The Warmshowers community is held together by a thread of generous cyclists worldwide. Therefore, it’s crucial that we all do our part to share respect and keep this network strong—especially when staying with hosts.
Whether this is your first tour or you’ve stayed with many hosts before, it’s essential to be a respectful guest who uses the system responsibly. Here are tips for being a great guest during your bike tours, based on feedback from experienced Warmshowers hosts.
10 Ways To Be an Excellent Guest
It’s not hard to be an excellent Warmshowers guest. The most important thing to remember is that Warmshowers hosts have lives too. Many hosts accommodate guests in their free time outside of work. They are generous enough to open their homes for free, so it is important to be considerate of their space and schedule during your stay. Here are some ways you can be an excellent guest and keep our community strong.
1. Read the Host’s Profile
Always read your host’s complete profile before reaching out—it saves everyone time and energy. Hosts put significant effort into communicating availability, stay requirements, and other essential information that you might otherwise miss.
For example, long-time Warmshowers host Murdock includes directions to his home and arrival times in his profile. Since he lives in an area without cell reception, this information is essential for guests to reach him.
Reading your host’s profile is crucial for starting off on the right foot and avoiding confusion.
2. Complete Your Profile
A complete, informative profile benefits everyone. Include a photo, travel dates, and any special requests to make hosting easier. Some hosts consider profile completeness before agreeing to host, so a well-filled profile works in your favor.
3. Communicate!
Communication is the most important part of any Warmshowers arrangement. Share your arrival time, dietary restrictions, and any other relevant details so your host can prepare and avoid surprises.
If you’re running late or need special accommodations, let your host know as soon as possible. It’s always better to overcommunicate than leave your host guessing.
4. Plan Ahead
Timing is crucial when staying with a Warmshowers host. Start planning at least two weeks in advance to give hosts time to prepare—last-minute requests are much harder to accommodate.
Before reaching out, make sure a host fits your itinerary. If you need to push your mileage to arrive on time, consider staying elsewhere that night and visiting the host the next day instead.
Arriving several hours late disrupts your host’s schedule and may leave you scrambling for alternative accommodation. Good planning makes things easier for everyone.
5. Stick to the Plan
Once you’ve made a plan with your host, stick to it. Ken Francis, a Warmshowers host who has hosted over 300 cyclists, says, “I appreciate no surprises regarding anything beyond what was discussed in preceding messages.”
Hosts have their own jobs and schedules that they adjust to accommodate guests, so surprises complicate their planning. Arrive at the agreed time with the number of people you specified.
If you said 6 pm, aim for that time—avoid extra stops if you’re cutting it close. If you arrive early, explore local sites rather than showing up before your host is ready.
6. Respect the Space
Always respect your host’s space. Warmshowers hosts voluntarily open their homes for free, and as Murdock noted, “It’s important that guests remember that they are staying in someone’s home, not a hotel.”
While hosts enjoy welcoming guests, remember you’re in someone’s residence. Don’t expect hotel service, and be mindful of how you treat their space.
Some ways to respect the space include:
- Asking before bringing your bike inside the home
- Asking before using appliances and materials inside the home
- Verifying if you can do laundry, and when would be a good time
- Cleaning up after yourself
- Clarifying and following quiet hours in the home
7. Be Considerate
Practice common courtesy with the small things. Before taking a bath, check with your host—they may need hot water for their morning shower. Be conversational during dinner; hosts appreciate friendly guests. And respect their schedule by leaving on time so they can get to work.
Give back during your stay by offering to wash dishes or strip the bed in the morning. Hosts always appreciate the extra effort, and going above and beyond strengthens our community.
8. Leave Feedback
Leave feedback after your stay using the Warmshowers review system. Reviews help guests and hosts understand what to expect from the community and identify areas for improvement in future stays.
9. Keep in Touch
This isn’t required, but it’s a great way to brighten your host’s day. Murdock loves receiving postcards from past guests or hearing that they completed their journey.
Keeping in touch strengthens the community and may lead to future opportunities—another stay, a tour together, or hosting them at your place.
10. Return the Favor
This last tip is crucial: give back to the community. Warmshowers thrives on reciprocity, so if you had a great experience as a guest, consider hosting fellow cyclists yourself. Supporting one another is what keeps our system strong.
The Warmshowers community thrives when we lift each other up. By being considerate and following these tips, you help keep the system working for everyone while ensuring safe and smooth travel experiences.
Photo Credit: Longtime Community Member Ken Francis
