travel companions
Jul 21st, 2007, 04:32 AM
#1
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travel companions
Whilst I'm usually quite content to travel on my own, there's nothing quite like having someone to share the experience with... unfortunately I have rather different tastes to my family members and my friends are generally too unreliable to come on holiday with me, so recently I started trying out companion matchmaker sites... I was a little skeptical at first as I have an abject disliking for "dating sites", but I was acctually quite impressed with the site I used ( www.companions2travel.co.uk )... I've already booked about nine more holidays for the next 12 months...
I was just wondering what everyones oppinions on travel companion sites where, or indeed, how many people would be willing to risk going on holiday with someone they've never met before?
I was just wondering what everyones oppinions on travel companion sites where, or indeed, how many people would be willing to risk going on holiday with someone they've never met before?
Jul 21st, 2007, 07:31 AM
#4
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No companion. Sometimes I'll get up early in the morning and have hundreds of miles under my belt before 8 AM. Sometimes I'll travel day after day for weeks. I'm a bit of a shopaholic so will walk for hours and hours around shopping areas. I eat on the move and to me a hotel is often nothing more than a place to sleep at night so I don't look for comforts.
Most people wouldn't tolerate some or all of this so I'd have to modify my holiday for them. No thanks.
Most people wouldn't tolerate some or all of this so I'd have to modify my holiday for them. No thanks.
Aug 9th, 2007, 01:58 AM
#7
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Well, I just got back from a trip to the south of France, having used the service.... I have to say it was one of the most fun holidays I've had in my life...
A lot of you guys mentioned that theres far too many wierdos online, and I was well aware of that, which is why I got to know my prospective travel companions on the website forum first... And I'm glad I did!
Some of you also mentioned that its unlikely that someone online would make a better travel companion than a family member, well I have to disagree... I always end up getting into petty squabbles with my family and it was refreshing finding a group of people who are genuinely interested in the same things as me, rather than merely tolerating my taste in holiday!
I found that the group I went with, 2 wonderful young women and a rather amusing man, had eerily similar tastes to me and they ended up suggesting day trips that I wouldn't usually indulge in with other people (such as mountain hiking), and almost everything I suggested was met with enthusiasm from the group!
On the whole the trip went off without a hitch, Ive made 3 good new friends (one of whom is going to Germany with me in a few months) and, as I said, had a lot of fun!
companions2travel gets a thumbs up from me!
A lot of you guys mentioned that theres far too many wierdos online, and I was well aware of that, which is why I got to know my prospective travel companions on the website forum first... And I'm glad I did!
Some of you also mentioned that its unlikely that someone online would make a better travel companion than a family member, well I have to disagree... I always end up getting into petty squabbles with my family and it was refreshing finding a group of people who are genuinely interested in the same things as me, rather than merely tolerating my taste in holiday!
I found that the group I went with, 2 wonderful young women and a rather amusing man, had eerily similar tastes to me and they ended up suggesting day trips that I wouldn't usually indulge in with other people (such as mountain hiking), and almost everything I suggested was met with enthusiasm from the group!
On the whole the trip went off without a hitch, Ive made 3 good new friends (one of whom is going to Germany with me in a few months) and, as I said, had a lot of fun!
companions2travel gets a thumbs up from me!
Aug 9th, 2007, 02:39 AM
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Speaking of trying to find people with shared tastes, there are likely quite a few people who dislike having to pay a fee for a service that has many non-profit equivalents, especially when there are other avenues which allow people to meet in person first. For example, one could look for travel companions at health clubs, places of worship, and other places where people congregate and likely know each other somewhat anyway. One then has a better opportunity to gauge the credentials of said people (and they you). There is also the hostel route (both the 'youth' and 'elder' versions), to say nothing of commercial tour companies which vary widely in the budgets and interests of the groups to which they cater. The latter avenues allow one to casually associate, and just as gently dissociate, from people while one gets to know them as travel partners.
The irony of your question is not lost on me my friend. May I point out that you and I have had but a very brief and superficial 'acquaintance', so you should be reasonably skeptical of my opinion on the efficacy or suitability of impersonal Internet sites to arrange personal matters, said Sue with as straight a face as she can manage.
The irony of your question is not lost on me my friend. May I point out that you and I have had but a very brief and superficial 'acquaintance', so you should be reasonably skeptical of my opinion on the efficacy or suitability of impersonal Internet sites to arrange personal matters, said Sue with as straight a face as she can manage.
Aug 9th, 2007, 03:09 AM
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Traveling with (and everyday living with) people requires compromise. That said, traveled once with one of my oldest friends - big mistake. She still is one of my most beloved friends (heart of gold really) but travel with her? Nope.
Travel with a stranger? Not this lady. I do like traveling by myself.
Travel with a stranger? Not this lady. I do like traveling by myself.
Aug 9th, 2007, 03:17 AM
#12
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Never. EVER. Not in a million years. Muich, much rather travel solo.
This is sounding a bit too much like advertising. Humunculai, I don't know if this is your intention but please be aware that advertising is stricly prohibited in this Forum.
This is sounding a bit too much like advertising. Humunculai, I don't know if this is your intention but please be aware that advertising is stricly prohibited in this Forum.
Aug 9th, 2007, 03:37 AM
#13
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Interesting.
Like lots of the respondents so far I've travelled far and wide on my own, almost always on a buy a flight and then go where I fancy and stay as long as I want basis, before moving on.
And you do meet people on the way.
I think, though, that cost comes into it. Easy and cheap to do the above in places with lots of public transport and lots of affordable accommo - Africa, India, Mexico, SE Asia etc. Or places with a backpacker network - Australia or NZ.
