It used to be fun to hitchhike to a city the size of Galway or larger and notice that it happened to be Wednesday (or whatever) and the weekly meetup would be at X bar that night, great to drop in a half dozen or more locals and travelers for fun and conversation.

What cities are having regular weekly or monthly meetups these days? I'd love it if these Couchsurfing meetups could be reposted/merged with events on Couchers, BeWelcome, Trip Hopping, Trustroots, etc. It would be a great way to spread the word and unify the travel community, especially for those not dealing with the paywall.

Here many people are proud to support CS but they have a discriminatory policy where some countries have to pay and others don't. In addition you ask for to be verified, because you need a place and they charge you other money without knowingly agree to. This platform has lost its soul.

It does everything for profit, the competitors are fewer participants but they have a better philosophy.

I’m a EU and Norwegian citizen, so I’m sure I’m protected from this unlawful scam. However, I’ve already seen some others in here who have succeeded in getting their money back, while others have failed. I’ve written them three emails so far, with the most recent one being sent over a week ago now. What should I do next?

--- EMAIL LETTER: FORMAL DEMAND FOR REFUND OF VERIFICATION CHARGE ---

Dear Couchsurfing Management,

I am writing to formally demand an immediate refund of 690 NOK charged to my account for verification services. This charge was processed without proper disclosure of costs and in direct violation of European Union consumer protection laws.

LEGAL BASIS FOR REFUND

1. Violation of Directive 2011/83/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011, which guarantees:

* A 14-day "cooling off period" for digital services

* The right to cancel and receive a full refund within this period

* This right exists regardless of your company's internal policies

2. Deceptive Marketing Practices:

* Your verification process deliberately obscures the associated costs

* The price (690 NOK) is displayed in light grey, small print, making it easily overlooked

* The verification process misleadingly suggests it is primarily for trust-building purposes, similar to other social networking platforms that provide verification free of charge

* Your website states "Get Verified to get Hosted," implying verification is a requirement for using core services

* Claims of "24/7 support" are presented as an exclusive verification benefit without evidence of such exclusivity

3. Dark Pattern Design:

* The user interface is designed to minimize price visibility while emphasizing trust and safety aspects

* The verification process closely mimics free identity verification systems used by other platforms

* Marketing materials emphasize "MORE TRUSTED" status without clearly distinguishing between paid and unpaid features

4. Pattern of Systematic Issues:

* There is growing documentation of similar complaints across multiple jurisdictions

* Multiple users have reported successful refunds after citing EU consumer protection laws

* A collective lawsuit initiative is currently being organized by affected users across Europe

* Your company has shown a pattern of initially refusing refunds until legal action is threatened

DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE

I have documented screenshots of the verification process showing:

* The misleading "Get Verified to get Hosted" message

* The inadequately disclosed pricing

* Marketing materials suggesting verification is primarily for trust purposes

* Claims about verification making it "2x easier to find a host" without substantiation

FORMAL DEMAND

I hereby demand:

1. Immediate refund of 690 NOK
2. Written confirmation of the refund processing
3. Acknowledgment of receipt of this demand letter

NOTICE OF ESCALATION

If I do not receive a satisfactory response within 5 business days, I will:

1. Pursue legal action through appropriate EU consumer protection channels
2. File formal complaints with relevant consumer protection authorities
3. Join the existing collective legal action being organized by affected users
4. Seek recovery of all legal costs and associated expenses

Your automated responses citing your Terms of Use are insufficient, as they do not override EU consumer protection laws. Multiple precedents exist of successful refund claims under similar circumstances, as documented in public forums and legal proceedings.

Be advised that this issue is now part of a larger investigation into systematic violations of EU consumer protection laws, with growing documentation of similar cases across multiple jurisdictions. Your prompt attention to this matter may help avoid unnecessary legal escalation.

This matter requires your immediate attention and resolution. A prompt refund will avoid unnecessary escalation and additional costs.

