How to Avoid a Wipe Out When Couch Surfing
November 14, 2009 | Alicia Ostarello
Ready, set, surf!
College students are notoriously under-funded, yet we tend to have an incredible amount of wanderlust on the weekends. We’re full of the desire to travel to new cities, see new roads, and take on some new life experiences. Unfortunately, traveling costs rack up faster than points in a basketball game, and accommodations tend to be one of the biggest expenditures. Well, I’m happy to report that with a little bit of ingenuity and an ability to be flexible, you can take to the open road without having to wallow in the bowels of an empty wallet. The answer to your monetary strain, college friends: couch-surfing.
Almost as fun as the visual that comes to mind if you imagine the literal interpretation of surfing on a couch, couch-surfing is the low-cost younger brother of staying in a hostel in which you stay on the couch of friends and friends-of-friends when you travel to places you want to go. Good friends will let you stay for free, and friends-of-friends who it puts a strain on might ask for some form of compensation–in any event, it’s cheaper than a hotel, a hostel, or a campsite.
Recently, I traveled from Southern California to Northern California for a wedding. After the cost of traversing the length of the state, buying a wedding gift, buying a nice dress to wear, and figuring in the cost of food, I realized that trying to stay in a hotel was going to be out of my means. Luckily, thanks to sending a mass email via Facebook, I found a very generous friend in town that offered to house me for the weekend. The experience was great, though I did learn a few things about lightly burdening a friend for a night or two, so without further ado, here’s a quick guide to couch-surfing etiquette so you too can surf the seven seas of couches!
1. Turn out the lights.
I’m not suggesting you set mood lighting, friends; rather, think about the cost of living expenses like electricity and water, and what that might cost your friend at the end of the month. Be environmentally friendly and lower your impact on your gracious host by turning out lights, keeping the faucet off while you sparkle up your smile with toothpaste, and minimizing shower time.
2. Don’t be a Time-Hog
If you attended Hogwarts School of Time-Hoggery, take heed: no one likes it when a guest makes them late for work, hitting up the farmer’s market or a blind date, so pay attention to when your host plans to use the shower or cook dinner. Communicate about your timelines and work your schedule around theirs so they aren’t stuck banging on the bathroom door while you sing “The 12 Days of Christmas,” or frustrating them by taking up space in the washing machine so they can’t clean their Sunday best.
3. Speaking of Timing…
The best way to know what someone else is thinking is to talk to them. Being in contact about what you plan to do during your stay and your host’s schedule is essential, so keep the lines of communication wide open and use them. Otherwise, you’ll end up locked out of the house for the evening, or worse you could lose a friend.
4. Appreciate!
That overly used cliche “actions speak louder than words,” applies here. Do not simply thank your friend using your vocal chords. Bring them a bottle of sparkling cider or wine, a magnet from your college town, or a token of your appreciation for letting you crash with them. And a tiny Post-it that says “Thanks!” on their favorite coffee mug is always a nice surprise, too.
5. Make your bed.
Whatever your sleeping arrangements are, make up the area that you have been given to sleep in. Deflate the air mattress, fold up the sheets, and wash your dishes.
6. Take only pictures…
… leave only footprints. Clean up after yourself, and don’t steal anything. ‘Nuff said.
If you’ve exhausted all your friends or want to travel outside your Facebook network, check out CouchSurfing.org and find people who host couch-surfers regularly. And that’s it! Other than that, have a great time venturing away from your college campus and into the life of somebody else!
