Couchsurfing Review: 7 Travelers Tell ALL About What Makes Couchsurfing Fun and Amazingly Impactful

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If you’re new to Couchsurfing, then you might have some concerns about booking a stay with a complete stranger. AND THOSE ARE VERY VALID CONCERNS. I don’t want to downplay any of those concerns, and certainly, Couchsurfing isn’t for everyone. But if you’re interested in trying it out, but are maybe a bit hesitant or nervous, then I want to share a Couchsurfing review or two from different travelers all across the world who have an overall positive opinion on this lodging option.

Since I am just one person and can’t nearly give insight on a Couchsurfing review from someone who is a different nationality, or ethnicity, or gender. So, I’ve invited a few fellow travel bloggers to share their experiences and Couchsurfing review so that you can get a more comprehensive viewpoint!

Okay, I’ve stalled enough. Let’s get on with this Couchsurfing review post!

Enikő (Eni) from Travel Hacker Girl

I have used Couchsurfing many times. I am Hungarian, and my family hosted people from all over the world when I was a teenager. A family who was cycling through Europe with two little children inspired us to go on our own multi-day cycling trip to Austria. 

When I got older and started travelling on my own, I had many amazing hosts myself. My host in Santa Barbara (California, USA) was a kayak instructor and she took us on a tour of the bay. My host in Sydney (Australia) was a rugby fan and had a spare ticket for me to accompany him to a match. 

My favorite experience, however, was staying with my host in Kuala Lumpur. His apartment came with a rooftop pool overlooking the Petronas Twin Towers. I spent hundreds of dollars for a similar view in Singapore at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel just a few days before. And there I was experiencing this amazing infinity pool thanks to my Couchsurfing host. We had a really nice time together up the rooftop sunbathing, drinking cocktails, swimming and just enjoying the view. I think I was very fortunate that he hosted me!

Couchsurfing Review: Couchsurfing can give you opportunities to experience things that you wouldn’t have even thought of otherwise!

Ania from Ania Travels

When I had a last minute change of plans and was struggling to find a place to stay in Lübeck (Germany), Anni offered to host me for a few days. She seemed kind and I agreed to stay with her and her boyfriend. Little did I know it would be the best Couchsurfing experience ever. Anni and Dany are an absolutely beautiful couple with amazing personalities. She is German and he is Lebanese, and they were both warm, welcoming, and an absolute blast to be around.

You can spend hours just chatting with them about absolutely anything. But what better way to get to know someone and their culture, than being welcomed to their home and enjoying a homemade meal together? Both of them are amazing cooks, but Dany took the reins of the impromptu in-home cooking class. I’ve always been a fan of Lebanese food but never imagined taking a Lebanese cooking class from a Lebanese person in Germany, in someone’s home nevertheless.

From preparing to dining, the entire dining experience was amazing. Dany was very patient with me as I cried my way through chopping the onions, but it’s safe to say I can make my own Tabbouleh now. The Tabbouleh was paired with fresh hummus, veggies, and other assorted Lebanese sides that made the combination to die for. The perfect one-of-a-kind introduction to Lebanese food in Germany, who would have thought?

Couchsurfing review: Couchsurfing is an engaging way to learn more about other people and cultures, even if it isn’t the culture of the country you are currently in!

Daisy from Beyond My Border

I started Couchsurfing in 2015 and can’t imagine traveling any other way.

Despite having stayed with over 30 hosts so far, one of my most memorable surfing experiences was in Side (Turkey) .At the time, I was teaching English in Antalya. Following my internship, I convinced two of my teaching friends to join me and Couchsurf for the first time. 

Founder of a school for disabled children, my host was extremely passionate about his city. He tirelessly drove us throughout Manavgat, showing us Oymapinar Dam and the city of Side. He even took us on ATV tours, jet skiing, and go-karting. From cooking to taking us out for meals, my host had the patience to respond to our endless curiosity for this ancient city.

To be honest, since both of my friends were from rather conservative households, I was a little concerned about bringing them to a stranger’s home. Following this experience, they set up CS profiles and have met with numerous surfers in their respective countries – Iran and Kuwait.

Couchsurfing Review: Couchsurfing has the ability to not only open your eyes to other people, but also reevaluate yourself and leave you wanting to open up to others as well.

Marlene from Trains, Planes, and Books

I had wanted to try Couchsurfing for a while when the opportunity arose during my first visit to Mexico in 2014.

In Aguascalientes, my hosts had just waved another Couchsurfer goodbye, but were intrigued when my request mentioned my hometown was Freiburg (Germany). It turned out they actually were planning to visit the city during their upcoming three-month-trip through Europe. Although I stayed for just one night, we got along so well that we decided to meet again. A few months later, we reunited in Freiburg, where we talked about everything and anything in a beer garden downtown until late at night.

When I moved to a small island in Scotland later that year, I found myself in an apartment with two spare rooms (sickkk *eyeglasses emoji*). To give back to the community, also to battle my increasing loneliness, I decided to become a Couchsurfing Host myself! I hosted many interesting people, but the most memorable of them I met through another Couchsurfer on Shetland: Two travelers from Canada interested in visiting my island. They ended up staying for an entire week filled with shenanigans including sightseeing, hill-rolling, and whiskey.

I planned my first major solo trip, a literary tour of North America, around seeing all of them again. In April 2017, I flew to Vancouver, where one of my friends not only hosted me and another friend, but also guided us on adventures to other parts of the area. Due to time restrictions, I couldn’t stay long, but my friends gave me tons of recommendations and asked their friends in other cities to host me too. I’m already looking forward to meeting them again, maybe to explore another part of the world together!

