Writing a good request is one of the most important parts of couch surfing. Not sure where to start or what to include?

Worry not! In this guide, we'll explain some of the main aspects of writing a great request that has a high chance of getting accepted.

Summary

Here is a short list of the most important points to hit. We'll dive into each one separately later in the article:

1. Fill out your profile.

2. Choose a host carefully. Find someone who looks active and willing to host, and make sure they have a high response rate.

3. Read the host's profile. Look for common interest points, and mention in your request why you want to surf with them specifically.

4. Tell the host about yourself.

5. Make your plans clear. Why and when are you visiting the host's city? What brings you there?

6. Don't give up! Finding a great host can be hard, so keep trying!

Fill out your profile

The single most important thing you can do to increase your request acceptance rate is to have a filled out, engaging profile.

Write something about yourself, and try to think about what would pique a host's interest. What interests and stories do you have that you could share with a potential host? (Or a potential surfer down the line!)

Add a photo, one that ideally shows your face. It doesn't have to be a "passport-style" photo, but people feel more comfortable meeting someone if they know what the person's face looks like.

Complete Strong Verification: most hosts prefer to host verified users, since they know that the person has gone through a ID verfication process. Read more about it here.

Choose a host carefully

Look for a potential host who looks active and interested in hosting. Find someone with a filled out profile that you find interesting! Check their response rate to get an idea of whether they will respond to your request and how long you might have to wait for a response.

Read the host's profile

Carefully read the host's profile -- with an eye for things you have in common. Look for common interests, experiences, or values, and include references to them in your request.

Look for hosts that you think you'd get along well with and who would enjoy hosting you. Mention in your request why you want to surf with them specifically. Make it clear in your request that you've put some effort into thinking about what would connect you to the host.

Most of us couch surf in order to see a local's point of view, let the host know why they are the local you'd like to meet.

Many people love hosting engaged guests who come ready with some good conversation topics and interesting stories or ideas to share. But some people also prefer to host more independent guests or guests that keep to themselves. Try to find out what your host prefers in advance. Everyone is different!

Make sure you read the host's home section carefully in case there is any other information you should know or take into account.

Tell the host about yourself

Tell the host a little about yourself. What kind of person are you, what are you interested in? What's your travel style and what are you hoping to get out of the trip? Don't repeat what is already in your profile, but include any pieces of information that are relevant in the context of your request.

Think about your shared interests, and try to write something engaging that catches the host's attention. Some hosts in big cities who get lots of requests even require that requests include a reference to something in their profile so they know you read their profile!

Make your plans clear

Explain to the host why you are visiting their city and when you will be there. Give them some context on your travels. If your plans are flexible (or non-existent!), let the host know so they can plan appropriately and perhaps even share some ideas with you.

What are you like as a guest, and what are you looking for? Do you want to hang out with the host or do you have so many things that you want to do, that you'll only have a bit of time in the evenings to chat? Be honest. Hosts have different preferences, and it's up to them to decide if they'd like to host you or not!

Don't give up!

Finding a good host can be a tough endeavor. It can take time! But like many things in life, you just have to keep trying until it works out. Sometimes there aren't that many hosts in an area, so you might not have any luck on one trip. But come back on your next trip and try again!

Example host requests

Here's an example host request (lightly edited) that I sent to another member:

Hi [name]!

I'm coming to Melbourne for a few days and was wondering if you would be able to host me for two nights while I'm there?

I live in New York these days, and I'm visiting Australia — where I grew up — for a few weeks. Mostly Brisbane where my family lives but also coming down to Melbourne in about a week since I lived there for two years doing my masters.

I don't really have any big plans while I'm in Melbourne so if you'd like to do something together, that'd be great! That being said I want to catch up with a handful of friends, see old nostalgic places, and eat some good food while I'm there, so I can also entertain myself. I'm a relatively introverted, pretty chill person, and as a guest I try to be very respectful and clean.

I read your profile and thought you seemed like great people and thought we'd have some shared experiences with connections to the States and so on!

Let me know if you're able to host :)

Best,

Aapeli

The member had lived in the US, and I made a reference to that. The request could probably be a little less centered on the surfer and concentrate more on the host. Nonetheless, the host accepted this request and I ended up having a lot of fun hanging out with them!

Remember to be genuine in your requests and from the host's perspective.

Closing thoughts

I hope this guide has been helpful for you, and that you have learned something useful from it. Couch surfing can be an incredibly positive and life-changing experience, and it all starts from a request!

Another good reference is our blog post on writing a good host request.