Being a guest

FINDING A HOST IS YOUR JOB

It may take time and effort to arrange a stay. That effort is the exchange you make for free accommodation. Hosts are best used as a stop along the way rather than a destination, and you should expect to come off your route to reach one. If that is more trouble than it is worth to you, a motel is a perfectly good answer.

THE NUMBER ONE COMPLAINT

A guest says they are coming, does not turn up, and does not tell the host their plans changed.

If you cannot make it, or will not, say so as early as you possibly can. Nobody minds a change of plan. Everybody minds being left waiting.

If a host says no, say thank you and move on. Do not push, do not take it personally, do not be rude about it.

HOW TO MAKE CONTACT

Open the map and find hosts near where you are heading. Each pin says what that person offers and how they want to be reached. Follow what their pin says.

Open with: that you found them through Bunk-a-Biker, your name, and the dates you need. Then say how many of you there are and what you are riding.

Be ready to say more. A photo of you and your bike, links to your profiles, references from hosts you have stayed with before. A host who asks these things is doing exactly what we tell them to do.

Most hosts want between one and fourteen days' notice. One to three days is the most common. Some will take a same-day request; very few can promise anything a month out.

ASK THESE THINGS EARLY

Within the first few messages, before either of you has arranged anything, find out:

House rules — where they stand on alcohol, cannabis and other drugs, their preference on weapons, what time they sleep and wake, when you are expected to leave, which parts of the house you have access to.

What is actually on offer — how many nights, inside or outside, whether you need your own bedding, whether food is provided or you feed yourself.

Availability — whether they are actually home for the dates you need.

Parking — covered, garage, driveway, street, or round the back. You will want to know where your bike is sleeping too.

Pets — if you have allergies, ask before you arrive rather than after.

Knowing early gives you time to make other plans if something does not work for you.

STAYING SAFE

You know you are safe. Your host does not. They are being as cautious about letting you in as you are about going in. Try not to ask anything of them you would not be glad to provide yourself.

Tell a friend or family member where you are staying, who with, and how you found them. Check in while you are there.

Meet somewhere public first if you want to — a coffee shop or a diner gives both of you a neutral place to weigh things up.

Send a photo of the front of the house and the plates to someone you trust.

Photograph the space you used, before and after, in case anything is ever claimed.

Do not hand over documents that would affect your ability to leave. Keep valuables and papers out of sight or on you.

Never be afraid to leave early. Trust your instincts and do not be polite at the cost of being safe.

BEING SOMEONE THEY ARE GLAD THEY SAID YES TO

Shower when you arrive. Genuinely — it is asked for often enough to be on this page.

Bring something from where you have come from. A poker chip, a keychain, local food or drink.

Make the bed, or offer to put the sheets in the wash before you go. Leave the place as good as you found it or better.

Ask before helping yourself to food or drink, and do not assume a meal is coming. Be ready to feed yourself.

Offer to do the dishes, clear the table, or cook.

Respect their position on alcohol, cannabis, weapons and drugs, whatever your own is.

Say so tactfully if you are tired or sore. Your host is probably excited to have you and may forget you have had a long day.

Be open to what they suggest. Plenty of hosts want to show you their favourite road, or a bar you would never have found.

Keep your gear in one place. Be quiet when the house is asleep.

Some personalities simply do not fit. If that happens, be civil until you leave.

Steer clear of politics, religion, gender, and anything else that tends to end an evening badly.

WHAT WILL GET YOU BANNED

Leaving rubbish behind. Deliberately damaging property — riding on their grass, flattening plants, breaking things. Accidents happen; talk about them.

Stealing.

Getting drunk or high and becoming a problem.

Treating the house like a hotel and the host like staff.

Staying shut in the guest room the whole time. The point of this network is the people. If you want to be left alone, get a motel.

Anything sexual or perverse — propositioning a host, touching without consent, offensive jokes nobody asked for.

Not taking no for an answer.

IF SOMETHING BREAKS DOWN

Tell your host how long repairs will take and keep them updated. Talk openly about how long you are staying and whether you should make other arrangements.

IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG

If anything possibly criminal happens, leave, get somewhere safe, and contact the police.

For anything else, try to sort it out between yourselves first. If that fails, email us. If you think a host should not be hosting, tell us as soon as you can.