Couchsurfing Review: 5 Years of Experience & Best Safety Tips!

Couchsurfing reviews are helpful if you aren’t too sure whether the platform is for you. After 5 years, my Couchsurfing experience has been vast. Here, I will elaborate on what is Couchsurfing and provide a review of the Couchsurfing app and some safety tips 🙂

Traveling on a budget is often thought to be limiting. It is true that less money might mean shabbier accommodation and unappetizing food, but that doesn’t have to be the case.

Of course, where money falls short, you become more flexible. And as a 20-something solo traveler, my flexibility often allows me the opportunity to explore and experience things that may be deemed unfit for a 20-something solo traveler, especially for a girl.

Especially coming from my parents.

But since I am a #soulsearchingrebelliousmillennialgenerationx-after90s kid, I do so anyway.

This is where Couchsurfing comes in.

As a long-time surfer, I will review the Couchsurfing app, talk about Couchsurfing pros and cons, and touch on whether Couchsurfing is safe throughout my years using the platform.

Couchsurfing Review: What is Couchsurfing?

Couchsurfing is a platform that provides members the opportunity to host guests, stay at other’s houses, and meet travelers at various events. It’s free to join the site, but there are a few paid features granted to verified members (A one-time payment of USD 60)

Couchsurfing Verified Membership Features:

• Verify government issued ID
• Priority Customer Support
• Unlimited Messaging (It’s 10/week for non-verified members)

Is Couchsurfing Verification worth it?

First of all, having a verified profile does not mean hosts will suddenly begin to offer their couch to you. Most hosts look at your level of activity on the platform, your requests, your profile, and reviews.  I don’t have a verified account and haven’t had trouble getting a host in the past.

However, if you are doing a longer trip and need to message more than 10 people/ week while on the road, then Couchsurfing verification may work for you. There are definitely hosts who only accept verified Couchsurfing members as well.

Tip: For every person you host, you receive three months of verified membership for free.

 

Couchsurfing Reviews: Why Couchsurfing?

Having used Couchsurfing throughout most of my trips, I believe that the platform really helps me travel like a local. Most hosts happily showed me around their city and gave me advice on transportation, food, or must-visits within the country. Couchsurfing has not only given me a better understanding of the culture in the destination country but has also enriched my trips in the most unexpected ways.

In the past couple of years, I’ve slept in teepees, bungalows, apartments, beach houses, and cave rooms, on floors, couches, and unwashed mattresses. I was hosted by lawyers, professors, hippies, bikers and many more. Because of strangers I’ve met,  I’ve witnessed hot air balloons in Cappadocia for free, rode a motorcycle up into the Himalayas, slurped fresh oysters by the harbor of Santa Barbara and got free entrance to Disney, amongst a number of other events and places. Because of my experiences (the good and the bad), I understand how important it is to give a comprehensive couchsurfing review for those looking to give it a try.

Now, I’m not a Couchsurfing ambassador by any means, but I may perhaps preach it on the daily. So a post on the pros and cons of Couchsurfing might be biased coming from me, but I will try to keep it neutral.

Couchsurfing Review: Pros & Cons

The Couchsurfing Experience

Pro: Amazing Local Experiences

Why would you travel to a city as a tourist, and only visit places often seen on social media and Google, when you can enjoy the hidden gems that a local can show you? I’ve been shown so many “secret spots” that a generic tour bus or a travel advice page doesn’t know. Since I travel solo a lot, Couchsurfing became a great way for me to meet people, make friends, and stay connected to locals throughout my trip and beyond. This has always been one of my favorite things about Couchsurfing!

Con: Too Many Experiences & No Personal Space

Then again, hosts may be so inclined to show you all the hidden gems that you’d be too tired for all the must-sees. The majority of Couchsurfing hosts are really flexible. No one is going to drag you to places and demand you to do stuff with them, but I want to candid in this Couchsurfing review and say that I’ve also had some extremely nice and eager hosts who didn’t really understand that I’d prefer a little time to myself once in a while.

Vibes & Connections when Couchsurfing

Pro: Good Vibes & Quick Connections

A common characteristic I’ve noticed in most couch surfers is that they are extremely open minded. Hosts and surfers tend to be open to new ideas, engaging conversations, the exchange of perspectives and so on and so forth. Both travelers and local hosts are interested in YOU. Most couch surfers place a lot of emphasis on dialogue, sharing experiences, and having some sort of cultural exchange. The best part is that these exchanges often forgo the small talk in day-to-day conversations.

In addition, Couchsurfing is in itself a sharing economy-type platform. Most users want to help others for little in return. I’ve made so many great friends that I still talk to today!

Con: Bad Vibes & Awkward Hangouts

It is a given that not everyone will click. You may be the most sociable, approachable, optimistic soul and there will still be people criticizing you for talking too much, being naive, and acting stupid. While the majority of couchsurfers are open-minded and welcoming, I’ve had a few awkward experiences. This one time, my host and I just did not hit it off. We didn’t listen to the same music, cared about different things, enjoyed different topics and just couldn’t make good conversation. We literally stared at each other in silence for three days straight, not knowing what to say.

Sometimes, certain behaviors may be a tick off. One of my hosts told me that he had a surfer who never cleaned up after herself. She left unwashed dishes and clothes around his place and treated the apartment like a hotel. Thankfully, most surfers I’ve encountered aren’t like this!

Is Couchsurfing Safe?

Pro: Easy to use Safety Mechanisms

It’s not a thorough couchsurfing review without talking about its safety. Although Couchsurfing may not be the safest method of accommodation, there are ways of verification. One’s Couchsurfing profile should be complete and engaging. But most importantly, they should have a ton of good reviews.

