Bear in mind Couchsurfing? It was an internet site that allowed you to stick with locals (at no cost) and all the time had a plethora of occasions and meetups you possibly can attend irrespective of the place you had been on this planet. It was among the best methods to fulfill locals and vacationers on the highway. It was one in every of my favourite websites.
Just about everybody on the staff right here used it lots over time. 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 12 months!
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 liked it. I met folks 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 through the pandemic, fewer and fewer folks have used it. Today, it’s a shell of its former self.
Whereas researching the most recent version of my e-book on funds journey (popping out in March 2025!), I rejoined Couchsurfing to see how energetic it was, and even within the largest metropolitan facilities, there have been barely just a few dozen energetic profiles throughout the earlier month. For instance, London confirmed 229,457 complete hosts however solely 896 energetic hosts within the final six months — and solely 496 energetic throughout the final month. That’s a giant, large distinction!
It’s an actual disgrace as Couchsurfing actually modified the way in which folks traveled. It was as ubiquitous as Lonely Planet!
So, with Couchsurfing (and comparable web sites) fairly useless, the place does one go to fulfill folks now?
Reply: Fb — which is truthfully the final place I’d have thought, as a result of, properly, 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 popularity because the place your aunt posts memes or your loopy cousin rants about racist stuff.
However, at any time when I signal into Fb, I maintain seeing posts from all types of teams in my feed, with folks in search of 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 once I took a deeper take a look at the posts, it all the time felt like they had been simply sleazy guys hitting on younger ladies and AI-generated lady accounts designed entice 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 legit strategy to meet folks for a very long time (Ladies Love Journey being one of the crucial well-known), the mixed-gender ones all the time felt slightly sketchy. However they saved popping up in my feed.
So I regarded into them extra fastidiously to see in the event that they actually had been spammy. Whereas there have been many pretend profiles and creepy dudes (sorry, guys, however it’s the web, and there are tons of these), generally I did come throughout actual individuals who appeared usually concerned about assembly others, nevertheless few and much between they had been.
Are these teams actually a great way to fulfill folks? There was just one strategy to discover out.
I used the group Discover a Journey Buddy whereas in Europe and posted a few of my tentative plans. I received a whole lot of responses and direct messages, which was fairly overwhelming.
Quite a lot of it was spam: folks telling me to come back go to them in India (I’m posting about Europe), folks sending me hellos, just a few marriage proposals, and a few actually inappropriate feedback. (Facet notice: if I get these sorts of responses, I can solely think about what it’s like for girls, who I typically see edit their posts to ask folks to cease approaching to them. Fairly unhappy.)
However I waded by means of all of the junk and finally discovered actual folks to fulfill up with. Ultimately, I solely met just a few of them, as both my plans shifted or theirs did. However the interactions I had had been actually nice.
I had an superior evening out in Freiburg, Germany, with a bunch of oldsters, and one other with an Italian lady and her buddies in Amsterdam. Every time, they took me round to locations I wouldn’t have seen in any other case, and I received to fulfill locals. It was a great way to make new buddies and discover folks to speak to.
Although you must wade by means of lots of rubbish, I believe these teams are nice, particularly if you’re touring alone. Whereas I don’t have the character to go on a multi-day journey with a stranger, I did love the flexibility to fulfill folks as I traveled.
If you happen to’re wanting to make use of them, listed here are some strategies to attenuate (however not get rid of) the rubbish replies:
- Be particular about the place you’re going and when (in any other case, folks will spam ya with “come go to X!”).
- Ask individuals who reply to be particular about themselves.
- Be clear about what you might be in search of (age, form of journey associate, gender, and many others.)
My present favourite teams are:
From there, for security, I’d extremely suggest wanting on the profiles of respondents to ensure they’re actual and solely meet in public locations. Past that, have enjoyable! These teams may not be as simple to make use of as Couchsurfing was, however at the least there’s something nowadays 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 Ideas and Methods
E book Your Flight
Discover a low cost flight through the use of Skyscanner. It’s my favourite search engine as a result of it searches web sites and airways across the globe so that you all the time know no stone is being left unturned.
E book Your Lodging
You’ll be able to e-book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you wish to keep someplace aside from a hostel, use Reserving.com because it persistently returns the most affordable charges for guesthouses and resorts.
Don’t Overlook Journey Insurance coverage
Journey insurance coverage will defend you towards sickness, harm, theft, and cancellations. It’s complete safety in case something goes fallacious. I by no means go on a visit with out it as I’ve had to make use of it many instances up to now. My favourite corporations that supply the most effective service and worth are:
Need to Journey for Free?
Journey bank cards assist you to earn factors that may be redeemed at no cost flights and lodging — all with none further spending. Take a look at my information to selecting the correct card and my present favorites to get began and see the most recent greatest offers.
Want Assist Discovering Actions for Your Journey?
Get Your Information is a large on-line market the place yow will discover cool strolling excursions, enjoyable excursions, skip-the-line tickets, personal guides, and extra.
Able to E book Your Journey?
Take a look at my useful resource web page for the most effective corporations to make use of once you journey. I checklist all those I exploit once I journey. They’re the most effective in school and you may’t go fallacious utilizing them in your journey.