My wife and I hosted frequently from 1994 until 2002. We met a lot of great people from all over the world, many of whom we still correspond with. But the last two summers we hosted it seemed we attracted all the moochers and weirdos. Some other hosts had the same complaint and Roger( the list owner) worked to clean things up and things greatly improved from what we heard.

Now if we host cyclists it is those we meet while out riding, from BF , Phred list or CGOAB

Ouch! That reminds me of when I cycled in the Czech Republic and had to have my bb tightened up at a store. Even with the language divide I got the message of no charge, and I think I got it through to the guy I would at least send a postcard and a thanks..... It was easy, I thought -the guy gave me a sticker with the shop name and address on it which I promptly stuck on my bike, so I didn't write the address down.

Got back home and you guessed it, the sticker had been scraped making it illegible. Still bugs me to this day I couldn't keep my word.

Which is one reason I kind of stayed away from WarmShowers, which at the time (maybe its changed?) that there was not much commenting/rating going on. Hence I have stuck to hospitalityclub which has a much larger user base and not just cyclist orientated and have had pretty good luck with that site. But I think it goes both ways. I use the rating system so I dont get stuck hosting any odd balls and/or staying with any if I do a tour.

It seems pointless for me to post anything about the Orphan riders to Warm Showers, since they didn't actually stay with me, nor contact me through the website. And besides, the probable "Fakin' Ryan" aspects of their ride has nothing to do with WS.

My son and I stayed with a Warmshowers host on our three-day tour/ride in April. Could not have asked for more generous and kind hosts, and they were also a lot of fun to hang out with. The man collects vintage bicycles, and they have a collection of peppermills on their dining table. Here's a photo of a peppermill I sent them, several months later, as a "thankyou." I made it myself, using bike parts I scavenged from the trash, and a peppermill also scavenged from the trash (but it's a Peugeot!).
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3423/...2a8a1474_b.jpg

RHM: That's the coolest visitor gift I've ever seen, both in creativity and thoughtfulness.

Let me know when you and your son are planning to tour Texas.

Thanks! Yeah, I wish I could to something like that for everyone who's done something nice for me... sadly my gratitude sometimes exceeds my creativity.

Hosted and been hosted plenty of times!
 

I am on both Couchsurfing (my fave b/c of the references and user friendly aspect of the website) and Warmshowers site as well as some others. I have only hosted once from Warmshowers and it was a fantastic experience - we loved them so much, we wanted them to stay! One of my favorite guests of all time from Couchsurfing, came to stay for a night with his dog and stayed for a month and I live in a small apartment, but he fit right in and he could have stayed forever!

I think these sites are a fantastic way to make the world a smaller place - in fact we had a traveller show up early this morning. We are out of town this weekend, but she will be crashing at our place. I can't even say how many have stayed at my place over the years. Most have been amazing, a couple of duds, but in the span of my life I have met way more than a few duds! Definitely leave feedback regarding the guests even if you didn't end up hosting them, just explain the situtation so that others are made aware of it and can decide for themselves.

I have also been hosted many times and have met so many wonderful folx along the way - many, many incredible stories along the way.

Have hosting and surfing!

There's no such thing as a free lunch ...

To me, the network of 'Vrienden op de Fiets' is a better alternative. You stay with private people, you share their bathroom and you pay something to cover the breakfast and the fresh sheets. And at least, you stay in a real bed. Quite important if you're not anylonger a twentysomething and need to be fresh for the next day. Every year, all the hosts in the booklet are contacted by the organisation by phone, to hear how everything goes, and if there are complaints from guests, hosts are removed.

By the way, if you'd like to host cyclists this way, fill in the form 'Aanmelden overnachtingsadres' on their website. If you do so before the 1st of september, you will get mentioned in the 2010 booklet. Except for the Netherlands, Belgium, the number of hosts is still rather limited.

http://www.vriendenopdefiets.nl

Sounds like everything happened the way it should. They were disorganised and a bit presumptuous. They didn't get free accommodation. There's no harm in having firm rules up front and enforcing them.

I find the idea of a "late start" kind of funny. I was once in a group that didn't start until 10:30 one day due to a big breakfast at a very busy cafe, and I thought *that* was bad. Normally we're going by 9.

Steve

I used this, it was extremely nice where I stayed one night. Trying to book the second night in the next town, too many people had been asked to be taken off the list and had not been taken off it, so I gave up and used commercial properties instead.

User beware!

When we tour in places other than Australia, Rowan buys up a collection of Australian pins (little kangaroos etc.) and passes them out to anyone who has been particularly helpful ... even with directions to a campground or something when we're completely lost.

It's not anything big, and they are not heavy or bulky to carry around, but it's one way to say "Thank you" with a bit more impact than just saying the words.

I've also done things like sending nice Canadian calendars to people I've stayed with, with beautiful scenes from across Canada.

I think leaving someone out at 9:30pm is a bit harsh.

I've never used warmshowers but I've hosted people, given long rides and went out of my way to help hitch-hikers. I've received help many times as well. I don't expect anything more than a "thank you" on the spot and hope they'll return the favor to someone else. Don't send stuff, I garantee it will end up in a landfill.

Thank you for making my decisions for me.

Considering that I had been given the run around the day before - and that they were probably lying when they said that they were 30 miles out from town at 3:00 in the afternoon - I feel perfectly fine about saying, "No". It may come as a surprise to you, but other people do have lives, as well. And I can say this as someone with 100,000 miles of cycling - so I've been on both sides of the equation. If someone cannot show up remotely close to when they said they were going to be there - if they do not bother to call and let the host know of delays - then I have no obligation to wait around until they decide to appear.

