Would you ever go to Europe with a stranger?
 

Just taking a personal poll...would you ever go to Europe with someone you buddied-up with on the internet? I have also said no way but so many people are doing it because they have trouble finding travel buddies with similar interests...what do you guys think?

Sure,after I hitch hike across the US and go out drinking with the crew of a ship just in after months in the Gulf.<BR>

I don't think I would either...too many weirdos out there.

It is weird enough just reading some of these posts,I cannot imagine actually traveling with some of them.<BR>Imagine being in a foreign country with Al Godon , julie,Rex,all the xxx's!!!<BR>Now that would definitely qualify as a nightmare.

Eek! The mere thought sends me running & screaming for a valium!!...except perhaps Elvira - she sounds like loads of fun!

Yes,elvira is one of the people that would be a great travel companion.<BR>or just a great friend.<BR> But thinking about some of these wacky posters here,shudder!!!

Hmm. Me a wacko!! I pass for normal at home. (I think.) But how do you folks know I am a real person?<BR>Like one of the Federal Credit Union guidelines: "Accounts not belonging to natural persons ....."<BR>I presume then that some accounts belong to unnatural persons.<BR><BR>

Yes, there are a few people I would travel with based on an internet friendship. But it would have to be a long-term friendship, like over 1 year, for example. And it would most likely be someone that my other internet buddies knew as well.<BR><BR>I'm a very cautious person and I'm a good judge of character, so it would be someone that I knew REALLY well, someone I've e-mailed quite a bit, IMd with a lot, interacted with on a message board and observed his/her interaction with others, someone I've written to and received letters from, someone I've spoken to on the phone, maybe met once or twice in person, etc., etc..

Beware. Hiho may be a little bit too eager to join you on your trip.<BR><BR>Author: Paige ([email protected])<BR>Date: 07/26/2001, 07:25 am<BR><BR>Message: Hello! I'm just starting to think about a trip for October and am looking for opinions. We want to go someplace that isn't cold and is relatively inexpensive. We're not into lying on the beach but prefer hiking, wandering around, an occassional church or museum and relaxing some. I'd love to hear your opinions on Malta vs. Crete or any other place. Thanks!<BR><BR>---------------------------------------<BR> <BR>Author: Hiho ([email protected])<BR>Date: 07/26/2001, 07:41 am<BR><BR>Message: I am jealous of your choice! I have been to neither place, so I probably can't help you decide, but I have a desire to go to Malta - just haven't made it yet. One difference is that Crete is much larger, so the things to see/do will be more varied. On the other hand, if you go to Malta, you will be able to hit all of the highlights in one stay. To me, the small town of Mdina sounds fascinating, as does old town Valleta. October would be a great time to go to any Med. island, as the tourist hordes will be gone, but the weather will still be pleasant. <BR><BR>Other islands to think about are the Balearics (Spain), and though not in the Med. - Madeira, where the hiking is suppose to be really good, if you are into that. <BR><BR>Maybe you want some company on the trip!?!?<BR> <BR>

Yes, I second BeatChick's thoughts. I'd be cautious as well, but finding the right person, and trusting my intuition, I'd take the plunge and travel with an internet contact. Actually, it would be interesting to put together a small group of 5-10 to visit Paris or Veince for a few days. I've listened to several on here, and I'd certainly be willing to take a risk and travel with them. It's relatively easy to sort of the good from the bad.

I totally agree with RnR.<BR>

And if anyone ever considers a group, please post. I don't think that would violate Fodors' rules. It would be interesting to see whether we could build up enough trust to actually bring it off. If it's been done before, lets please hear about it. Thanks.

Stranger means danger<BR>excitement and great intrigue<BR>So I would say yes<BR>

I've done it once. I posted re anyone interested in Poland and Romania in Jan 2001. Had 3 interested parties. Two ended up having conflicts but one Linda joined up with me. We did a lot of e-mailing and spoke on the phone several times. We did get to meet at the San Francisco fodorite GTG. She turned out to be a very flexible traveler as I am and we did discuss and change out itinerary a couple of times during the trip. She was also a very good navigator and driver during out trip. Good sense of humor and we had a very nice trip. I usually travel by myself but I have met about 45 fodorites without a bad one in the lot, so I guess it could happen again.

topping

I think you do need to be careful. But with that being said, I am doing this very same thing next month. I am taking an European tour and started corresponding with someone in San Diego, so her and I decided to room together for the trip (I live in Detroit). I think you can usually get a pretty good sense of what someone may be like if you take enough time to correspond with them. I met my ex-boyfriend online and it turned out fine. We talked for over a year before we met, but it was fine when we met and now we still remain friends. In fact, Im meeting up with an internet friend in Dublin one night. Good looking and great job, sounds wonderful and we've spoken many times on the phone. So as long as your careful there shouldn't be too much to be concerned about. I'll let you all know what happens with my travels when I return.

