I am three months into a West African journey of indefinite length, and I have been couchsurfing for the entire time. If you are unfamiliar with Couchsurfing, I recommend checking out some of Andi Perullo's earlier GoBackpacking.com articles here.
I have become something of a CS evangelist, and if you have done some amount of surfing or hosting, there's a good chance you've become one as well.
Today, I'm going to discuss CS groups specifically and explain why they are one of the most valuable aspects of the Couchsurfing website. Groups are essentially message boards based on a specific topic. They are a great place to meet people, ask questions, and find valuable information.
In this article, I will be highlighting some of the benefits of CS groups, using my own experience in Côte d'Ivoire as a case study.
Couchsurfing Groups are an Extraordinary Resource
While I was still in Ghana, I joined the Côte d'Ivoire group and began searching through previous posts.
Most guidebooks on Côte d'Ivoire are worthless. They are filled with outdated and unreliable information. Some have not been updated since the country was at war.
After twenty minutes of browsing through the CI group, I have a better understanding of what to expect when traveling overland, including where to listen to reggae in Abidjan and whether it's safe in the northern part of the country.
I posted a question of my own about overland travel from Abidjan to Bamako and received some great advice.
Many people participate in CS groups because they enjoy sharing their knowledge and helping others. Join a few groups and watch how much you learn about your destination.
Couchsurfing Groups Can be Used to Scope Out Potential Hosts
Within the Côte d'Ivoire group, I noticed several members were particularly active. Their profiles provided a lot of information about them, but what they said in the group was more revealing.
First, I got a sense of who was proficient in English. I was hoping to unearth my French after several years of neglect, but I liked the idea of staying with someone who spoke English when I first arrived.
Secondly, I noticed several group members were exceptionally knowledgeable and eager to share what they loved about Côte d'Ivoire.
One particular member, who spoke both English and French, had posted some humorous, enthusiastic, and informative messages. I contacted her, and she became my first host in Côte d'Ivoire.
As I write this, I've been staying with her and her boyfriend for almost three weeks. I now consider them great friends as well as incredible hosts.
Use Couchsurfing Groups to Find Great Parties and Events
If you're looking for something to do, check out CS groups for cities and, if possible, neighborhoods. Depending on the location, you can find CS parties in people's homes, events at bars and restaurants, concerts, and organized activities such as dance classes and city tours.
In Côte d'Ivoire, I got in on a meetup for reggae lovers at a bar called Parker Place. Missing my weekly dose of Patty Boom Boom, my favorite reggae spot in DC, Parker Place has been an excellent stand-in, allowing me to meet some awesome Ivorians who share the same musical tastes as I do.
Post an Event, Meetup, or Introduce Yourself
CS groups are democratic, and anyone can post a new topic. If you arrive somewhere and find it challenging to meet people, or if you want to organize an event or activity, consider posting about it in a relevant group.
I haven't done much of this myself, but I have joined groups and introduced myself, explaining why I was traveling to a particular country or city. You'd be surprised how often this starts a discussion, and in Ghana, I ended up meeting people in real life through one of the threads I started in a group.
I have watched as others have posted threads about events and activities, and within days, many people have expressed interest in participating. These reasons are primarily aimed at those who are traveling, but groups are also beneficial for hosts.
Couchsurfing is about meeting people more than anything else. Groups provide one more way to do that. Even if you are not traveling or hosting, try participating in a group and see what happens.
You may learn something new about your city or the one you are visiting, and you may end up meeting some great new friends.
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About the Author: Phil Paoletta is taking a break from teaching middle school in Washington, DC. He is currently traveling in West Africa indefinitely, collecting and making music along the way. You can follow along with him at http://philintheblank.net.