It really depends where you want to go. Some of those single supplements are a killer.
I did join an Australian based travel companion site primarily looking for folk to share trips closer to home - walking, camping, etc. But with an idea (I'm sure mutual) that if we got on, then travel overseas would be a possibility.
I don't see how it would be so different from those times where you do meet people on the road - you might band together to hire a taxi or boat; you might meet up for a meal; but you don't have to do everything together; you don't have to live in each other's pockets.
I'm open minded but suspect such an arrangement probably is more suited to going on a tour than an everything is open for negotiation sort of trip.
Like lots of the respondents so far I've travelled far and wide on my own, almost always on a buy a flight and then go where I fancy and stay as long as I want basis, before moving on.
And you do meet people on the way.
I think, though, that cost comes into it. Easy and cheap to do the above in places with lots of public transport and lots of affordable accommo - Africa, India, Mexico, SE Asia etc. Or places with a backpacker network - Australia or NZ.
It really depends where you want to go. Some of those single supplements are a killer.
I did join an Australian based travel companion site primarily looking for folk to share trips closer to home - walking, camping, etc. But with an idea (I'm sure mutual) that if we got on, then travel overseas would be a possibility.
I don't see how it would be so different from those times where you do meet people on the road - you might band together to hire a taxi or boat; you might meet up for a meal; but you don't have to do everything together; you don't have to live in each other's pockets.
I'm open minded but suspect such an arrangement probably is more suited to going on a tour than an everything is open for negotiation sort of trip.
Aug 9th, 2007, 04:01 AM
#14
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eep, firstly, I must respond to marigross with my tail between my legs and defend myself a little; It was most certainly not my intention to advertise, I was merely stating the service I personally used, fully aware that there are likely to be many other sites of a similar nature around, some of which may be more reliable, some of which may be not so reliable, as such I specified so as to not mislead by bundling all my eggs into one basket, as it were...
I gave companions2travel a thumbs up because ira asked earlier in the conversation to rewport back and share my experience as soon as I returned, and suitably impressed with the service, I reported it.
This topic is NOT about companions2travel, so much as it is about web-based travel companion websites, sorry if my wording misleaded you to assume otherwise!
back on task though;
to sue_xx_yy; you are, of course, completely right. The afformentioned website is a commercial venture (though you don't have to pay
) whilst you can just as easily join a club or group "in real life" and meet travel companions that way... This, unfortunately, does not apply for everyone... some people have a busy schedule and can't spare the time to go to a club or group, or they might live out in the middle of nowhere and not be able to attend, the online environment is often a convenient way of socialising without the hassle of having to go to a specific physical location. As for the fee which some websites request for full membership, if someone is willing to pay for the service it shows a level of dedication, and so they are, I imagine, less prone to mess you around and lead you on... if such things are worries.
meh, but enough of my defensive position, back onto the discussion!
I gave companions2travel a thumbs up because ira asked earlier in the conversation to rewport back and share my experience as soon as I returned, and suitably impressed with the service, I reported it.
This topic is NOT about companions2travel, so much as it is about web-based travel companion websites, sorry if my wording misleaded you to assume otherwise!
back on task though;
to sue_xx_yy; you are, of course, completely right. The afformentioned website is a commercial venture (though you don't have to pay
) whilst you can just as easily join a club or group "in real life" and meet travel companions that way... This, unfortunately, does not apply for everyone... some people have a busy schedule and can't spare the time to go to a club or group, or they might live out in the middle of nowhere and not be able to attend, the online environment is often a convenient way of socialising without the hassle of having to go to a specific physical location. As for the fee which some websites request for full membership, if someone is willing to pay for the service it shows a level of dedication, and so they are, I imagine, less prone to mess you around and lead you on... if such things are worries.meh, but enough of my defensive position, back onto the discussion!
Aug 9th, 2007, 04:13 AM
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There are plenty of people who have been "met before" and for quite a while and you think you "know" them...and then you actually travel with them and a whole other aspect becomes apparent, sometimes painfully so.
I'm glad it worked out for you.
I'm glad it worked out for you.
Aug 9th, 2007, 04:18 AM
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that said, the same could be said about ANYONE.... theres aspects of my persona that even my best friends have never seen... I react in some situations in ways that I wouldn't expect to react... and I'm not alone...
I guess most people have many personas for different situations... a different mask for every occasion as it were...
in philosophical terms, unless we merged to form a common conciousness I doubt you'll ever REALLY "know" anyone!
I guess most people have many personas for different situations... a different mask for every occasion as it were...
in philosophical terms, unless we merged to form a common conciousness I doubt you'll ever REALLY "know" anyone!
Aug 9th, 2007, 07:31 AM
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It could work quite well. The thing about traveling with friends or family is they may not have the same travel style and then the squabbles would begin.
Meeting a companion through a service would have the benefit of matching travel styles instead of trying to compromise. If a site had enough participation, one could come with their list in hand and have a good chance at finding the perfect match. If you chose a person that was a seasoned traveler and things weren’t working out, it would be easier to part company.
That said, I am blessed with the perfect travel companion but if I didn’t, I would rather meet a potential travel companion face to face. Maybe by taking a tour with a special interest group.
I hope you will let us know how it works out for you.
Meeting a companion through a service would have the benefit of matching travel styles instead of trying to compromise. If a site had enough participation, one could come with their list in hand and have a good chance at finding the perfect match. If you chose a person that was a seasoned traveler and things weren’t working out, it would be easier to part company.
That said, I am blessed with the perfect travel companion but if I didn’t, I would rather meet a potential travel companion face to face. Maybe by taking a tour with a special interest group.
I hope you will let us know how it works out for you.
