The Pro’s and Con’s of Couchsurfing

For many young travelers on a budget, couchsurfing can seem pretty attractive. The idea itself is pretty simple — you stay with locals in their homes while traveling and, in turn, you allow people traveling through your hometown to stay with you through arrangements made prior online. Before you dedicate yourself to this form of travel, however, there are a lot of pros and cons to consider.

Firstly, let’s consider the big con you’ve probably already thought about — you don’t know these people. Not only do you not know the people you’re staying with, but you also don’t know the people who will be staying in your home. Yes, you can do your research regarding them online, but it’s not terribly difficult to portray a fake persona over the Internet. If you’re traveling by yourself, or if you live by yourself while visitors will be staying with you, you may want to reconsider.

However, the fact that you don’t know these people is also a pro. You’ll be seeing a brand-new lifestyle and culture through the eyes of someone who lives it every day. There’s no greater way to discover the best foods, attractions and hangouts. Likewise, you’ll be able to share your absolute favorite parts of your city with someone else, leaving them with a lasting impression and possibly a lasting friendship.

Back to the con side — your host may be perfectly safe, but you may just not have the same ideas of fun (or the same ideas of cleanliness and manners, for that matter). If you don’t ask the questions that may seem a bit rude, your host may not feel inclined to tell you. These questions include asking if they have any pets and are they housebroken, how often they clean, how often they have guests and if and what they smoke indoors. Likewise, you may want to ask possible guests about their cleanliness and habits as well.

One of the most appealing pros, of course, would be that couchsurfing is free lodging. While airfare and other modes of travel may be the primary expense when traveling internationally, lodging is right behind it. You can travel further and longer if one of those expenses is suddenly alleviated, meaning you only have to pay for food and fun in each destination.

Couchsurfing is not for everybody, but it’s definitely a doable option for lots of travelers, especially those traveling in pairs and on a tight budget. Weigh the pros and cons before making your decision, and always put safety first.