Editing Tips for solo women (section)

==Couchsurfing Alone==

* Be smart when picking a host! Only stay with CouchSurfers who have strong references. Read ALL references on a page (even if they have a lot!) - what their friends and references have written about them. Consider emailing the prior surfers. Did previous hosts/surfers have positive or negative experiences with this person? Do they know your potential host face-to-face, or only through chat? Is this Surfer's profile filled out well? Read about the person who Vouched for them. If there are no CouchSurfers that you think you would feel safe with in the city you're visiting, consider staying at a hostel. Be extra careful when choosing a single male as a host. Often CouchSurfers are friendly and respectful, but you should still do your research. Does he have a lot of female friends? Is he vouched for? Verified? Has he hosted other single women? Have they left positive references?

*Consider making private your msn/AIM/personal email address so that you only give it out to CouchSurfers you want to communicate with. Remember, depending on your profile settings, even non-couchsurfers can have access to this information if you post it. 

* When CouchSurfing, have a '''back-up''' plan. Have addresses and phone numbers of a hostel in the surrounding area, regardless. Know the number of a local taxi. Sometimes the person you have planned to stay with has an emergency and suddenly cannot host you, or you find you need to leave. If necessary, have a reservation. You can always cancel it.

* Do not be afraid to leave a host! If you are not having a positive experience, leave! Trust your instincts - don't be afraid to offend a host. Your safety is worth more. Have a look to the special hints: the "what if" section for more hints about what to do in this situation. If you encountered some problems, it is very important to leave a ''clear and factual'' [[:couchsurfing:references.html|reference]]. <!-- What is the right thing to do? If you feel ashamed... to do that you can contact one of the [[:couchsurfing:admins.html|admins]] instead. -->