The Complete Guide To Warmshowers
The Complete Guide to Warmshowers
Warmshowers is a worldwide network of hospitality exchange for touring cyclists. It’s the best way to meet fellow cyclists, learn about new routes and the local area. Plus, you’ll hear some of the coolest cycle touring stories, ever.
Here is everything you need to know about Warmshowers, from Warmshowers etiquette finding a host to becoming one yourself.
In this article
- What is Warmshowers?
- Is Warmshowers free?
- Is Warmshowers worth it?
- The role of the host on Warmshowers
- The role of the guest on Warmshowers
- How to contact a host on Warmshowers
- Our experience with Warmshowers
- Is Warmshowers any good?
- Some of our most memorable Warmshowers hosts
We’ve started getting messages about the Warmshowers platform or people looking for Warmshowers Customer Support and similar. This is just a cycle touring blog. If you need Warmshowers, you can visit their website.
What is Warmshowers?
To quote Warmshowers: “We are a community of touring cyclists and those that support them. Our platform provides the technology for reciprocal hospitality for cyclists and hosts.”
Simply put, Warmshowers is a database of cycle tourists who want to help other cycle tourists. I often tell people it’s ‘couch surfing for cyclists’.
Warmshowers can be used to:
- Ask for help and advice from fellow cycle tourists
- Get tips and routes around local areas
- Find a place to stay in remote areas
- Find a host and a bed for the night
- Get support with postage
Is Warmshowers free?
Warmshowers used to be free, but it isn’t anymore.
When you sign up to Warmshowers you will pay a one off fee of £30.00.
This is unbelievable value because Warmshowers will save you way more than £30.00. It is so valuable that even though our account is an old one, that was not subject to fees, I donated that £30.00 anyway.
Is Warmshowers worth it?
Warmshowers is worth every penny of the $30 membership fee. Not only will Warmshowers pay for itself in savings on hotels, but you will also have the most enriching experiences with wonderful hosts.
The fees and donations from users have helped Warmshowers incredibly. Over the years we’ve seen improvements such as:
- Development of an app
- Bug fixes of the app
- Introduction of a Podcast, BikeLife etc.
- Better management of stale accounts, sparing a lot of no-replies for tourists
The role of the host on Warmshowers
Warmshowers hosts are expected to provide a safe and comfortable place to stay, and optionally meals and conversation.
Warmshowers hosts will often:
- Be cycle tourists themselves and have plenty of tips and advice to give
- Have a wealth of local knowledge and be happy to share the best routes with you!
- Be more than happy to show you around their neck of the woods
- Provide some food or access to the kitchen. They don’t all do this, nor do they have to. Guests you can see what hosts are comfortable with on their profile.
The role of the guest on Warmshowers
In exchange, guests are expected to help with the dinner preparation or washing up, share their stories and offer their own advice and hospitality.
Guests should, when they can, host other cyclists to keep the community going.
Golden rules to live by for guests:
- Be considerate and respectful
- Do your best to help with chores
- Share their own stories and experiences
- Be friendly and grateful, even if you’re tired
- Don’t overstay their welcome – ask what time you need to leave
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How to contact a host on Warmshowers
To contact a host on Warmshowers all you need to do is visit the app, find the host you want to stay with and hit message.
Generally, I like to send messages in advance. I liked to give at least a weeks notice then a check in message nearer the time to make sure everything is still okay for us to stay.
Here are some examples messages:
‘Hi, {name],
I’m cycling to {location} on {date}.
Do you have any availability for me to stay for {a night}?
If you’re available I’d love to stay with you! I looked on your profile and thought it was so cool that you cycled to…and would love to hear more about your adventures if you’re willing to share some stories from the road.
I look forward to hearing from you!
{name}’
If you hear back from the host and all is good you can ask what they’re expectations are. Perhaps ask if they’d like you to bring dessert if they offer dinner or if you can bring some wine etc. This is not a must at all and as a host I’d never expect it, but it’s a nice touch.
Our experience with Warmshowers
Stew and I have used Warmshowers for years now. We’ve stayed with Warmshowers hosts in Europe, Central Asia and South East Asia.
We’ve also hosted several cyclists and received all positive reviews.
Here are some of the ‘rules’ we follow to make Warmshowers a better place for everyone.
The dos of Warmshowers
- Help keep the community alive by logging into your account and checking your messages frequently.
- Respond to messages you receive promptly.
- Provide feedback to your hosts.
- Provide feedback to your guests.
- Provide feedback to any Warmshowers members who helped you in any way, even if you didn’t stay with them.
- If you’re staying with a host try and bring something along as a thank you. This is not at all essential and I don’t think expected, but as a host, I’ve always been grateful when I’ve cooked and my guest bought wine or cake.
The don’ts of Warmshowers
- Don’t assume that your host will have you for more than one night.
- Don’t ask for hosting if you are not travelling by bike.
- Don’t contact hosts expecting them to plan your route for you! At least come to them with a route and ask them for a steer on what you have already planned.
Is Warmshowers any good?
We absolutely love Warmshowers. We love hosting and we love being a guest. Some of our most memorable stories have come from being hosted at Warmshowers!
Check out some of our stories below!
Some of our most memorable Warmshowers hosts
Peter in England
Peter was our first warmshowers host ever! He was so brilliant and helped us to understand how the site works. When I messaged him I said I was unsure about how it works and should bring anything for dinner, he recommended his fave wine and we got to it! It was so helpful to have a guide. I hope we stay with Peter again on our return from the tour.
Arnaud in France
Arnaud and his friends gave us the most incredible experience with warmshowers. We just loved them! I feel like if actually lived near Arnaud and his friends we would’ve genuinely been friends. It was so lovely to meet them and we’ve stayed in touch since the tour. Hopefully we’ll meet with them again one day!
Genevieve and Francois
Genevieve and Francois were so lovely. There was such a language barrier between us but we got through! They told us about their favourite (and very efficient) cycling meal and it’s been our favorite ever since.
It’s: tinned tuna in oil, spaghetti and veg. Use the oil from the tin to cook the veg, boil the spaghetti then throw it all in together. Delish.
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Marko in Slovenia
Mark altered the course of our route! We had a plan, but Marko took one look at it, asked us what we were doing then rerouted us for miles.
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Behic in Turkey
Behic took us in for a night and when we arrived in the rain he drove to meet us and took all our things off our bike to we could rise as fast as possible to his place. We ended up meeting all his friends and we went out for dinner. An unforgettable experience for sure.
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Matt in Almaty
Matt’s place in Almaty was a God send. After months on the road, cycling through the desert, and no access to an oven for MONTHS we were so happy to be in Matt’s home. Matt had some incredible cycling stories he wrote a book on his tour where he lived on £5 a day! He was super laid back and open with his home. We ended up there at the same time as a French couple and we had a lovely time together playing board games, sharing stories and eating meals together.
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Post written by: Zoe Ashbridge
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I was in two minds as to whether or not to pay and join warm showers.
Having read your excellent article however, I have now decided to give it a go!
Thank you for taking the time to write in detail, your thoughts on the matter.
Good luck with your future tours.
Hey, Anthony!
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this comment! I’m so pleased you found the article helpful. We love Warmshowers, it’s really added to our adventures. It has moments where it’s a little frustrating, like when you send messages to get nothing back, but I’m highly confident you’ll a) meet amazing hosts b) make that small fee of £30 back. Let us know how you get on with it! We’d love to hear about your first WS experience!