To Couchsurf or not to couchsurf - that is the Question!

[snowball1982]

Alright ladies, gentlemen and others!
I have a flight booked, Saskatoon > Toronto > Belfast, all starting on July 14th! Whoop!


Now, the deal....
Hostels are starting to fill up! Weekends are already being booked as late as July 12th in Paddy's (the hostel I want to stay) - so I am jumping on some accommodation ASAP!

But this is what I am wondering: I have a couch surfing account, which is something I have never done (couch surf I mean). I want to couchsurf for a number of reasons... asides from saving money, I think it would be awesome to meet locals, get the inside track, perhaps have a more comfortable sleeping arrangement (quieter? more private? etc). Therefore I am thinking I would like to couchsurf around 20% of the time.

My problem is this: When should I couchsurf? When should I not couchsurf? I have to start booking a weeks worth of accomodation in Belfast soon... should I save the weekends for hostels? Should I not hook up with a Couch Surfing host my first night in the city (I mean, stay at their place!)? Any tips? Do CS Hosts like people on weekends or weekdays? Do they want to hang out with a Canadian Dude with jetlag and bitchey as hell? :D

Thanks!