Regards,

[Name]

---

Their response is just this (probably automated):

Hello [Name],

We looked into your request more closely. Unfortunately, per our Terms of Use to which you agreed when creating your account, and each time you access and use the application, we are still unable to process your refund request.

All goods are digital and immediately available and consumable. Further, Couchsurfing incurs significant costs when providing some or all of the digital goods purchased. You can read more about our policy in this FAQ article.

We hope that you consider remaining a member of the Couchsurfing community. Your participation enables people around the world to experience the joy of travel & authentic human connection.

Best,

--

Bryan

Couchsurfing Support Team

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So I'm new to this sub. Read about n stuff. I assumed yall use the couch surfing app but it says i have to pay to use it. Is this a scam, do yall use another app or something?

I lost my account with 160 positive reviews because she felt uncomfortable at her first experience in CS. IT'S CS'S FAULT as they don't do any check on the reports they receive.

Four month ago I receive a report because I made a compliment, two girl reported me and they deleted my account. What to do ? Change platform and do not accept requests from girls too young.

I was banned on CS for asking a girl to go on a date? Is there any way I can get back? 😅

She was so cute. But I lost my account with 150 positive reviews. Is there anything I could do about it?

Also why is this such a big crime? If some pushed her, and said something bad, I understand I deserve this. But just politely asking for a date, without anything sexual?

But then I see guys offering massages to guys, hosts being naked and inviting me to stay with them. How is this acceptable? 😅

I have a great opportunity to fly anywhere within the states. Is the couchsurfing app legit? Should I just post in the City I want to visit? Is there any other way to do this? Just starting to ask the questions so I can start planning. Anything will help...thanks

I'm new to hosting on Couchsurfing and I keep reading about how it's a bad look as a man to only have references from women on your profile, but so far I seem to be receiving requests mostly only from women.

So far I've received 6 requests from women, 3 of those I hosted, for 2 of them I wasn't in the city, 1 had a zero effort message from a zero effort profile so I declined.

2 requests from couples, both sent from the woman's profile, one of them I hosted, the other one had change of travel plans and cancelled a few days before.

3 requests from men, one seemed really cool, but I wasn't in the city, one had zero effort profile and message, one had a really creepy profile and a suggestive message, so all of them fell through.

Because of that all 4 of my references so far are from women's profiles and I'm starting to wonder how many is too much until it becomes a bad sign, and what's happening with 70% of the requests coming from women's profiles, is that normal?

As the title says... How someone can do that? I ask this because, some time ago I was victim of a user that scammed me and other crap, and yes even her actions are proper from a criminal. This person even managed to make CS to erase my account. But checking I found another (recent) negative reference about this person. But suddenly the reference was erased. How is that possible? Greetings.

As you're probably aware, a majority of US voters ignorantly decided to elect a fascist on Nov. 5. While we cannot change that decision short of a civil war, I would encourage all members of the Couchsurfing community to not have any empathy for Trump voters and — without exaggeration or irony — their role encouraging the death of civil society in the US.

Couchsurfing's own mission statement values states that "tolerance, respect and appreciation for differences are embodied in kindness." Trump voters proved on Nov. 5 that they are incapable of expressing any of these things and in fact represent a threat to anyone who takes them into their home or is physically around them.

https://about.couchsurfing.com/about/values/

I'm aware that it's highly unlikely that any Trump supporters would dare even leave the country, as they've been brainwashed to believe that liberal cities and other nations offer only death and suffering. However, in the unlikely chance you encounter one complaining about how no one speaks English in Japan or trying to lie to you in Europe about how he is not a monster, please steer clear, both for your safety and to make them aware they're not welcome anywhere ever again.

Hi everyone,

I recently found myself caught up in Couchsurfing’s shady “verification fee” scheme. Without proper consent, they charged me €56 for a so-called “lifetime verification” that I didn’t knowingly agree to. When I contacted them for a refund, they refused, citing their Terms of Use and stating that this fee is non-refundable.

After digging online, I discovered countless others who have fallen victim to this same practice. Many users have called this out as fraudulent, and some have even managed to secure refunds by escalating their complaints, particularly under EU consumer protection laws.

