ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel

How to be be a good couchsurfing guest

Updated on March 12, 2011

How to be a good couchsurfing guest


Unfortunately, too many new Couchsrufers mistake it for a „free place to crash“ some kind of alternative to a hostel. Read here for a basic introductioin about Couchsurfing. But CS is completely different. It is NOT a „service“. It is an act of expressing humaneness. Hospitality that does not expect money in return. Here is my article about what couchsurfing is really all about.


Once you found a couch, consider these tips:


Tips for being a good (couchsurfing) guest


  • Bring a present:

    Just because surfing and being a member of the site is free it doesen`t mean that you should take advantage of peoples` hospitatlity. Bring something - even if very small - to show your appreciation to the host. Think of it that way: you are going to visit an old friend in another town that you haven`t seen for ages. Sure thing you will bring a present, something you knew he/she liked!


  • Do the dishes:

    I hosted many people too and i especially enjoyed the guests who „got the message“: I cook, so you do the dishes. A fair deal. It is a free, easy and uncomplicated act to show your appreciacion and to show that you are self-consistant. There is nothing more annoying than a guest who cannot take charge for himself/herself and that needs to be looked after 24 hours a day. Why not offer your host to cook a meal from your country?


  • Clear communication:

    Before arrival: Inform your host CLEARLY about when, how and where you arrive. Most hosts also, will give you directioins or tell you where they will meet you. Stick to that and let them now exactly when and how you arrive. This is best to include in the second message, after you received an acceptance of your couchrequest. After arrival: Before bedtime, ask your host when you need to get up. Do not expect to get a key. Your host might offer it, but it is entirely the hosts desicion. Either way, inform your host about what you are planning to do the next day and when to expect you back. Then stick to the time you gave.

  • Be tidy:

    Don`t distribute all your things in the entire appartment and bathroom. Ask your host where to put your backpack and then use this designated area for that. It`s good to keep your stuff there and not use 10 times more space than really needed.

    Do not distribute your toiletteries in the hosts bathroom unless it is being accepted. Here is some help about packing light.


  • Give your host 1-2hours a day „off“ from you if you can. If you only stay for one night that is imppssible. Do take a shower then, which gives a 20min break. Do not shower for hours! If you are staying longer: Come home a little later than your host. He/She will appreciate to have „his appartment“ to himself again when he comes back from a hard day at work.


  • Learn the customs of the country, that is why you are there

    If you hadn´t had a chance to read much before the trip, NOW is the best time to learn. Ask your host about differences and customs. That is a good way to chat and learning something new from your host. You could ask about living costs, standards, how your host found this beautiful apartment, etc. Show your respect by switching off the lights when you leave a room. In some places electricity costs alot of money. I once had a guest who didn`t switch off the lights and didn`t even turn off the water tap after using it.. Remember: What is ok in YOUR country, is not necessarily OK in other countries.

    -> If you are unsure: ask your host.


  • Enjoy your stay! 

Read here for advice on writing couchrequests!

working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)