Lisa, Art, I am amazed. Good for you! I'd love to have a similar experience, but so far, nada. Life is interesting. Will be watching for your posts about your trip.

I have met about 10 Fodorites after initially corresponding with them on this board. (I am not including the SF GTG when I met a lot of Fodorites, most of whom I "knew" only from their posts on this board).<BR><BR>Usually a conversation about travel is taken off board (onto email) and we correspond for a while and get to know one another a little better before the suggestion to meet is made. <BR><BR>These meetings are of a shorter duration (typically a meal or a day touring a market local to me) rather than extended travelling arrangements.<BR><BR>On a smaller board I use daily (which allows more privacy and intimacy) I have got to know some internet friends very well. There are certainly a number amongst this group whom I would have litte hesitation in travelling with. <BR><BR>Certainly some of the group have already vacationed together and a number met for short get togethers, like our Fodorite GTGs.<BR><BR>Though it is easier for someone to hide the truth over the internet it can also be easier for many to share the truth - to talk more openly about themselves on first contact than they would when first meeting a stranger in the flesh. <BR><BR>With experience comes the ability to get a feel for how genuine your internet friend really is, though of course there is no guarantee. But then again, there is no guarantee with friends met in the flesh either. Just read all the horror stories on travel companions from hell, shared on this board, where most of the travel companions are well-known. "real life" friends before travelling.

Hell I don't even go to Europe with my friends ;-)<BR><BR>I don't mind traveling solo... actually find it much more relaxing than with a (especially a bad or unknown!) partner.

I find it odd how some of you consider an exception to the no-stranger rule, just because she is clever. She is still a stranger. Although some of you claim to have met her, "she" could be a 300 lb., hairy, male biker, with a record. Granted, I suspect she is a she, and that she exists and is relatively harmless, but I would submit she is no less anonymous (unless you really have met her). Dangerous people who use the internet to pursue their evil goals probably wouldn't be very successful, unless they, too, were somewhat clever or charismatic.

I've met absolutely fantastic people through this forum, connecting in Paris, London, and even Art's house. I like these people, but don't know them well enough to risk traveling with them...not because they'll be somehow awful, but because the friendship is too new to risk. If (let's say "when") my sister does something to annoy me (or I, her - not that *that* would ever happen), we shrug it off or get cranky with each other - after this many years on earth together, we're used to it. A new friendship might not handle that, and completely break down - so now I'm having a lousy trip AND I've lost a friend. <BR><BR>I'd rather meet for drinks or dinner, or plan a daytrip together, and keep the budding friendship intact.<BR><BR>Anyway, no one other than the Loons needs to experience my obsessive-compulsive breakdown on day 3 of a trip "dammit dammit DAMMIT!!! where's the damn itinerary??? who took it??!!" and then the subsequent hosing down...<BR><BR><BR>

elvira,there are some thing in this world that I just want to experience.<BR>1-travel with you<BR>2-watching that breakdown<BR>3-remaining friends after the hosing down~

Interesting thoughts. And Kavey, thanks a million. And do you still keep those fabulous pictures up, Mombo. Perhaps we'll chat again sometime. Have a good day.

Scarlett: I hope you are joking, because that is weird or you are very lonely.

hope-<BR>don't worry about it.I am fine.

Yes, I would, though only after considerable vetting.<BR><BR>I've already done much more dangerous sorts of things, namely staying with very nearly complete strangers in Europe in the course of a student exchange and stint as an au pair. Some of the best experiences of my life.

RnR<BR>You're welcome and I never did see your Africa pictures did I?<BR><BR>Elvira<BR>I understand exactly, which is why the meetings I have had with budding friends (yourself included) have been shorter durations over meals etc. And a pleasure it was to meet you too! My neice is still infatuated!!

No, I would never travel with strangers. I don't have too. I'm married and we love to travel. Most of our trips are just the 2 of us but occasionally we go with friends or family.<BR><BR>If I were single and didn't have someone to share my travels with then I guess I would consider it.

