Portal issue

I looked up how to host a portal and I am unable to do so. I don't if I am missing something but when I view available portals I do not even have the host icon to choose to be able to host. I would like try out the vehicle and change controls without being in an actual game but currently I am unable to. I see many other portal issues not exactly like mine so what is the issue? how can host my own to do some practice?