It's something called courtesy - - look it up.

PS - There are campgrounds and motels in my community within a few blocks.

Kudos to Spinnaker - even something as small and seemingly insignificant as a fridge magnet shows appreciation.

My partner and I have hosted two WS cyclists for several days at a time, cooked them dinners and breakfasts, opened up the fridge to them, washed their clothes, driven them to the local shop for bike repairs. Neither offered a tiny token of appreciation.

I don't want to suggest it's about compensation - just about recognizing the kindness a perfect stranger shows by opening their doors.

Hey Spin, next time you have some of those refrigerator magnets made up, why don't you incorporate this photo of a RANDOM cyclist who seems to be walking his bike up a tiny hill even though it looks like he has already shed some panniers to a sag vehicle :roflmao2: :roflmao2:

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...g?t=1249595450

Geez, why so touchy?
Nobody made a decision for you, and I'm sure Erick is perfectly aware of what courtesy is. He just happens to disagree with you, and so do I. I think it's a tad harsh as well. No need to get upset.

And for the record, is it 75,000 or 100,000 touring miles? I can't keep up. ;)

In my case it was reading a blog about all the things our touring couple did in San Diego, never once mentioning that they had been hosted by locals who spent the weekend squiring them around. Not mentioning that they had support during their stay made the entry a bit of a fiction. No compensation or specific recognition is wanted, just some sense that the good time they had involved the goodwill of strangers.

It seems we all have to step up and make the few bad tourists not outshine the grateful tourists!!!


I think maybe Neil has some conservative in him??:rolleyes:

Beg your pardon -
Erick stated, "I think leaving someone out at 9:30pm is a bit harsh."

That is pretty, damn judgmental as well as presumptuous.
Erick didn't have to assume any risk or make any personal accommodations.
So what do I do - hang around with my thumb up my whatever until they decide to show up?
Or do I just tell them where I live and leave the door open?

It's all fine and good to be left/liberal - And BTW I was in Birmingham in the 1960s, worked to free the Wilmington 10, and organized for textile workers' rights in the Carolinas - so I think I have a few progressive bonafides, thank you very much.

But when people call the day before when I have asked in the website for two to three days notice - then change their mind and put it off for a day - meanwhile, I continue to say, "Yes" even though I have a previous engagement - then fib about when they started and where they are even though I have asked them to arrive before 7:00 - then not even bother to inform me that they will be way late - - right.

Then, yes, I think I am perfectly in my rights to say, "No, thank you."
And people who are so quick to judge those who offer genuine hospitality only add to the negative perception of this process.

As I said before, it's called "courtesy" and these young women had none.

Being hospitable doesn't mean being a doormat.

Jamawani, you have all the rights to say no but I still find that a bit harsh. Personnally, I would not have invited them with one day's notice in the first place but since you did offered them a roof, does it matter that much if they arrive late? You found them rude, fine. "Having a life" is a poor excuse since you were expecting them anyway.

Don't call me judgemental when you wrote them off as drinking and drugging their way across the country. You "assumed" there were cell phone coverage. I live in a big city and get disconnected sometimes. They told you they had a flat and fell but you didn't buy it. Have you considered that they didn't call you because you told them you wouldn't be there in the evening? What if they were really in trouble? If your experience should have thought you anything, it's that you haven't experienced everything.

I understand it sucked big time. You made your decision and I respect that, but I still think it was a bit harsh to turn them away at the last minute.

well I had never even hear of the warmshowers or the Dutch site until this thread so thanks!!!

I have hosted tons of ppl over the years without being a member of any site and I have been hosted by tons.

I always say thanks and send note, or if I can I cook a Hungarian meal for my hosts and I always cook one for guests. This is always a big hit.

I lik the little pins gift, great idea...

Regarding these sites I think you might want to look into servas. it was the original such organization as far as I know and is recognized by the UN.. servas.org

Robi

I haven't had a warmshowers hosting experience yet -- in fact, I just took my name off the list. Why? I got an email from a guy who said he was in town for a few weeks "making money to continue my tour" and needed a place to stay for a few days while he worked.

So, in advance of that email I thought it would be so cool to have someone stay, since I've been hosted before (not via warmshowers, i've never asked) - but in practice, I just started imagining this broke, homeless dude on a bike, showing up and then not leaving, and having to try to get rid of him, and then what about when I'm out, do I kick the guy out or change my plans and stay home or just leave him in my house (with my computer and my bikes and etc), and my boyfriend wasn't home so what if he decides he's a ****** or a thief or.....

So, I didn't host him.

Kudos to all of you who are willing to open your homes to strangers - it's a lot easier to talk about it than to actually do it, as I just found out.

Personally, I like the mode where you meet a person and they invite you into their home (or vice versa) after knowing each other a little bit. The blind internet connection is scary.

Peace.

Its one thing to ride alongside and converse with a tourer for a half an hour or so and then if it feels right offer a room, or the couch, or lawn etc for his use for the night and quite another to commit to an unsolicited request from a stranger asking to stay in your home. It's not even that I necessarily think that the request is from a potential criminal.

It's that I value my privacy and I am not willing to have it violated when someone makes me uncomfortable in my own home. And to feel uncomfortable only after that person leaves because of something they did or didn't do during or after his visit is just as much an affront. I make mistakes in judgment even after chatting face-to-face with someone: if were to allow someone into my home without even that, there would be no basis for a judgment of any kind.