Tips for Couchsurfing Safety:

• For solo female travelers, stay with other women or families. Do this by using the keyword tab under filter and typing “family”. You can change preferences for the gender and age of the host in the said filter area.
• Make sure they have a complete profile and lots of good reviews.
• Read what others say about this person.
• After the confirmation of a stay, make sure that they keep good communication with you. Whether it be fast responses, witty responses or long responses, hosts and surfers should always keep you up to date on the planned agenda. (I’ve had hosts who forgot that I’d be visiting).
• Of course, if the dialogue is inappropriate and makes you uncomfortable, drop it like it’s hooot not happening, duh.

Con: Lack of Safety Measures

So is Couchsurfing safe? Despite profiles and Couchsurfing reviews being helpful, they will not guarantee your safety. Profiles can be made up, as can reviews. A problem with Couchsurfing is that people rarely post bad reviews since they fear being retaliated with some bizarre story. I mean after all, who can verify the validity of either side?

Traveling alone as a girl may be even more terrifying. I’ve definitely heard of Couchsurfing bad experiences where hosts act inappropriately toward their surfers. A friend told me that she had to leave in the middle of the night because of a concern for her safety! And she wasn’t the only one who has experienced such worries. I’ve been in similar situations as well.

Staying with someone you don’t know and lacking the physical ability to defend yourself is definitely worrisome. Take precaution, do research and be mentally prepared for any scenario. And always trust your gut. If you feel uncomfortable in a situation, geeeeeeeet out!

Is Couchsurfing Free?

Pro: Money Saver

Couchsurfing was free (as of 2020, you have to pay US 14 a year for your membership). For a budget traveler like myself, free accommodation is really helpful. Of course, as a surfer, it is always considerate if you can get a small Thank You Gift for your host, or grab some groceries/a drink if your stay is long.

Con: Don’t expect a 5 star hotel!

Couchsurfing is free. Free may mean sleeping in tents, on dirty beds, on smelly couches and so on. Most of the places I’ve stayed at have been absolutely amazing—big beds, clean sheets, sometimes even a full room! But don’t expect to find yourself to be at a 5-star hotel, and never treat hosts as if they are there to serve you. Of course, Couchsurfing is not for everyone and it’s completely understandable to forgo this route altogether. For those that try or have tried, do let me know how was your Couchsurfing experience!

A Review of the Couchsurfing App and Tips for Getting Hosted!

The Couchsurfing app is easy to use. Much like its web platform, the app is interactive and allows you to edit profiles and send requests.

Once you open up the Couchsurfing app, there are 5 tabs in the bottom.

1. The Dashboard tab shows ‘Hangouts’ nearby (I will explain this feature below), the events in the area, your friend requests, upcoming trips, and events that you are attending.
2. The Hangout feature will be discussed below.
3. The Search tab allows you to look for hosts in a certain area and members by name.
4. The Inbox shows all the messages you’ve sent and received from other members.
5. The Profile tab is where you can edit your profile.

Some tips for getting hosted: 

• Make sure you have a complete profile
• Have some reviews-you can do this by attending CS meetups and events in your local city and making friends
• Read your potential host’s profile!! I’ve noticed that some hosts would have hidden keywords on their profile that they’d like you to mention in your requests
• Personalize your request! Don’t mass send-even if you do, make it specific to the individual you are sending it do, changing a few lines based on their profile would do!
• Stay polite, even if they don’t accept, it’s ok!

Below are various ways that one can try out the CouchSurfing culture before taking on the lifestyle.

Couchsurfing Alternatives

Couchsurfing Meetups

Couchsurfing meetups are common in big cities. From weekly gatherings to monthly bar nights, a lot of cities are extremely active when it comes to meeting fellow travelers. These get together are generally attended by local CSers and tourists from afar, and is a great way to get a sense of the CouchSurfing culture. Of course, meetups usually come with incredible experiences that will further fuel your love for traveling.

Couchsurfing Events

Like meetups, active CS cities usually have tons of events throughout the week. Whether it be a house party or a group tour of downtown L.A, there is an endless number of opportunities to meet other travelers and discover the city. You can also bring a friend or two to share the experience (and prevent potential calamities).

In the events’ page, many people also post rideshare offers and trip agendas. Having looked up my hometown Toronto’s rather crammed listing of events, I noticed things ranging from religious gatherings to birthday parties. Trust me when I say there is something for everyone.

CS Hangouts

Couchsurfing’s “Hangouts” feature is only a couple of years’ old. When you list yourself as available to hang out, others in the area will be notified. Messages will be exchanged and times will be set up, but all in all, it is just a fast way of meeting local travelers who want to, well, hang out.

While traveling solo in Mexico, I decided to try out the Hangouts app. There, I found Melanie, a girl from the U.S who was traveling in a similar route as me. We ended up going to a few places together and still maintain contact!

My Couchsurfing Experience

As noted, I’ve been couchsurfing for quite a long time. In the past 5 years, I’ve stayed with over 70 families across the world. There were a few incidents here and there that made me second guess my choices. However, the majority of my experiences have been amazing. For me, the meaning of couchsurfing is simple-it is a shared cultural learning opportunity unlike many others you will come across. I truly have learned so much history, culture, political perspectives, food, and so on and so forth from so many.

This Couchsurfing review can’t go without a few experiences in detail:

• When I hiked the Acatenango Volcano with my host in Guatemala
• When I biked up the Himalayas with a host in India
• When I cooked a Indian meal for a bunch of German tourist with my host in Mexico
• When I stayed with a family in Colombia (apparently in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods, as I was told)
• When my host took me camping in Oman