Hostel vs. Couchsurfing: I tried both in Berlin and one was way cheaper

Last summer I did a 2 week trip to Berlin and tested out both hostels and Couchsurfing to see which saved more money. The hostel cost me about 25 euros a night for a 6 bed dorm, which added up fast after a week. Couchsurfing was completely free, but I had to spend time messaging hosts and waiting for replies. I ended up staying with a local guy named Felix who showed me this bakery where you could get fresh rolls for 50 cents each. The trade off was less privacy and I had to hang out with him a couple evenings, but he taught me how to use the subway system better than any map. For a 10 day stay I saved around 150 euros by going with Couchsurfing over the hostel. Has anyone else had luck with Couchsurfing in bigger cities or did you get stuck with weird hosts?

3 comments

3 Comments

phoenixw1129d ago

Used to think hostels were always better but your Couchsurfing story definitely changed my mind.

lilya7629d ago

Wait, fresh rolls for 50 cents in Berlin? That's insane, everything costs like 2 euros minimum over here now.

elizabethmason29d ago

A coworker of mine just got back from Berlin and she couldn't stop talking about the 50 cent rolls either. She said the bakery on her corner had them fresh every morning at 6am. Makes me wonder what stores here are doing with their prices when you can't even get a loaf of basic bread for under three bucks anymore. @lilya76 ever find any cheap eats like that near where you live or is it all just overpriced tourist stuff?