Surfs Up!

So let's talk travel. In recent years, couch surfing has gained a great deal of popularity as a way to travel on the cheap. And while it absolutely is a method for avoiding lodging costs, it is so much more than that. Think of a student exchange program without having to be a student; the real goal of couch surfing is cultural exchange, learning about others' way of life and about oneself in a new situation. Hosts want to give surfers a good experience in their home city, but there are a few things new surfers should be aware of, both courtesy and safety-wise.

Check References
Most sane people will immediately ask, "how do I know I'm not staying with a serial killer?" No one can really answer that, of course, but one of the main features of the couch surfing website are references. That's right - just as you can check a seller's record when you buy something on eBay, couch surfing profiles combine a Facebook-like profile setup with a set of personal, host, and surfer references so you can see what others experienced when they hosted, traveled, or stayed with them. This is hugely important! Checking a host's references can give you an idea of what you'll be walking into; my best practice is not to stay with hosts that don't have at least a few good references.

Fill Out Your Profile
Couch surfing is about cultural exchange, and part of that is putting yourself out there a little. So fill out your profile as if you were meeting a new friend - share a little about what movies or music you like, what you find interesting to talk about or recount a crazy travel experience you've had. The more your profile is filled out, the more potential hosts can get a sense of whether you would get along together and if they'd like to spend time with you. Including a couple pictures and a clear headshot is also handy if you're going to meet the person and you need to find each other in a public place.

Customize Requests
It's always a good practice to read the profiles of potential hosts, but if you're looking to surf - especially in a popular city - the best way to connect with a host is to personalize your couch request. Most hosts are all too familiar with getting requests that don't use their name, have been cut and pasted to 20 different people, don't acknowledge they only host a certain number of people or a myriad of other things that are already noted in their profiles. Don't be that person! Though hosts get good experiences out of hosting, they are still giving you there time and sharing their home with you - respect them enough to thoroughly read their profile, address them by name, and mention something specific from their profile in your request that you are genuinely interested in. Don't be afraid to get creative and have fun with your requests!

Be Flexible
One of the best things about couch surfing is never knowing who you're going to meet and what they - hosts or otherwise - will share with you. Some hosts will invite you to meet their friends in the circus or stay up all night talking ancient Rabbinical Jewish law with you. Others will just hand you the keys and go to work or a hockey game with their friends and tell you to make yourself at home. Being open to learning about other's lives and be respectful of their schedules is also important when surfing and can often be a learning experience in and of itself.

Above all, it's about sharing, having fun, and learning about others, so have fun with it!