Are Couchsurfing Websites Safe To Use For Travels?

Couchsurfing is a website that lets travelers find and offer free accommodation across the globe. This is to encourage interaction and cultural immersion. Sometimes, couchsurfers in an area meet up for chitchats and hobbies. It is not a website for everybody. If your travel aim is just to lounge by the hotel poolside, then we recommend downloading the Agoda instead.

Some travelers are asking about the safety of the website though. True, there are criticisms about the website, but the bad experiences are a small percentage compared to the thousands of travelers who have enjoyed the website's services.

For us, the careful selection of couchsurfers and hosts is the key to enjoying the service safely. Long-time couchsurfers know this by heart and Travelers Today is now sharing these tips for your advantage.

These are the tips to make your Couchsurfing adventure safe:

1. Read the Couchsurfing profile thoroughly. If the profile is a verified member and has a lot of positive references, he or she is most likely a genuinely caring person.

2. Chat with the person. See if both of you are compatible. If you are the host, see if the couchsurfer meets your requirements (e.g. no smoking, no alcohol, no pets...). If you are the couchsurfer, see if the host does not make you uncomfortable.

3. Always have contingencies. In case of worst case scenarios, make sure that you have a nearby hostel to run into. Also, take note of nearby embassies and police stations.

4. Read Couchsurfing's safety recommendations.

In general, people in the Couchsurfing website are cool people. They are willing to give out an authentic extra hand. However, it is always better to play safe. If you do this, you would be meeting a lot of people around the world and be experiencing an extraordinary way to travel.