Couchsurfing used to be the go-to website for travelers looking to connect with locals, offering a unique opportunity to stay in people’s homes for free. It wasn’t just about finding a place to sleep; Couchsurfing fostered communities through events and meetups all over the world. Wherever you were, there was a good chance you could find like-minded travelers and locals to hang out with. For many, including myself, it became an essential part of the travel experience.
Everyone I worked with loved Couchsurfing. My Director of Content, for example, used it extensively. He went on multiple multi-day trips with strangers thanks to Couchsurfing, hosted travelers in his home, and was even featured in one of the calendars they made! That sense of global community was something truly special.
Personally, I used Couchsurfing to explore cities like Copenhagen, London, Oxford, Munich, Broome, Paris, Osaka, Athens, and many more. I didn’t just stay in homes; I also met people for casual hangouts, from Lyon to meetups in major cities like NYC, Hong Kong, and Bangkok. The platform helped me connect with fellow travelers and locals alike, making it a huge part of my travel journey.
However, things began to change. Around 2013, Couchsurfing introduced charges, and during the pandemic, they instituted a paywall that drastically reduced its user base. The platform today is a shell of its former self.
Couchsurfing’s Decline: A Loss for Travelers
In preparation for the latest edition of my budget travel book (coming out in March 2025!), I decided to rejoin Couchsurfing to see how active it is these days. Sadly, the results were disappointing. Even in major cities like London, there were barely a few dozen active profiles. London, for example, had a staggering 229,457 total hosts, yet only 896 had been active in the last six months, and just 496 in the last month. That’s a significant decline!
It’s heartbreaking because Couchsurfing once revolutionized the way people traveled. It was as ubiquitous as guidebooks like Lonely Planet, offering a grassroots way to engage with locals and experience cultures in an authentic way. Now, it feels like it’s fading into obscurity, and that’s a huge loss for travelers.
Where to Meet People Now?
With Couchsurfing and similar platforms dwindling, the question remains: Where can you meet people while traveling now? Surprisingly, the answer is Facebook.
I’ll admit, I didn’t expect Facebook to fill the gap. After all, it has the reputation of being the platform where your aunt shares memes or where your cousin goes on political rants. Plus, most younger travelers are more active on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Yet, Facebook has become the place where travelers connect.
Whenever I log in, I see posts from all sorts of travel-related groups popping up in my feed: “backpacking Europe,” “backpacking Australia,” “digital nomads in [insert destination],” “find a travel buddy,” and so on. The list of groups is extensive, and despite my initial skepticism, I couldn’t ignore how frequently these groups appeared in my feed.
The Rise of Facebook Travel Groups
At first, I was wary of these Facebook groups. They seemed filled with fake accounts or creepy posts from guys hitting on younger girls. Posts like “Hi I’m Anna from US looking to travel dm me” always struck me as bots or scams. While female-only travel groups, like the famous Girls LOVE Travel, had built a legitimate community, the mixed-gender groups often felt sketchy.
But they kept appearing, so I decided to look into them more seriously. After some digging, I realized that, while many profiles were indeed fake or filled with spammy messages, there were still a number of real people genuinely interested in meeting others. The key was learning how to filter out the nonsense.
Testing the Waters: My Experience with Facebook Travel Groups
I put the theory to the test during a trip to Europe by posting my tentative travel plans in the group Find a Travel Buddy. The responses flooded in—hundreds of them. It was overwhelming! Unfortunately, a large portion of it was junk: people inviting me to random countries (despite my post about Europe), a few marriage proposals, and the occasional inappropriate message.
It made me wonder just how exhausting this must be for women travelers, who often have to edit their posts to tell people to stop coming onto them. It’s sad, but it’s a reality many travelers—especially solo women—have to deal with.
Once I sifted through the spam, I managed to find a few real people who seemed genuinely interested in meeting up. Although many plans fell through due to changing schedules, I did meet up with a few of them. I had a fantastic night out in Freiburg, Germany, with a group of fellow travelers, and in Amsterdam, I explored the city with an Italian girl and her friends. Both times, I was taken to places I wouldn’t have found on my own, and I made some great new friends along the way.
The Pros and Cons of Facebook Travel Groups
These Facebook groups might not have the same seamless experience that Couchsurfing once offered, but they’re still a solid option for meeting fellow travelers, especially if you’re going solo. You do have to wade through a lot of noise, but once you do, the connections can be very rewarding.
That said, it’s not for everyone. Personally, I don’t have the personality to go on multi-day trips with strangers, but I enjoy meeting people for a drink or exploring a city together. For those who share that mindset, these groups can be a good fit.
Tips for Using Facebook Travel Groups
If you’re interested in using Facebook travel groups, here are a few tips to help you cut through the junk and find real connections:
- Be specific about where you are going and when. If you’re vague, you’ll get people messaging you to come to random places that aren’t even on your itinerary.
- Ask people to be specific about themselves in their replies. This will help weed out bots and people just looking to spam.
- Be clear about what you’re looking for, whether that’s the kind of travel partner, age range, or gender.
- Check profiles carefully before deciding to meet up with someone to make sure they seem legit. Always prioritize safety by meeting in public places.
My Favorite Facebook Travel Groups
Here are some of my favorite groups that have helped me connect with people on the road:
- Find a Travel Buddy
- Girls LOVE Travel
- Backpacking South America
- Digital Nomads
- Solo Trips & Travelers
These groups might not replace the magic of Couchsurfing, but they offer a modern alternative. With a little patience and safety awareness, they can help you meet locals and fellow travelers, making your journey more enriching. I’ve become a fan of these groups, and I’ll definitely continue using them on future trips.
Happy travels, and don’t forget—no matter where you are, there’s always someone else out there looking to share an adventure!
