The cost of doing this is $0. It isn't about money. It is about the social experience. That being said, it just seems right to try to do something nice for people that welcome you into their home.
Questions were posted in another thread about this topic:
On not hostingVictoriaF wrote:Could you please share your couch surfing experiences, in this thread or a separate one if you prefer? I want to try couch surfing, but I don't know how to get started. I'd like to surf other coaches but I am not ready to offer mine to other surfers. It sounds terribly selfish, but perhaps, there is a way to reconcile my wishes, e.g., by doing nice things for hosts. I am curious what are some nice things I can do for coach owners?investor1 wrote:* I got more into couch surfing when traveling. I've tried it in the past, but I did it about a half a dozen times this year. It meant I didn't spend any money on a hotel. Sure, I did nice things for my hosts that had some costs associated, but no where near what a hotel room costs.
Thanks,
Victoria
I've never hosted. I don't see that as a barrier to entry. Some people do, and I have had couch requests rejected because of this, but I don't mind and this line of thinking is the minority in today's CS'ing community.
On how to get started
Two things: 1. Create an account, and fill out your profile. 2. Attend local CS'ing events.
Filling out your profile is really important. It helps people who might be considering hosting you get a sense of who you are and whether or not they are comfortable having you in their home. Post pictures of yourself, describe the type of person you are and things you are interested in.
Beyond that, network. Many cities hold local CS'ing events. Go meet people. Make friends, ask questions, have fun. In addition to just being a fun thing to do, there is a section on your profile page that is a friends list. Become CS'ing friends with people you meet. There is another section for references. If you meet cool people at events or traveling or whatever, leave a reference and hopefully they return the favor. All of this helps show potential hosts that you aren't an axe murderer. Honestly, I think the reference section is the greatest safety feature on the website.
Even if you don't have any references or friends yet, feel free to surf. When you search for a host, you'll do so by saying where and when you want to travel. That brings up a list of hosts in that city. You can filter the results and look for people who have been verified, vouched for, have a picture in their profile, etc. You can also sort the results by experience (aka a lot of references).
Read the profiles, and send a couch request to the people you think you'll enjoy staying with. There will be a section on their profile that describes the sleeping arrangement they offer (spare bedroom, the couch, floor space, shared room, etc.). You can read about who they are, their interests, and their references.
When you send the request don't copy and paste a generic request. Tell them why you want to stay with them specifically. A lot of hosts will simple reject the request if it seems generic to them (some surfers don't bother reading profiles and just want a free place to stay). The request itself has two sections to fill out: 1. Why are you going to that city? 2. Why do you want to meet that host? The first section tends to be pretty much the same for every request you send in that city, but the second section should be unique to that host. The request itself will also include the travel dates and how you are going to arrive (plane, train, automobile, etc.).
One thing to keep in mind is that a lot of hosts don't want to host someone for more than a few days. If you are going to be there for a week or whatever, you might have better luck staying with more than one host. I usually send the request with the full travel date and just tell them that I'd be happy even if they can only host me for part of my trip.
On showing your gratitude
There isn't anything about "the rules" (I just made that up, there aren't any rules) that says you have to do anything for your host(s). It is just a nice thing to do Honestly, some hosts will ask you to pay. This is very rare, but sometimes it says so in their profile. I've taken hosts out to dinner, a luau, shared beers, and gone to sporting events with them. Again, there are no rules. Do whatever you think is nice. Cook them a meal or something. I've also not really done anything other than hang out with them and had a good time whether it be exploring the city together and sharing a lot of laughs or sitting at home and chatting.
Also, I try to be a clean house guest. If you get water all over the bathroom floor in the morning, wipe it up. Do your dishes, heck, do theirs too. Tidy up the sleeping space before you leave. Fold the sheets or whatever, so they have an easy cleanup after you leave.
That is really all I have for now. Feel free to ask questions!