No, Kavey, never posted, and not as good as yours, believe me. Trying again.<BR><BR>Here's another vote for Scarlett as a great poster, not that she needs it.<BR><BR>

Scarlett, I'm with you. I'd love to travel with Elvira. Elvira, I'm sure many of us wish you'd be our trip leader.

I've said it once, and dammit, I'm going to say it again: Scarlett would be an absolute hoot to travel with, and I've never laid eyes on the lady. My momma always said, Lo, you don't have much, but with that name, you gotta shoot for the stars.

Go Lo

I've done it. I started emailing with a woman I met here. We chatted online for a couple of months, and then as part of a smaller group. Last spring, we traveled to England together for 6 days. I drove, she navigated and we had a great time. We even met up with another poster on this very thread!

While I would never take a trip with a person I met on this or any other message board. Through posting on the African board it came to pass that myself and another poster just happened to be going on the exact same safari, with the same company, on the same dates (go figure.) Myself, my husband she and her friend, all met in Nairobi, and really enjoyed ourselves. It was fun to email someone in advance who was going through much the same process as myself (shots, how much money etc?). Again, I would have no problem meeting up with people for lunch, or whatever and have done so here in Los Angeles. But I wouldn't find a travel companion/i.e. share a room, person from a message board.

Previous comments from/about Art and Thyra on traveling with internet acquaintances.<BR><BR>Author: Rex ([email protected])<BR>Date: 03/28/2001, 02:32 pm<BR><BR>Message: Art Hussey is a stalwart on this board, and yes, he mis-spells some wurds - - whut of it? <BR><BR>He just gave a brief report of his (second) Southern California Fodorites' get-together - - perhaps the largest ever, at about 20 people. I'm sure this can provide you with some physical descriptions. Regrettably, I was not able to attend (from Ohio) - - though Tony and Emily (from Scotland) did. <BR><BR>He has mentioned a September trip to Poland, Romania and Slovakia (search "vlads castle") - - and I have tried, with no success to get some additional interest in other Fodorites' joining in. <BR><BR>----------------------------------------<BR><BR>Author: Art ([email protected])<BR>Date: 03/28/2001, 04:41 pm<BR><BR>Message: To whom it may concern. Yes I am an Atrocious speller. On the other hand I've designed computer databases that have been running for 10 or more years and in one case for 16 years. I'm not 6'5", I'm only 6'4". I learned to type very fast when younger and do have occasional typos as I'm trying to keep up with my thoughts. I still don't know the point of your post other then to attack me. If this is true, then you are no better than the other cowardly and anonymous postors that have attacked other posters in the past.<BR><BR>----------------------------------------<BR> <BR>Author: Thyra ([email protected])<BR>Date: 03/28/2001, 05:06 pm<BR><BR>Message: Fight on Art!!!We support you!!! I guess nnn is trying to systematically destroy this board... fly away little troll and move back to Lonely Planet please. <BR>BTW Art, thanks for hosting a very nice Fodorite Party this past weekend. It was very gracious of you to open your home and invite us. <BR>

Hell yes, if he was handsome enough and from Italy !!!

There are some crazy DEAF FLORIDIANS WHO GO AROUND SHOUTING ALL THE TIME who would like to "hook up" with some strangers!<BR>

<BR>i would travel with a stranger <BR>i wouldnt have to email with this person too much a couple of months would be enough, a few phone calls, and one meeting in public and it'd be settled <BR>see the thing is that i think [might be wrong] that what one is going to find out about a person in two months is about the same you would in three years one can always read body language and some other stuff that is impossible to hide but there are other traits that you cant uncover unless the other person is willing to let you see them so if i was going to pick a stranger to travel to Europe with i would do that <BR>i did something similar a couple of years ago i posted an ad in the news paper and asked for someone who would travel with me for a month through mexico ....i got a bunch of phone calls and even though i originally was looking for one partner 4 people ended up going with me <BR>we had a blast, and we remain friends <BR>before traveling together we only talked one the phone for about 5 weeks and met a few times since we live in the same city <BR>i would definately recommend doing this if you are a patient person only because even though i had a great time you might not be so lucky when you pick your partner so just make up your mind to have a good time and dont let anybody ruin it

ttt<BR>

NO, when you list the positives and negatives the negative list is MUCH longer than the positive list. In a nut shell a good match on a trip can make a good trip better anything less will make the trip worse. So the odds are very high that you will go from good to bad.