One case on Reddit described success in getting a refund after persistent messaging and leveraging European legislation. It gives me hope, but I can’t believe this is happening to so many of us.

For anyone in a similar situation: 1. Don’t give up. Keep messaging their support team, and cite relevant consumer protection laws (especially if you’re in the EU). 2. Spread awareness. Share your experience on platforms like Reddit or Trustpilot. 3. Report them. In the UK, report this to Trading Standards or equivalent authorities in your region.

I’m posting this to warn others and gather advice from anyone who’s successfully navigated this situation. If you’ve been scammed by Couchsurfing or have tips for getting a refund, please share them below. Let’s hold them accountable and make sure others don’t fall victim to this.

Stay safe, and thank you for your support!

What do you normally ask hosts after they accepted your requests (besides thank you)? Would it be something along the line of asking for their addresses and when we could come? Sorry if this question sounds stupid, but please help me out!

Hiya! I'm new to the concept of couch surfing however I am optimistic. It seems like a really fun way of meeting people! Recently I have been looking into this concept. And I would really like to find a place to crash at in the San gabriel Valley in socal. I like the area and exploring it so far 😊 Can anyone give me any recommendations? ID also be willing to help with some household chores if needed. Or where I could post ?

I created an account a long time ago using my Facebook. When the system moved to paid subscriptions, I joined and am still paying monthly. Recently, I deleted my Facebook and can no longer access it, so I also can't use it to login to CS. It seems like there's no way for me to login to CS now. When I try to use my email address associated with my Facebook, which I'm still receiving CS notifications on, it creates a new account instead of logging into my normal one.

Anyone else have this issue and have recommendations?

So I have been inactive for a while in the app. Today I've decided i will start hosting again and what I've noticed is it's extremely slow. Does not happening to you as well ?

Noticed that many people including me face this scam scheme of $56 payment verification. While I fighting with their support for refund and they’re keeping sending me script messages about their terms of use, I thought about other ways to raise awareness of the issue.

I suggest to start a petition and send it to MasterCard and Visa requesting to take measures over payments made on the platform.

Maybe you have other ideas? I’d happy to join your initiatives

Has anyone else experienced this?

This was my second time staying with a host, but the first time we shared the same bed. I found it strange that he held my hand and hugged me while sleeping. The second night, he hugged me again. I pretended to be asleep, thinking it might be a cultural thing or that he’s just a sweet guy.

I didn’t want to hurt his feelings by telling him not to hug me, so I said I was ticklish because his face was on my shoulder, and I could hear him snoring and feel his breath.

I booked two nights because he had over 500 positive references, and he seemed kind and nice. However, I felt weird about the hugging since I don’t even hug close friends while sleeping. By the way, I’m a man too.

Lesson learned: I’ll look for a private room next time. It feels like couchsurfing is turning into a dating app.

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I felt I got request was made by ChatGPT. (I didn't post actual request.)

I have a 75 100% positive references. may be looks nice host in my city.

He actually mentioned all my detail(location.music.all the references) from my profle.

so obvious. Ai.

I declined. and asked to him. and he was honest.

I have a many question. now.

hmm.

I hope he didn't do this to 2,000 hosts. ????

(He did spamming but in the end He was honest -_-?)

opinion?

Hello, I have a friend here in Santiago that was a host a number of years ago few times and he told me about his experiences so I checked out this sub but I do have a question as I see conflicting answers about it: do I have to get an account paying a fee? I am fluent in English and I had my fair share of traveling myself so I’d like to be a host but I am not exactly sure how it would be for me to attempt to become one, any guidance would be appreciated.

It will be my first time to do solo travel in UK and was told to try couchsurfing. I tried the app and im not getting any response. Any tips? Do i really need to pay for the app?

Recently came back from a trip and met someone through Couchsurfing. He was super nice and spent two days showing me around his city. I wrote a very nice reference for him but he didn’t reply to it or write me one back, which is fine. But then he messaged me on instagram and acknowledged it and was like “thank you for the reference it was so sweet” I mean it’s fine, maybe he didn’t want to recommend me for whatever reason. We spent two full days together so if I feel like he felt negative he should just say it?

