Editing Tips by Nomadic Noize (section)

===Asking to Meet up===
Such a tricky subject in the world of CouchSurfing. Granted for myself and a vast majority of people reading this, most of the couches you surf are old friends. A vast majority of my surfing has been through my first generation contacts, where the meet and greet is a non issue. But there are always times when you are going to a new place, and your friend has this old friend that they are sure wouldn't mind if you came by for a few days.

Most of these meets are done on a short term basis, and in theory your buddy will call up the person out of town to warn of your arrival, and give some reference points of why you have their phone number. Many a time someone has given me contact info for their friend from college/ high school/etc., and spaced out on their side of the task of giving warning about my imminent arrival. So I have figured out ways of not appearing to be imposing and usually getting a free place to stay regardless.

Finding out the person's email is always a good place to start. Having been a person with no direct phone number that stays the same for more than a few months, my only constant means of communication has been the internet. Send the person an email, stating who you are, how they should know you, and the fact that you are coming to town. Don't ask for the place to stay, just say that your friend said you might be able to show me around, or at least tell me what I should check out when I visit your fine city. Also ask for suggestions of cool hostels or reasonable hotels in the city. If they have any free time, get their phone number, and let them know what day you are arriving to go out and about.

Hanging out for dinner or drinks is a good way to break the ice in all social situations. Just remember to ask about hostels and hotels before you tie one on. If it is the first night you meet someone, they may still not feel comfortable about inviting you to their house, and you don't want them to feel pressured into a situation of inviting you over because you all got a bit tipsy and it is too late to find a place to crash. A majority of the time that you meet friends of good friends you are bound to get along, as you have the common thread of your mutual friend, and the hopes that they would not get two people with opposite attitudes together. So if you are a nice person who gets along with others, a vast majority of the time people will offer you some couch space, at least for a night so you can continue carousing, drinking, eating, or just enjoying the evening. But don't place all of your bets on it.

It is great to have an informal tour guide and new friend even if they don't have space for you to stay, they will show you all the cool hidden things about their town. They may even offer you a place to crash after a day or two, as some people are more reserved and cautious than others.

Whenever you are traveling around even on a couch surfing tour, you need to have enough money for a place to stay for a night, at least a hostel, unless you are staying with a good friend. You might be told that so and so always loves to have houseguests, but that may mean that they already have 2 visitors, they are out of the country, or sick with the flu. I believe in winging it, but I am also ready to stay up all night and sleep in a park when it is necessary, and you have to know where your limits are. I also know that I like to be inside if it is raining, and I don't make a habit of sleeping outside in a city setting. I always have enough money to pay for a place to crash if I am wandering to a new city, and enough money to pay for my dinner or I don't go out. Freebies are how I survive, but high expectations of others ability to help you out can often lead to uncomfortable situations and possibilities of pushing boundaries.