How to Couchsurf Carnaval in Brazil

All photos by writer unless differently noted

If we goal to land a couch, Kelly Lewis says we should begin acid now.

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

CARNAVAL IS ONE of a busiest times in Brazil. The knowledge filled with costumes, travel parties, singing, as well as dancing ensures which a cost of accommodation is high as well as unequivocally competitive. Most hostels will assign a specific week-long fee during a festival, which is anything though budget-friendly.

When we was selling around final year, a hostels we looked in to were charging around $500 for one week. And this was for one mark in an 8-bed dorm room. Booking for a complete length of Carnaval is unsure as we substantially wont know how near or distant from a action we have been until we arrive.

Although a eventuality 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 a ropes, take me to all of a internal parties as well as parades, verbalise Portuguese, as well as demeanour out for me, made me feel so safe as well as secure which we was unequivocally means to let loose as well as have fun.

Since he knew Rio de Janeiro similar to a behind of his hand, we also never had to carry a guidebook, or be concerned about where we was going.

If youre hoping to do a same, right away is a time to begin searching. Although a eventuality is in February, Couchsurfing is already abuzz with Carnaval requests as well as information. Follow these tips to be some-more successful in your search.

Photo: M. Johansson

1. Read a profile

Always review a form of a chairman whos! e cot we have been seeking as well as send a personalized ask with a persons name. Make anxiety to things they contend in their form as well as make a tie by talking about what we have in common. This will go a long way to assisting we stand out from your competition.

2. Send multiple requests

Send out as most requests as we can. Dont give up after we send usually five. When we was searching, we sent out about 10 a day. we got unequivocally lucky in which my initial couple of came behind with yess, though we met a lot of people who waited until Dec or Jan to poke as well as had a distressing time anticipating a place. Just make sure to personalize any request. Dont be a spammer.

3. Follow up

So we got a 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 a way to connect with them as well as keep in contact throughout a entrance months. As we get closer to a date, ask again if surfing with them is an option.

4. Lower your standards

At least a little. It is rarely doubtful which we will be a usually couchsurfer during a hosts place during Carnaval. we surfed during two opposite houses as well as during both we was one of about 6-8 alternative surfers. we got a bed in one as well as slept upon a mattress upon a ground in another. But given a locale is so bustling as well as so most have been left without, we was over grateful.

5. Expand your search

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

6. Search circuitously cities

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

7. Search for Maybes as well

Some hosts which list their cot as might be have been just as open as those who list their house as yes. And everybody in a CS stage in Rio (which is huge) understands which this is a week to open your doors. Everyone is off of work, as well as there have been plenty of people peaceful to help.

8. Search for new members

You can arrange your poke results by new members by selecting Newest Accounts in a Order By margin in your poke options. These newbies might be your most appropriate bet 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 a past couple of days. This can be done by selecting Last Login Date in a Order By margin (as above). These hosts have been some-more active in a stage and, if their cot is oral for, they might have a friend with space. This is actually how we landed my second CS horde during Carnaval.

10. Post your plans

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

11. Dont discriminate

Marcella as well as we tended to regularly poke for female hosts. However, in a finish it was men we most mostly stayed with. And theory what? It wasnt scary during all.

12. Stay in touch

After we find a host, keep in h! old in a weeks leading up to Carnaval. They will assistance we immensely. Build a loyalty as well as afterwards we have someone to talk to about small things similar to what should we wear?, how most income to bring?, as well as should we buy Sambadromo tickets? Your CS horde will be your most appropriate friend by Carnaval, as well as possibly after too.

Good luck!

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