𝐵𝑜𝑟𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑎. 𝑅𝑎𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑇𝘩𝑒 𝑁𝑒𝑡𝘩𝑒𝑟𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑠. 𝑆𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑖𝑛.

Available for midnight emergency hosting (in case your host bailed out or uncomfortable stay).

Teach, Learn, Share

I can advise you how to use CouchSurfing safely, for you and the ones after you.

𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲
Before even using CouchSurfing, get yourself familiar with https://about.couchsurfing.com/about/safety/

𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆
- Read the Home section thoroughly and make sure it says nothing you dislike. Take specifically notice of the Sleeping Arrangement. If it says Shared Surface, like in my profile, be sure you are not uncomfortable with it
- Check the registration year of the profile. Avoid new profiles; profiles from 2013 and before I usually trust
- Count the references. Minimum 10 and check for negative references (and read them, if any). There is a function in the app to show only the negative references, to avoid scrolling through all the references
- Avoid making arrangements through Whatsapp, IG or FB. In case of an incident, the safety team of CouchSurfing cannot support you. Indecent proposals and explicit images usually reach you through Whatsapp and IG messages.

𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆
Be a good guest. Bringing a present is always appreciated. At https://blog.couchsurfing.com/13-things-that-could-make-you-a-wonderful-couchsurfing-guest/ you find some tips of how to be a good guest. To quote some:
- Be mindful of your host’s life
- Be mindful that your stay has a cost implication for your host
- Share food and talk with your host(s)
- Remember it’s not 'free'. You pay with your 'time'.
- Keep your host up to date about your plan and whereabouts
- Stick to your host's schedule
- Be neat and clean up
- Don’t waste water or power
- Keep your hosts home safe
- Follow the house rules, if any

In most of the cases, your host will be a good host. The reason hosts host is to meet and get to know people. 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. As a result, the host expects you to spend time with him/her. If you don't want to make that compromise, I kindly ask you to not bother hosts with a surf request.
In rare cases, your host has not the intentions CouchSurfing was created for on June 12th 2004. CouchSurfing is a social meetup community. The CouchSurfing app is not a dating app. As a surfer you pay with time; not with physical attention. If it doesn't feel good, it probably isn't. It is not you! Communicate clear what doesn't feel good. If there is no improvement, leave.
- Contact the Trust & Safety team at https://support.couchsurfing.org/hc/en-us/requests/new?category=safety
- Inform a local CouchSurfing ambassador. Use the Find Hosts function on the website and search within the country your in. Then select More Filters, tick Ambassador under Host Info and hit the Search button. Contact the nearest CouchSurfing Ambassador for advise.
- Contact local authorities in case of law violations.

𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆
- Always leave a reference!
* Not leaving a reference is disrespectful to your host, who has prepared your arrival, made compromises to his/her private life and provided you free of charge food, drinks and utilities.
* Not leaving a reference after a bad experience, creates a false feeling of trust. Indirectly you may put a future surfer in danger.
* Leaving a reference makes the platform a safer platform; future guests/hosts can make a better judgement to host or being hosted with/by an other couchsurfer.
* Leaving a positive reference after a bad experience... I personally don't get that! You clearly may bring a future surfer in the same unpleasant situation.
* make sure the reference reflects your experience. When you had a good experience, describe what you liked. when it was not a good experience, mention what you disliked.
* be factual about what you did together and the things that happened.
- Writing a negative reference is not easy. You may be insecure if a negative reference justifies what has happened. You may be insecure about what you negatively experienced is actually wrong. You may want to avoid the negative consequences of your negative reference may have for the profile. You may fear you will get a negative reference as well. Nonetheless, writing a reference is a must. Alternatively, you can opt for writing a positive reference (Yes, I would), but describe factually what happened and what you disliked and end with "I would not stay/host again".