Being an IT nomad, I travel to many places by myself. While this of course is an awesome experience, it does mean that I arrive in places not knowing anybody at all. There are many ways to meet new people, but for me, couchsurfing is the number one to go for meeting new people friends!

I‘m very often asked about Couchsurfing by people that don’t know it. Most of the time they are skeptic, wondering if I’m not scared that the host might not show up or turns out to be a complete weirdo. Even worse, some go as far as wondering whether I’m not scared to get robbed or raped, often concluding with the notion they will never ever do such kind of thing.

For me though, it’s the best source for new friends and experiences. So far all my Couchsurfing meet-ups and hosts have been amazing. So I decided to spend some time to explain what Couchsurfing is all about. More importantly, I will go over the different options to get introduced to Couchsurfing and some very useful tips to make it a safe an pleasant experience.

The essentials for Couchsurf success

In order to do any of the Couchsurf possibilities, you are going to need a profile. Signing up is for free and you can get started from the get-go. Make sure you take the time to complete your profile. A single picture and no story is not a good incentive for other travelers to meet you, let alone host you. Remember, while the Couchsurfing community is a very friendly and open place, you are still a stranger to everybody, just as they are to you. Couchsurfing helps you completing your profile by dividing your profile in topics. All you have to do is fill them up!

If you really want to go the extra mile and use it a lot, it’s recommended to verify your profile. This means verifying your phone number and perhaps get a payed membership. It doesn’t cost much and you’ll support the team of Couchsurfing to build enhancements to our service, provide customer support, and grow our amazing community.

If you are planning on hosting you can even get your address verified. Couchsurfing will send you a post card with a code you can then enter to verify your location. Note that your address is never public so no one will be able to see this.

Last but not least, take some time to meet up, host or be hosted and write references. It’s probably the most valuable way of verification that you’re a true Couchsurfer with the right spirit and attitude. Besides, it’s very nice to read back the positive feedback you receive from the people you met.

How to find a host

So you are going on a adventure? Backpacking? Citytrip? No matter what it is, get involved with locals and experience your destination as it truly is. Finding a host to stay at can is a task on itself. Depending on your destination there might be very little options so starting in time is a good idea.

Couchsurfing offers the option to create a template. While I use these to send request to many people, I do definitely personalize them! Usually, I describe the main lines of my trip. Explain why you are travelling to that location, who you are and why you want to surf at a couch. When sending this out to hosts, personalize it to this specific host. Explain why him/her and what you have in common.

Now how do you know who’s genuinely nice and cool and who’s not?  Here’s how I do it;

1. Search hosts

Browse the hosts in your destination. Apply filters to get better results that match what you are looking for. Very important to me is language, I want to be able to communicate. Other than that I check age and often a very helpful one is to choose a last login date in the near past. In that way you get the currently active members. But try out all the other options. The less filters, the more results, but the less of a chance on a really good match.

2. Check the hosts profile thoroughly

Read the profile of the host carefully! The more complete and up to date, the better. There should be some pictures too so you know how the person looks. Other than that, verification and positive references are a very good clue on how well this host might be. Did I mention to read the profile?! You don’t want to arrive at your host only to find out he/she has pets while you are allergic. Or that the host smokes in his/her apartment while you can’t stand it. Usually this info is in the profile.

3. Send a good hosting request

When it feels positive, go and send the host a request. As mentioned, be elaborate. Why are you visiting the place, why would you like to be hosted by this person and what do you have in common or what can you share?

4. Getting a response

Now wait for responses. Don’t expect an answer from everybody and if you do get one and your request got declined with a response of a few lines, don’t take it personal. Some hosts get many requests a day, so a response in general, even if it’s a decline, is actually a positive thing. But if a hosts accepts your request, it’s real! You are about to have your first experience!

Personally I appreciate it to have some contact with the host before travelling. While Couchsurfing does not recommend sharing phone numbers and only to communicate trough their platform, I often feel much more comfortable when I can chat or even call the host on forehand, just to hear and have a chat. In this way, if it does start to feel awkward, you can still cancel. For me, it even adds to the fun getting to know the host a little bit on forehand so you are not all completely new when you meet each other.

Other ways to use Couchsurfing

If you’re not traveling you can host travelers. In this way you invite to holiday spirit into your own house. An other option is to go out and meet people from all over the world in your backyard. On the website, you can find travelers that just want to meet up. You can also join member organized Couchsurfing events in your backyard or while travelling. Join discussions and answer questions or give and get helpful advise, all to be done on the website.

Other than that, Couchsurfing has a great app for both Android and Apple, a very useful tool for on the go. It offers a great feature called ‘hangouts‘. When you activate it, you can see who’s in the neighborhood and what they are up to. In this way you can meet a traveler in a matter of minutes to grab a beer, check out a museum or any other activity. There is no reason what so ever to be alone while traveling anymore!

Now try it out and meet new friends for all over the world! Me? You can find my profile right here.

Nothing beats a walk trough the Italian Alps with your furry friend. For both human and dog, the adventures in the mountains will create unforgettable moments. There’s just one thing, think and prepare before you head out. The stunning beauty makes it easy to forget the potential dangers in the mountains. Go out safe following these tips and tricks.

The most important thing to bring on a hiking trip with your dog is your common sense. While your furry friend is excited from the first minute, it doesn’t know about your plans. And when it get’s hard, it keeps on going. For that reason, it’s important to be knowledgeable of your pet’s physical boundaries. With just a bit of planning the trip will turn in to a success for both you and your dog. If this is the first time you take your dog out into the mountains, then pay special attention, as a walk in the mountains is very different than your regular walks.