Then it had me thinking, I met another guy and he wrote me a reference. I felt my time with him was pretty neutral. He only met me for a few hours to walk around a museum together and tbh I didn’t get a read on him to write him a reference. He wrote me one saying I am respectful and have a nice personality and then was like “thanks in advance for writing me one” and I’m undecided if I want to. So maybe it’s not always necessary to write someone a reference back?

When do you not write references?

I just downloaded the app and love the concept. I have never used it. I know the main purpose is to find a host/host travellers and establish a genuine human connection and friendships and sharing time with locals. However, does it work also to find a travel companion who would be happy to join you on your trip? For example, you go to Mexico City and after you visit it you wish to do a roadtrip to Guadalajara. Does the app work to meet someone nice in Mexico City or any place between Mexico City and Guadalajara for the purpose of sharing the road trip together?

Hey guys this is an update to the DANGEROUS HOST post I made here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/couchsurfing/comments/1ghdrcv/dangerous_host/

I've got to give credit where credit is due. I know that Couchsurfing (CS) Support staff gets a bad wrap on this sub, but they really came through. On 11/3, four days after I messaged them and left a review for Miguel, the CS Support team deactivated his account. He can still make an account under an alias but he won't be able to get the green check mark for ID verification. This will make it a little more challenging for him in the future. I plan to cruise CS hosts in his home town in the next month to see if he's created an alias profile so I can report him again. I know he's planning a trip to Asia so he'll probably try to make another one.

After this experience I realized a few things that I'd like to share with y'all for staying safe while surfing. As always I love the feedback/comments so if you have stuff to add let me know!

1. Read reviews but ultimately go with your gut:
   1. Being a guy I never felt the need to read reviews for safety. I have a shotgun approach and usually message 20-30 people when entering a new town in the hopes that someone will respond. Now I am reading reviews but I'm not sure that would have helped me in this case. I have heard from other women that reviews with phrases like "I felt safe with this host" are considered green flags.
   2. I did get a bad vibe from Miguel early on in our texting. He was getting upset with me that I couldn't find his house without him supplying me with a Google Map pin. I ignored my gut in this case and look where it got me!
2. Create a layer of seperation between you and your host:
   1. Don't list your full name on CS. Also change your profile URL which might contain your last name. You can change that here: https://www.couchsurfing.com/preferences/account
   2. I usually always give out my Whatsapp # after a host accepts me. If you are in a foreign country and picked up a new sim card, you can use that new number to create another Whatsapp number on the "Whatsapp Business" app. Its super easy to look someone up by their number if you pay for the right online service so this prevents that. And if you become friends with your host you can always give them your real Whatsapp later on.
3. Have an exit plan:
   1. The moment I decided to leave in my story I wasn't prepared. My bicycle was busted and I had 6 different bicycle bags that I had to bring down from a 4 story apartment building. What I could have done better was I could have fixed my bike the day I got there and had my bags always packed and ready to go at a moments notice. I could have also left my bicyble locked up downstairs in the aparment complex.
   2. Know your backup accomodation and have it saved to your Whatsapp. In my case I had texted myself a Google Map pin to the nearest hostel so when I got out the door, and hopped on the bike, I was able to ride there immediately.
4. If you do have to leave a dangerous situation:
   1. In my story I decided to stick around and not abandon all of my gear but thats because I still was in control and was able to deflect Miguel's advances. If you feel that you've lost control of a situation don't worry about your stuff just leave and do the following:
      1. Make it to your backup accomodation.
      2. Once you are safe, block this person on CS and Whatsapp. In my case I wanted to give Miguel the benefit of the doubt becuase we had two fantastic days together, but the more I thought about it the more I realized that he broke trust and didn't deserve to speak with me anymore. Don't let past history with a host cloud your judgement. If they did anything to break trust its time to block them completely. This also elimates the possibility of them convincing you otherwise. Trust me, this is for the best.
      3. Once you are safe then contact the authorities and see if they can get your stuff for you and create a police report if necessary. If you are at a hostel/hotel the staff can help you communicate with the police and be your ally.
      4. You might still be reeling from the experience so when you can think cleary, send an email to safety@couchsurfing.com. Tell them exactly what happened and say that this host is not fit to host people and must be removed from CS immediately. CS Support staff might take a little bit to respond but they will.
      5. Leave a review for the host and click the button that you would NOT stay with them again. This will give you the option to send a private message to CS Support before you are prompted to leave a review for the host. This way CS Support is getting two messages from you and will likely respond quicker. Additionally your review will alert other surfers until the host's account is deactivated.
5. Move on and have fun in the city you are in:
   1. Dont beat yourself up. You did your best with the information you had, and your efforts are contributing to a safer CS community. Remember, the vast majority of the CS community are composed of wonderful people who value cultural exchange and creating safe spaces for travelers. It’s about building trust and fostering positive experiences, not breaking it or causing harm. So put this experience behind you and enjoy your travels. What helped me get over the experience faster was by writing about it and sharing the experience with friends/family. Also, getting the fuckers account destroyed that he spent three years building felt awesome.

