My mother always says, "better safe than sorry." If you're unfamiliar with the concept of couchsurfing check out my last article, "Couchsurfing Isn't Free." Though my time as a couchsurfer have been wonderful, everyone's intentions aren't pure. Even if you're an experienced traveler or member of the community, there's a couple tips I've picked up to help you stay safe and get the best out of your time while surfing.
1. Read the profiles.
You can gather a lot from a host by looking at their profile. I've read many profiles where the host is looking for a one night stand or offering you to share the bed with them. This allows you to weed out many uncomfortable or unwanted situations.
2. Do some research.
Read the reviews. Looking at the reviews you'll be able to see the number of surfers hosted, the number that would stay again, and written reviews from other surfers, hosts, and personal connections. See if you can find a reference written by someone traveling as you are (e.g. solo female, couple, etc.,).
3. Trust your gut.
Whatever you chalk them up to, gut feelings are reliable. If something doesn’t feel right to you, don’t do it. It’s not worth it; it’s not worth your life. A hostel is maybe as much as $25, your safety is worth more than that.
4. Meet your host in a public place.
I learned this tip as I went and it made a huge difference. First impressions can reveal a lot about a person. Meet up at a coffee shop or somewhere casual and reasonably public. If all is well it'll help to relax your anxieties about surfing anyways!
5. Never feel pressured to stay.
Because you’ve made an agreement with someone you’ll likely feel a pressure to keep to your word. It’s someone, a stranger, offering you a place to stay. You never have to stay, even when you’re already there. Even if you’ve been there a few hours and had dinner already. If something feels off, it’s ok to go.
6. Have a backup plan — don't be left asking yourself:
Never put all your eggs in one, unreliable basket. Know where the nearest hostel or hotel is when public transport is running, or even set up a backup couchsurfing arrangement if possible.
The worst thing you can be is unprepared. You can never be too careful. Don't leave it up to chance. After all, it's a jungle out there...
