How To Couchsurf Carnaval in Brazil

All photos by writer unless differently noted

If we goal to land the couch, Kelly Lewis says we should start acid now.

[Editor's note: This article was originally published as the Matador Travel blog post.]

CARNAVAL IS ONE of the busiest times in Brazil. The knowledge filled with costumes, travel parties, singing, as well as dancing ensures that the cost of place to live is steep as well as really competitive. Most hostels will assign the specific week-long fee during the festival, that is anything though budget-friendly.

When we was selling around final year, the hostels we looked into were charging around $500 for the single week. And this was for the single mark in an 8-bed dorm room. Booking for the complete length of Carnaval is risky as we probably wont know how circuitously or distant from the movement we have been until we arrive.

Although the event is in February, Couchsurfing is already abuzz with Carnaval requests as well as information.

So we chose to Couchsurf. Having someone who could show me the ropes, take me to all of the internal parties as well as parades, verbalise Portuguese, as well as look out for me, made me feel so protected as well as secure that we was really able to let lax as well as have fun.

Since he knew Rio de Janeiro similar to the back of his hand, we additionally never had to carry the guidebook, or worry about where we was going.

If youre anticipating to do the same, right away is the time to start searching. Although the event is in February, Couchsurfing is already abuzz with Carnaval requests as well as information. Follow these tips to be more successful in your search.

Photo: M. Johansson

1. Read the profile

Always review the! form of the chairman whose cot we have been seeking as well as send the personalized ask with the persons name. Make reference to things they contend in their form as well as have the connection by articulate about what we have in common. This will go the long way to assisting we stand out from your competition.

2. Send mixed requests

Send out as many requests as we can. Dont give up after we send usually five. When we was searching, we sent out about 10 the day. we got really lucky in that my first couple of came back with yess, though we met the lot of people who waited until December or January to poke as well as had the terrible time finding the place. Just have sure to personalize any request. Dont be the spammer.

3. Follow up

So we got the might be from someone? Lots of hosts dont similar to to finalize their couches this distant in advance. Find them upon Facebook. Find them upon Twitter. Find the way to connect with them as well as keep in contact via the entrance months. As we get closer to the date, ask again if surfing with them is an option.

4. Lower your standards

At least the little. It is rarely unlikely that we will be the usually couchsurfer during the hosts place during Carnaval. we surfed during two different houses as well as during both we was the single of about 6-8 alternative surfers. we got the bed in the single as well as slept upon the mattress upon the ground in another. But since the locale is so bustling as well as so many have been left without, we was over grateful.

5. Expand your search

If we have been promulgation requests usually to the first 20 that appear, chances have been others will be too. Make sure to scour the 5th, 6th, 9th pages of your searchand beyond.

6. Search circuitously cities

If we have been acid in Rio de Janeiro, additionally poke for Niteroi as well as Petropolis. Ideally, we want to stay in the city, though if we find the cot the bit out of locale with the horde who wants to travel (or drive) into town, youre set.

7. Search for Maybes as well

Some hosts that list their cot as might be have been just as open as those who list their residence as yes. And everyone in the CS stage in Rio (which is huge) understands that this is the week to open your doors. Everyone is off of work, as well as there have been copiousness of people willing to help.

8. Search for new members

You can arrange your poke formula by new members by selecting Newest Accounts in the Order By margin in your poke options. These newbies might be your most appropriate gamble as they have been seeking to have their own CS experience.

9. Search for hosts who have logged in recently

Look for members who have logged in inside of the past couple of days. This can be finished by selecting Last Login Date in the Order By margin (as above). These hosts have been more active in the stage and, if their cot is spoken for, they might have the crony with space. This is actually how we landed my second CS horde during Carnaval.

10. Post your plans

Going alone? Make the post. As we was traveling solo, we wrote the summary upon the travelers board about my skeleton to see if anyone else was interested in fasten me. we did find someone. Her name was Marcella, from England, as well as we programmed it out so that we stayed with the same host. We even met any alternative during the airfield so we were together the whole time. We balanced any alternative out as well as ended up being good friends who traveled together for the subsequent two months.

11. Dont discriminate

Marcella as well as we tended to regularly poke for womanlike hosts. However, in the finish it was men we most ! mostly s tayed with. And guess what? It wasnt scary during all.

12. Stay in touch

After we find the host, keep in hold in the weeks leading up to Carnaval. They will assistance we immensely. Build the friendship as well as afterwards we have someone to talk to about small things similar to what should we wear?, how most money to bring?, as well as should we buy Sambadromo tickets? Your CS horde will be your most appropriate crony through Carnaval, as well as presumably after too.

Good luck!

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