If you have any additional tips or insights, please share them in the comments! I suspect this issue affects female surfers most, so I'd especially love to hear from women. I've been a host for over a decade, and I want to make my profile as welcoming and safe as possible for women staying with me and my partner. What phrases or profile details do you look for that help convey a safe, trustworthy environment in a CS host?

I am a 22 male former college student in need of a place to sleep at in Pittsburgh.

I can be out in the morning and work til night. No illegal or shady behavior. Straight up guy. I can offer 200 or 300 for 2 weeks or a month, until I get a place of my own or a paycheck.

Please hmu

I tried to create an account and after logging in it shows payment options with no way to go to other sections

Hey CS, how’s the Couchsurfing experience in Australia? Are hosts still accepting requests? Could anyone who’s surfed recently share their experience? I'll travel around December during the Holidays and hoping to find a host for few nights.

Hi Dear Couchsurfing community,

Recently, I have been receiving messages from people on Couchsurfing who ask questions about the people who have left reviews for me (or the ones I left reviews for them).

Once someone sent me a message that she is trying to organize a birthday for a person who I've once stayed with, and needed me to tell her about their personal life information and likings.

This immediately came to me as a social engineering attack and raised concerns in my head, so I immediately reported and blocked them.

I just wanted to share this with you to be cautious about similar messages asking for someone's information. Never give somone's information to just any random person.
Bad actors can use this information to guess someone's password, password hints, bank pins, or personal threats and blackmailing, and even more complicated hacks.

Safe travels and wishing you all the best

I 18 male living in germany want ti start hosting soon,any tips or advices and is there anything i should be carefull of?

Read this post first then check the update here: UPDATE: https://www.reddit.com/r/couchsurfing/comments/1gmltcx/update_dangerous_host/

Hey CS Community. I’m a straight male, in my mid-30s, and have been on CS for over a decade. I’ve hosted hundreds of people and recently have been surfing quite a bit in Latin America. This past week I had a dangerous experience with a gay, male host (also mid-30s) that you need to know about. This experience will likely result in the host leaving a negative review about me which you will soon understand why. As we all know, one negative review, true or not, can be a death sentence for a CS profile. I’ve spent the last decade building a fun and safe environment for surfers and I’m incredibly saddened that one bad actor can tarnish a reputation I spent over a decade building. I’ve written to CS Support but have concluded that they cannot take sides unless there is concrete evidence, which there is not. I want to convey the anguish and frustration I’m feeling, just so you understand—even if there’s no fair resolution. I realize my only option is to leave an honest review for my host, Miguel, and to respond thoughtfully to his review of me. I’m still reeling from the experience and by writing it down I’m hoping to get clarity. All comments and advice are welcome, especially anything that could help keep my CS profile in good standing. Here’s what went down:

My first two days with Miguel were fantastic. He was welcoming, energetic, and eager to show me around his hometown. I appreciated his playful, shit-talking banter—he reminded me of a friend from back home, so we hit it off right away. We talked about my girlfriend, so it was clear I was straight and not interested in men. During those first two days, I never felt uncomfortable or unsafe. We even started casually discussing plans for him to visit me in my hometown. This is what CS is all about!

