Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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There should be reviews from other users. If other people have stayed with or have at least
traveled with the host and had a good experience, you and your stuff will probably be fine.
You might not get along with the host, but at least you know the person isn't a creep. The
more positive reviews, the better.
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Though not necessary, I do like it when people have gotten verified by Couchsurfing.
Knowing that a person has been verified reduces the likelihood that they are going to be a
crazy psycho killer. However, if someone hasn't gone through the verification process but
has a lot of positive reviews, that's OK with me.
After I've found a host, I send an email letting the host know information about me, why I think we
would have a good time together, and the dates I would be in the city. I also tell the host I'm a good cook
and in return will cook a meal. That wins a lot of people over. (Side note: I am actually a good cook!) When
I do this, I tend to email five to ten potential hosts to compensate for the fact that some people just might not
respond and others might be busy and say no.
You can also find a host at the last minute, but it's better to ask in advance so hosts have a chance to
plan for your arrival. Try to ask at least a week in advance of your arrival if not more. There are groups on
these websites for emergency situations if you need a couch last-minute, but unless it's a big city with a lot
of hosts, I've rarely found success with them.
All the rules above apply to all the hospitality sites, not just Couchsurfing.
No matter what, you need to use your own judgment when picking a host from a hospitality exchange.
You can talk with hosts over email to get a feel for them and their expectations. If it doesn't seem right, don't
do it! But once you use a hospitality exchange for the first time, you'll see that there was really nothing to
fear after all.
Farm Work
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (wwoof.org) or WWOOFing, is a service that matches people
looking for work on farms with farmers who are looking for labor. It's more a loose affiliation of like-
minded groups using the same name than one large international organization. In order to become a
WWOOFer, you will need to sign up for the national organization in the country you want. There is no in-
ternational WWOOF membership, so you'll have to buy a membership from each WWOOFing country's
organization. Annual membership usually costs around $30 USD per country.
There are currently ninety-nine countries that participate in the WWOOFing program worldwide. There
is no central database on the number of farms, as each country maintains its own list. By visiting the website
of the umbrella organization, you can get access to the national chapter you need.
You don't need any previous experience in farming to do this—just a desire to work. Bethany Salvon
from beersandbeans.com spent time WWOOFing in Serbia and Italy and says: “We did not have any ex-
perience on farms or as WWOOF volunteers before our first farm in Italy. Most WWOOFers we have met
have no experience at all—they are simply interested in learning more about organic farming and they have
a desire to help out local farmers.”
Moreover, you don't just get your hands dirty on the farm. You do a number of chores. As Nora Dunn of
theprofessionalhobo.com describes her experience, “Although the WWOOF acronym implies work on or-
ganic farms, the opportunities and responsibilities vary well beyond gardening at many places. Where I vo-
