Bear in mind Couchsurfing? It was a web site that allowed you to stick with locals (free of charge) and at all times had a plethora of occasions and meetups you possibly can attend regardless of the place you have been on this planet. It was the most effective methods to satisfy locals and vacationers on the highway. It was one in all my favourite websites.
Just about everybody on the workforce right here used it loads through the years. My Director of Content material, for instance, was not solely an avid traveler who went on a number of multi-day journeys with strangers because of Couchsurfing, however he was additionally a bunch, and he was even featured in a calendar they made one yr!
I used it to remain in locations like Copenhagen, London, Oxford, Munich, Broome, Paris, Osaka, Athens, and so forth and so forth. I imply, I cherished it. I met individuals in cities like Lyon simply to hang around, did meet-ups in NYC, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and so many different locations.
However ever because the web site began charging round 2013, after which instituted a paywall in the course of the pandemic, fewer and fewer individuals have used it. Lately, it’s a shell of its former self.
Whereas researching the most recent version of my book on budget travel (popping out in March 2025!), I rejoined Couchsurfing to see how lively it was, and even within the largest metropolitan facilities, there have been barely a couple of dozen lively profiles throughout the earlier month. For instance, London confirmed 229,457 complete hosts however solely 896 lively hosts within the final six months — and solely 496 lively throughout the final month. That’s an enormous, large distinction!
It’s an actual disgrace as Couchsurfing actually modified the best way individuals traveled. It was as ubiquitous as Lonely Planet!
So, with Couchsurfing (and comparable web sites) fairly lifeless, the place does one go to satisfy individuals now?
Reply: Fb — which is actually the final place I might have thought, as a result of, nicely, it’s Fb, and most youthful vacationers don’t use it as a lot as TikTok or Instagram. In spite of everything, Fb additionally has a well-deserved status because the place your aunt posts memes or your loopy cousin rants about racist stuff.
However, each time I signal into Fb, I preserve seeing posts from all types of teams in my feed, with individuals searching for journey buddies: backpacking Europe, backpacking Australia, digital nomads in (insert vacation spot), discover a journey buddy…the checklist of teams goes on and on.
I used to be skeptical of them at first, as a result of after I took a deeper take a look at the posts, it at all times felt like they have been simply sleazy guys hitting on younger ladies and AI-generated woman accounts designed lure somebody. “Hello I’m Anna from US seeking to journey dm me” doesn’t strike me as one thing an precise individual would say.
Whereas female-only teams have been a official approach to meet individuals for a very long time (Girls Love Travel being probably the most well-known), the mixed-gender ones at all times felt a bit sketchy. However they stored popping up in my feed.
So I seemed into them extra fastidiously to see in the event that they actually have been spammy. Whereas there have been many faux profiles and creepy dudes (sorry, guys, however it’s the web, and there are tons of these), typically I did come throughout actual individuals who appeared typically concerned about assembly others, nonetheless few and much between they have been.
Are these teams actually a great way to satisfy individuals? There was just one approach to discover out.
I used the group Find a Travel Buddy whereas in Europe and posted a few of my tentative plans. I bought lots of of responses and direct messages, which was fairly overwhelming.
Lots of it was spam: individuals telling me to come back go to them in India (I’m posting about Europe), individuals sending me hellos, a couple of marriage proposals, and a few actually inappropriate feedback. (Aspect be aware: if I get these sorts of responses, I can solely think about what it’s like for ladies, who I usually see edit their posts to ask individuals to cease approaching to them. Fairly unhappy.)
However I waded via all of the junk and finally discovered actual individuals to satisfy up with. In the long run, I solely met a couple of of them, as both my plans shifted or theirs did. However the interactions I had have been actually nice.
I had an superior evening out in Freiburg, Germany, with a bunch of oldsters, and one other with an Italian woman and her pals in Amsterdam. Every time, they took me round to locations I wouldn’t have seen in any other case, and I bought to satisfy locals. It was a great way to make new pals and discover individuals to speak to.
Despite the fact that you must wade via quite a lot of rubbish, I feel these teams are nice, particularly in case you are touring alone. Whereas I don’t have the character to go on a multi-day journey with a stranger, I did love the power to satisfy individuals as I traveled.
When you’re wanting to make use of them, listed here are some ideas to attenuate (however not eradicate) the rubbish replies:
- Be particular about the place you’re going and when (in any other case, individuals will spam ya with “come go to X!”).
- Ask individuals who reply to be particular about themselves.
- Be clear about what you might be searching for (age, type of journey accomplice, gender, and so forth.)
My present favourite teams are:
From there, for security, I might extremely advocate wanting on the profiles of respondents to verify they’re actual and solely meet in public locations. Past that, have enjoyable! These teams may not be as straightforward to make use of as Couchsurfing was, however at the least there’s something lately that will help you meet locals and different vacationers. I’m now a believer in and fan of those teams and will certainly be utilizing them extra on future journeys.
E book Your Journey: Logistical Suggestions and Methods
E book Your Flight
Discover a low cost flight by utilizing Skyscanner. It’s my favourite search engine as a result of it searches web sites and airways across the globe so that you at all times know no stone is being left unturned.
E book Your Lodging
You may guide your hostel with Hostelworld. If you wish to keep someplace aside from a hostel, use Booking.com because it persistently returns the most affordable charges for guesthouses and resorts.
Don’t Neglect Journey Insurance coverage
Journey insurance coverage will shield you towards sickness, harm, theft, and cancellations. It’s complete safety in case something goes improper. I by no means go on a visit with out it as I’ve had to make use of it many occasions prior to now. My favourite firms that supply the most effective service and worth are:
Wish to Journey for Free?
Journey bank cards assist you to earn factors that may be redeemed free of charge flights and lodging — all with none further spending. Take a look at my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get began and see the most recent greatest offers.
Want Assist Discovering Actions for Your Journey?
Get Your Guide is a large on-line market the place you’ll find cool strolling excursions, enjoyable excursions, skip-the-line tickets, personal guides, and extra.
Able to E book Your Journey?
Take a look at my resource page for the most effective firms to make use of whenever you journey. I checklist all those I take advantage of after I journey. They’re the most effective in school and you may’t go improper utilizing them in your journey.