On the third night, things took a turn. We went out downtown, bar-hopping, where I met several of his friends. We stayed out until the bars closed around 4 am. As we lingered outside, he struck up a conversation with three gay guys and invited them back to his place, which was fine with me—they were friendly, and I enjoyed practicing my Spanish with them. Back at his place, around 6 am, they all continued drinking, but I’d had enough and wanted to stop. That’s when Miguel’s demeanor shifted dramatically—a real Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde moment. His energy went from friendly to unsettling. He started pressuring me to keep drinking, insisting that I was being a "bad wingman" for stopping. I told him I was content without more alcohol, but each time I refused, he grew more hostile, transforming from a friend into something predatory. To add to the friction, his friends began to chime in, calling me a "downer" and saying I wasn’t any fun. When he realized he couldn’t pressure me into drinking, his tone changed. Like a caring mother he said, “Hey, Mike, you look tired. Why don’t you go sleep in my bed?” I declined, but he insisted, and his caring tone instantly reverted right back to one of agitation. He then demanded that I come into his room. At that moment it was crystal clear that Miguel could not be trusted and I had to get the fuck outta there. It wasn't physical yet but it felt like it could be in an instant and I would be out numbered.

I got up from the couch and headed to the sink to drink some water, hoping it would clear my head. I chugged glass after glass, his friends continued hurling insults as I began formulating my exit. Being on the fourth floor of an apartment, with my bicycle in need of repairs and all of my saddle bags, I knew an immediate escape wasn’t feasible. I kept deflecting Miguel’s advances until he finally gave up, heading to his room with one of the other guys. I seized the moment to step outside, circling the block to gather my thoughts.

Around 8 am, I found a coffee shop and stayed there for an hour to regroup. When I returned to the apartment, Miguel was still hostile. I made up my couch bed and kept repeating that I needed rest, though I wasn’t going to sleep. Eventually he left me alone and returned to his room. I stayed alert, listening as Miguel and one of the other guys got intimate in the adjacent room. Over the next hour, I planned my exit strategy. In Miguel’s current state of mind, he could not be reasoned with so I had no other choice but to leave in stealth to avoid any potential physical confrontation.

Once things quieted down, I decided I needed to repair my bike first. I began moving it outside to fix the flat tire and then buy the spare part I needed. Miguel heard me open the front door and ran out of his room asking what I was doing. I explained, and though he made a few snide comments, he didn’t stop me. I fixed the flat and got the spare part I needed. At 11 am I returned and locked my bike up out in front. I entered the apartment quietly, hoping everyone was asleep. Miguel’s door was closed so I quickly gathered my bags and ran out the door. I attached everything to my bike and left without looking back. Once I reached a hostel, I blocked him on WhatsApp and Couchsurfing.

Miguel broke trust and from that, there’s no going back. If you believe this story then you know that Miguel is not fit to host travelers or be on the platform. I’m a confident person and didn’t back down to his demands, but had it been a less experienced person, the situation would have been horrific. Miguel is a dangerous predator who should never be able to use CS again. I have submitted this report to CS Support in the hopes they can prevent him from using CS but I know that's likely not possible since it's so easy to create an account under another name. More or less this will be my review for Miguel as long as there aren’t character restrictions on CS. I’ve got another week before I need to leave a review for Miguel so if you have any suggestions on anything I should add/remove I’m all ears.

Hey I am a big fan of Couchsurfing and have been using it since I was backpacking in South America. I have recently moved to Galway. I just couldn’t find any travelers visiting Galway? It’s so dead!! I really enjoy meeting new people and listen to their travel stories especially when I am not able to do much for now due to my studies

Any advice?