Is Couchsurfing A Dangerous Way To Budget Travel?

Cost is one of the major limiting factors when it comes to travel. During the spring of 2024, a Bankrate survey found that 65% of Americans who weren't planning to travel over the summer claimed the reason was because they couldn't afford it. Around 36% of people who were planning to travel stated that they were going to go into debt in order to afford their trips. With the rising cost of living and inflation, it's no surprise that people are looking for ways to cut costs without sacrificing their love for travel. If you're looking to save money while seeing the world, you may have considered couchsurfing stays as an option.

Couchsurfing has actually been around for awhile, and it's been a popular option for ultra low budget travelers around the world. While people have been crashing on their friends' couches for decades, the online Couchsurfing website was started in 2004. Since then, it has grown into a community of 14 million people in more than 200,000 cities. Couchsurfing.com connects travelers with hosts around the world, who open their homes for travelers to stay in for free. You'll select a host from the website, apply to stay with them, and then show up at a stranger's doorstep for free accommodations. According to the couchsurfing website, strangers are just friends you haven't met yet. 

Many who have tried couchsurfing claim that it's a fun way to meet new people while traveling. Many lifelong friendships have been forged via the platform, and it's a great way to see the world without breaking the bank — but the experience isn't without risks. If you're considering couchsurfing, it's important that you plan carefully and take every possible precaution to ensure your experience is safe and fun. 

Whether you stay in a five-star hotel or a more budget-friendly accommodation it's possible to find yourself in a dangerous situation, but some options may be riskier than others. When you couchsurf, you are sharing a space with someone you've never met. Couchsurfing.com does not require background checks, nor do they formally interview potential hosts.Using common sense and good judgement is crucial. According to Couchsurfing.com, "the vast majority of Couchsurfing experiences are not only safe, but outright life changing," but that certainly isn't the case for everyone who uses the platform. In a post on Reddit, user Euphoric-Fold8003 wrote, "I couchsurfed in Europe and while I had some good experiences, 9/10 guys tried to hook up with me." Their story is certainly not unique, and if you scroll through Reddit forums on the topic of couchsurfing you'll find countless horror stories of sexual harassment and assault.

"I'm a woman and had to deal with a man traveling outside of his home country for the first time being under the impression, thanks to our (American) media, that American women have zero standards and a large amount of lust, and making missteps when operating under that assumption,"  wrote a Couchsurfing host and Reddit user theinfamousj. Redditor u/jennifer19932 wrote, "I tried couchsurfing and my experiences weren't good. It's definitely not the safest option for a solo female traveller. I stayed with 2 hosts and both tried to hit on me and kiss me. I do not recommend to anyone using couchsurfing!" 

Unfortunately, these are some of the more mild examples of the dangerous situations described by people who have tried couchsurfing. Men, women, non-binary people, and even couples have described similar instances of sexual assault while using the platform.

Since anyone is able to create an account on couchsurfing and welcome travelers into their homes, you'll need to thoroughly vet your hosts on your own to ensure your safety. You will need to thoroughly read the reviews left by other users before making plans to stay with someone. If a host doesn't have any references, you may want to avoid staying with them. Couchsurfers.com does not remove hosts with negative references. According to the website, "a behavior that one person finds offensive may not bother others, which is why we believe our role is not to make judgments in the case of disputes but rather to encourage both parties to share information openly with the community."

"Couchsurfing is a self-moderating community, and we believe that each member of our community has the ability and the responsibility to make decisions about who they would like to meet," the website states. One of the most important ways to stay safe while couchsurfing is to ensure that you have the necessary funds to remove yourself from a host's home if you need to. Couchsurfing is a great way to cut travel costs, but it should never be a last resort. Always have a back up plan and enough money set aside to pay for transportation and lodging if you need to make a quick exit.

Always let friends and family know where you are. It's a good idea to share your location and information about your host with someone back home. Scheduling regular check-ins with someone you trust is a good idea. Most importantly, trust your gut. If you feel uncomfortable at any time exit the situation, and if you feel that you are in immediate danger, contact law enforcement immediately.