Short version: A Trip is where you're going. A Stay is where you're sleeping. They work together, but they do different things.
What Is a Trip?
A Trip is your travel plan on Couchsurfing. Create one, and the platform starts working for you. For each destination, you'll see:
- Hosts available in the area
- Other travelers heading there at the same time
- Events happening during your dates
- Friends and friends of friends who live nearby
You can add up to 15 destinations, set flexible or specific dates, and add trip goals (like Meet Locals, Look for a Host, or Open to Mingle) so other members know what you're looking for. You can set your Trip to Public or Friends Only depending on who you want to see it. Public Trips make you discoverable to hosts, who can find you and reach out with an offer before you even ask.
What Is a Stay?
A Stay is what happens when you actually connect with a host. Here's how it comes together:
- You send a Stay request to a host and link it to one of your Trips
- The host accepts
- You confirm on your end
That's it. You've got a place to stay. From there, the Stay has its own details screen in your chat with the host, showing dates, traveler and host info, and the host's address (which appears within 24 hours of the Stay).
How Do They Work Together?
A Trip is the plan. A Stay is the confirmed part of that plan with a real person. Here's how they connect:
- When you send a Stay request, you link it to an existing Trip or create a new one
- The host's location is automatically added as a destination in that Trip
- Your Stay details appear in your Trip itinerary alongside other saved items like events
- You might have one Trip with several destinations and a separate Stay arranged at each stop along the way
Where Can I Find Them?
You can find both in your Library :
- Trips are under Your Trips
- Confirmed Stays are under Your Stays (as a traveler) or Your Guests (as a host)
Need more help? Get in touch. You can also reach us anytime through Settings → Contact Support.