When our epic adventure began, one of our big concerns was missing our friends. What we didn’t realise was how many new friends we would make on the road, largely thanks to three websites which match travellers with potential hosts.

People all over the world have signed up to Couchsurfing, Hospitality Club and the cyclists-only Warm Showers sites to offer free accommodation or the chance to meet over a meal and tour the area with a local. There are dozens of other sites out there that offer the same service. Just use your favourite search engine to find them.

Walking into a stranger’s home can be intimidating at first. Will you like them? Will they like you? What if they’re just plain odd? All these thoughts raced through our heads the first time we arranged to stay with someone but every time we’ve found a generous host who went out of his or her way to make us feel at home and several times we left with new best friends.

First were Yves & Ingrid in France, cyclists themselves who pampered us with a soft bed, wonderful meals and many glasses of wine. A little further down the road, Stefan showed us around the bird reserves of his area and gave Friedel a place to recover when she came down with the flu. In Greece, Harry taught us how to make a tasty cocktail out of coffee and Baileys. We didn’t discover that our hotel manager in Aleppo was a Couchsurfing member until after we’d checked in but when he found out we were part of the same group he upgraded our room. In Iran, Hadi and Mehrnoosh led us through the palaces of the capital Tehran, while Ali and his family took us out for a Friday picnic by a shrine.

We’d have missed all these experiences, some of the finest memories of our trip, if we hadn’t been brave enough to send that first email. Even if you don’t have the ability to host people at the moment (you can always repay the generosity in the future), we still encourage you to sign up for these sites and try to use them during your tour. It gives you a contact with the culture that you can’t replicate by going to a museum.

Here are our tips for a good Couchsurfing experience:

• Try and write at least a week in advance. The more notice the better, particularly in large cities where hosts may get many requests.
• Introduce yourself in your email. Try to find a common bond with your host and be as clear as you can about the time you would like to stay.
• Some hosts may have to work during the day. Be flexible with the time you will arrive.
• Bring a small present. This is not strictly necessary and no money should ever be asked for Couchsurfing but a box of chocolates is a nice gesture that says you appreciate their generosity.
• Keep in touch afterwards and write a thank you postcard or send a picture from your time together.