. Women traveling alone may want the hostess to be a woman or family, and find hostel addresses nearby just in case.
2. 2 Find a common language with the owner. Read his profile and look for interests that you share or would like to learn more about. The landlord provides accommodation voluntarily, and is most likely very friendly, as providing accommodation to others brings new acquaintances. Think about stories and skills that would be of interest to both of you, and things you could do together.
   • Pick a casual but curious topic of conversation to connect with, such as general musical tastes or a place you've both visited. If nothing comes to your mind, ask the owner if he has hosted couchsurfers before, or what he likes to do in the area.
   • Contact the host using the website tools, rather than contact details, until you are confident you can dock, and until you finally decide to couchsurf.
3. 3 Contact the host. Once the host has received your request, contact them for details. Let him know if the final dates you gave him or if you can arrive later or leave earlier. When traveling by plane, car, or on foot, make sure you know how to get to the owner's house and what number to call if you get lost.
   • Ask if you will need to have your own key or if you will need to arrive at a specific time to be allowed in.
   • Find out more about housing. You may need to bring your own sleeping bag, pillow and / or towel.
4. 4 Let your host give you advice on the area where you are. As a regular member of the local community, your landlord can give you tips and warnings that are not easy to find on the internet. Feel free to ask questions on any topic related to your stay; your host will certainly be happy to help. Here are a few questions you might find useful to discuss before your arrival:
   • Are there any nearby cities or attractions worth visiting? Would the owner want to go with you?
   • What is the best vehicle to use in this area? How reliable is public transport and what time does it run to? Should you rent a car?
   • Are there areas nearby where it is not safe to walk? Are there any precautions to take?

Part 2 of 3: How to Have a Great Time

1. 1 Dress up with the owner. One of the pleasant parts of a holiday is getting to know the host. A small gift expresses your gratitude and can start a warm conversation, especially if it's an interesting trinket from your hometown or from your last trip. It's even better if you do something together:
   • Share your skills. Many couchsurfers travel with a musical instrument or small paint kit. Others offer help with simple home renovations and can also do crafts or help in the garden.
   • Teach each other something. This could be a song, a celebration tradition, sports advice, or one of the above skills. If you know another language, and the owner finds it interesting, teach him a few words.
2. 2 Share stories. Talk about the places you've visited, the traditions at home, or just tell stories from your life. Ask the host about the local people, the history of his region and his own life. Sharing personal experiences and culture separates couchsurfing from hotel stays if you take a step towards that opportunity.
3. 3 Respect the house rules. Try to follow the owner's directions, such as which entrance to use and when to be quiet. Also pay attention to the owner's habits and repeat after him if necessary. For example, many people leave their shoes at the front door and may think that this is a matter of course in their culture.
   • Feel free to ask questions and apologize when you make a mistake.A positive attitude may well smooth out minor punctures.
4. 4 Offer the hosts food. Food is a great way to share and introduce your culture to each other. If you know how to cook, offer to cook something at the owner's house and treat him to. If you don’t know how to cook, or the owner doesn’t seem to like the idea, suggest ordering food from yourself at a nearby restaurant. If you don't have time to dine together or the restaurant is out of your budget, bring a small treat from home or from a nearby bakery.
   • If the owner also cooks, invite him to share the recipe.
5. 5 Adjust to the owner and be patient. If he cannot be at home during the day to let you in, find out when he will be and do something else before he comes.
   • It doesn't cost anything to be joyful, full of energy and grateful for the host's hospitality, and this can have a huge impact on how he will perceive you and how he will treat you.
6. 6 Chat with the host. Let him know when you plan to return from the tour, and also tell him if your plans have changed.
7. 7 Offer home help. At the very least, clean up carefully and offer to help wash the dishes after a meal. If the host is usually busy or not talkative, doing light housework and gardening together can be a good opportunity to socialize.

Part 3 of 3: Ending the Trip

1. 1 Clean up after yourself. Ask the host for the necessary cleaning supplies if you need them. If he provided you with a pillow, blanket, towel, or rug, ask where to put it. Return any items you borrowed.
   • Don't leave anything behind other than gifts. Throw out all your trash and offer to take it out if you fill the bin completely.
2. 2 Leave a review for the host. If you had a great time, say so. A good review will help the owner find couchsurfers who suit his interests and views. To describe your experience, go to their profile and click on the ... symbol, then "Write a review".
   • Write an honest review that reveals the host's attitude, and include a few specific things they did that made your trip better (or worse). Mention something that came as a surprise to you, even if it was pleasant. The rest of the couchsurfers will thank you for the warnings.
3. 3 Keep in touch. Not every time couchsurfers and hosts strike up a friendship, but if you find a friend, exchange social media contacts or email addresses. Write to each other from time to time and share how the rest of your trip is going.

Tips

• When you first call or text the host, be sure to introduce yourself. "Hello, this is [name] from CouchSurfing." Otherwise, you will be unknown to him.
• Try hosting couchsurfers if you can. Or remember when there was a guest or roommate in your house. What did this person do to befriend and help you? What was it that annoyed you?
• When preparing food for someone, especially if the person is from a different culture, ask if there is anything they don't eat and adjust your menu accordingly.
• If you are concerned about security, please contact the CouchSurfing Security Center.

Warnings

• If the host or surroundings are inconvenient, shorten your visit. Most of the hosts are friendly and welcoming, but there are exceptions.
• Always have a backup plan with you in case something goes wrong. That is, carry enough money with you to drive home or stay for a few nights at the hotel, if need be. Or bring your camping equipment with you.
• While some couples get to know each other while couchsurfing, dating shouldn't be your main goal.If you think there is an opportunity to start a relationship, it might be wise to check into the hostel and continue to spend time with the host while staying there. Some owners may feel uncomfortable if a stranger in their living room starts to play.
• During your stay, respect the host's wishes regarding smoking, drinking, recreational drug use, and so on.