Couchsurfing Review: Couchsurfing introduces you to amazingly warm people all across the world who you end up building lifelong connections with!

Bren from Bren on the Road

During my trip to Norway, I Couchsurfed with a girl in the town of Alta. I had been sleeping my car for that last few nights while chasing the Northern Lights all over the northern coast, and was so happy to finally have a bed and a shower!

My host, Isabel, offered so much more than that. Along with home-cooked dinners and a daily sauna, there was one night where she introduced me to the art of dumpster diving.

Yes. Dumpster Diving.

But in Norway, it’s a whole new experience. We headed out to each of Alta’s major supermarkets, where I watched her jump into the dumpsters like a professional secret agent and feel out the garbage bags for wasted food. That night we got a few loaves of bread, all brand new and still wrapped, a dozen apples that were all close to perfect, a few cauliflowers, a whole bag of fresh fruit and vegetables, stacks of gourmet chocolate and yogurt, all for free.

We spent the next afternoon using the apples to make apple cake and the cauliflowers to make cauliflower soup (or rather, she did while I sat around and watched). It was such a fitting experience to close my Norway chapter – perhaps even more memorable than the Northern Lights themselves.

Couchsurfing Review: Couchsurfing gives you opportunities to do things that you never would have in your home country! AND you get to do it with a new friend!

Amalia from Amellie dot Net

One of my most memorable Couchsurfing experiences was in Istanbul (Turkey). I was still a student back then, so I often had to travel on a tight budget with no emergency money available. Unfortunately, my solo travel to Istanbul did not begin as I had hoped.

My backpack, which travelled with me for the past 2 weeks, did not arrive with me in Istanbul. I had nothing with me other than my toiletries, and I was very worried as I only had few hundred Euros left, which I planned to spend in Jerusalem. Fortunately, I was hosted by a very friendly young lady named Halime.

She and her two sisters made my visit so memorable and enjoyable. They lent me a few clothes so that I could wash the only pair of clothes that I had. They really made sure I was well-fed and had a great time in Istanbul. We celebrated the New Year together by playing puzzles, drinking lots of tea, and singing Turkish songs. They were my angels that were brought to me during my difficult time! 

Well, the story did not end there. Actually, it got even better.

One of the other Couchsurfers that I contacted, Asli, sent me a message and invited me over for dinner at her house in Istanbul. Her mom cooked delicious Turkish foods. I got to meet her whole family, including her grandfather, and we had a great time talking and learning about each other’s cultures. Upon learning that I lost my backpack, her mom gave me a few shirts that were no longer worn by Asli, as well as some new undergarments. I was extremely grateful for their generosity! 

There are a few things I learned from this experience. The first thing is to always have an emergency fund and a travel insurance in case something happens to you whilst travelling. Of course, that is not always possible for everyone ALL the time, but it certainly helps! The second thing I learned was something I knew, but that Couchsurfing reaffirmed for me. Trust in the goodness and generosity of people.

Couchsurfing Review: Don’t take advantage of kind people, and don’t blindly trust EVERYONE, but there ARE strangers out there willing to help others when they see someone in a bind!

Kay from The Awkward Traveller

And of course, my own Couchsurfing review story. As a Black woman, I initially had a lot of concerns with Couchsurfing. I had experienced racism in Europe before, so understandably I was a bit hesitant to crash at some rando’s house for a few nights in a new city where I might not know the language. That, and well – I’m American. We don’t usually have sleepovers with strangers, at least back then haha.

Luckily for me, I only have great things to say for this Couchsurfing review.

My first Couchsurfing experience was in Lyon (France). A group of friends and I wanted to visit for the annual Fête des Lumières, and since we were all study abroad students, we were pretty strapped for cash and couldn’t afford a hotel. Our host was a young man, but we had our own bedroom and bathroom with extra toiletries (including a box of pads!).

Couchsurfing host tip: If you identify as male, you can definitely help your guests of different genders feel more comfortable with a little extra privacy.

Even though we were a bunch of -slightly loud- Americans, our host had the day off work and offered to show us around the city. We didn’t realize he meant a WALKING TOUR UP HUGE HILLS, but it was absolutely incredible. We ate at his favorite restaurants (which blew my MIND), grabbed coffee and tea from his favorite café while we waited for the sun to set and the lights to come on. THEN he showed us the best vantage points to see the lights with less crowds. It was the best experience we could have had!

Couchsurfing Review: Couchsurfing can definitely be out of your comfort zone, but the personal growth you gain from it is priceless.

Couchsurfing Review: Conclusion

Apologizes for this wild photo, it is my absolute favorite stock image of someone “couch surfing” ever.

Anyways, if you were on the fence about Couchsurfing, or maybe had no idea what to expect from Couchsurfing, I hope that at least one Couchsurfing review from above helped clear up some things! I also have a blog post on Couchsurfing Etiquette for all new guests! I also also have a post featuring other great (and FREE!) lodging options if you want to stay with locals!

I also also ALSO want to thank all of the travel bloggers for their amazing and well-thought out Couchsurfing review snippets! They all had such varied situations, but shared the experience of host warmth and welcome. Check out these bloggers on their own site to read more of their adventures!

Have you ever tried Couchsurfing? Leave your own Couchsurfing review in the comments below!

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