References are one of the best parts of Couchsurfing. They tell the real story of who someone is as a host, a traveler, and a person. Here's how to navigate them and cut straight to what you're looking for.
Types of References
Stay References are public references tied to a completed stay. Both the host and the traveler can leave one within 14 days of the stay ending.
Personal References are public references you can leave for any member, once. No stay or prior connection required.
Private References are private feedback tied to a completed stay, visible only to the Couchsurfing team. A good home for experiences that don't belong in a public space.
How to Filter References
On any references page, you'll see two filter options at the top right: Any Sentiment and Any Author. Use them together or separately to zero in on exactly what you want to read.
Any Sentiment filters by how the reference was rated:
- Highly Recommend
- Recommend
- Neutral
- Unlikely to Recommend
- Would Not Recommend
Any Author filters by who wrote the reference:
- Travelers
- Hosts
- Personal
Select your options and tap or click Apply. Want to start fresh? Hit Reset.
How to View References on a Profile
Head to any member's profile, scroll to the References section, and tap or click View All to open the full list. Filter from there to your heart's content.
On mobile:
- Tap Library
in the bottom navigation bar
- Tap your profile
in the upper right corner
- Tap the References button on your profile
- Use the Any Sentiment or Any Author filters to narrow things down
- Tap Apply to see filtered results
On the web:
- Click your profile
- Click the References button on your profile
- Use the Any Sentiment or Any Author filters to narrow things down
- Click Apply to see filtered results
One Thing to Know: Got a reference you want to reply to? You can add a response to any reference on your profile. Responses can also be edited or deleted any time, so you can always change what you said.
Need more help? Get in touch. You can also reach us anytime through Settings → Contact Support.