Safe Options and Some to Avoid

Finding a journey companion could make journey higher however it could actually additionally make it worse.

There was a energetic debate about discovering a journey accomplice on the Solo Travel Society on Facebook.

• The majority of individuals thought of this service counter to solo journey. Karen wrote: “I do not wish to join with anybody, love being solo.“
• Some thought that there was positively a spot for it. Danielle wrote: “on the subject of mountain climbing or tenting remotely whereas solo, that is just a little nerve wracking and I’d love to fulfill up with people who find themselves in the identical mindset.“
• Some favored the thought as a method of getting across the single complement. Mary wrote: “I like the thought of being related to somebody generally to keep away from that “single-occupancy tax.“

Let’s be clear: regardless of being a solo traveler, I’ve traveled with companions many instances and had good success. It can improve the journey expertise as you uncover a brand new vacation spot by means of your personal cultural lens and that of your new journey companion as nicely.

Yet, no matter your motive for in search of a journey companion, I counsel you proceed with warning and use the strategies under. They are protected and can assist enhance your probabilities of making a profitable match.

How to Find a Travel Companion: Methods I Can Recommend

There are protected methods to discover a journey accomplice for a day, per week, or extra. These strategies provide the freedom of being solo and connecting to attention-grabbing individuals once you need.

1. Get a heat introduction from a buddy.

One of the most effective methods to discover a journey companion is thru a buddy or member of the family. Being involved to your security, they may solely counsel that you just journey with individuals they belief. Hopefully, you may be geographically shut sufficient to fulfill one another a number of instances earlier than setting out as a way to decide for your self whether or not they’re an individual with whom you want to spend so much of time.

2. How to fulfill the fitting journey companion alongside the way in which.

This has occurred to me most frequently in hostels, but it surely would not actually matter the place you meet them. The level is that you just meet a journey buddy as you journey, not earlier than. You get to fulfill them in individual and spend a number of days collectively sharing meals or day excursions earlier than committing to something longer. Spend the times within the public sphere and return to your personal protected lodging each night time. Eventually, you possibly can resolve whether or not that is the fitting individual so that you can journey with.

3. Let your tour/cruise firm join you with a journey accomplice.

If your purpose is to keep away from the one complement on a tour or cruise, ask the journey firm to accomplice you with one other solo traveler. Most firms will and, if they cannot, they’re going to provide you with your personal room for no further cost. See our Deals web page for excursions and cruises with no or low single dietary supplements.

4. Use Meetup.com to seek out locals who need related experiences

Meetup.com is a wonderful useful resource for solo vacationers to fulfill individuals of comparable pursuits. These are most frequently locals, not individuals to journey with. But, locals! How nice is that? I used Meetup.com and located individuals to hike with in Hong Kong.

5. Book a greeter and have a neighborhood share their metropolis with you. 

International Greeters connects you with locals who volunteer to point out off their metropolis. I’ve used this service in Paris, New York, Kyoto, and Chicago. It’s an effective way to fulfill and have enjoyable with somebody new. I’ve gone biking, shared lunch, and shopped with greeters.

6. Women Welcome Women World Wide

This is a world neighborhood of two,400 individuals in over 80 nations. They are principally girls over 60 who wish to journey extra usually and meet locals, in order that they host each other for a tea or a keep as they journey. Read Women Welcoming Women: A Gateway to International Friendships.

7. Take a day tour or a category to discover a journey companion.

If social is what you are searching for, schedule in time for social actions. Day excursions and group classes provide you with a social expertise. Perhaps you will meet somebody with whom you’d prefer to spend extra time. Read How to Travel Alone Without Being Lonely: 10 Tips & 6 Short Stories.

3 Safety Rules for Traveling with Someone New

Traveling with somebody you have no idea very well requires a number of security suggestions, particularly when you’re touring independently:

1. Stay in public. When you’re with somebody new, keep within the public sphere for a minimum of a number of days. You want a little bit of time to get to know them earlier than renting a automobile collectively or sharing a resort room. Eventually, decide whether or not this can be a individual with whom you actually really feel protected.
2. Be proactive. Choose who you wish to spend time with. Make your personal selections somewhat than responding to invites from others who might need agendas of their very own.
3. Don’t be rushed into a call. If you’re contemplating touring with somebody, do not be rushed into the choice. If the thought comes up however they are saying that you will need to resolve by a time that’s lower than snug for you, decline the chance.

Also, learn our main submit on solo journey security.

Apps/Sites for Travel Companions: My Concerns

There are various apps and web sites that may show you how to discover a journey accomplice. I’ve issues about them for the next causes.

1. Compatibility. Just as a result of you are going to the identical vacation spot doesn’t imply that you just’re suitable with somebody. You might not uncover till you are into the journey that you do not share the identical pursuits or methods of exploring, by no means thoughts the rhythm of your travels. This could make for a depressing journey.
2. Catfishing. A catfish is somebody on-line who pretends to be somebody they don’t seem to be. Without an actual life connection, there isn’t any technique to know who’s actual and who is not on social media. This may put you in a weak state of affairs the place the individual you thought was going to be your journey buddy is definitely anticipating to hook up, shouldn’t be who they pretended to be, or worse.
3. Misunderstandings. The potential for a severe misunderstanding is another excuse I do not promote the thought of discovering a journey accomplice on an app. Your new journey accomplice might not have had any intention of deceiving you and might not imply to trigger you any hurt, but they could have totally different hopes for the journey than you do.
4. Telling the world you are solo. By collaborating on an impartial matching website and sharing your itinerary you’re telling the world that you’re touring solo and the place. While I do not disguise the truth that I’m solo whereas I journey, for security causes, I do not broadcast it both.
5. Sites/apps can get an excessive amount of private data. In an effort to extend member security, some websites undergo a wide range of verification steps, together with gathering authorities ID data. This raises id security issues.

Because I am unable to promote the websites that show you how to discover a journey accomplice (I haven’t got expertise with them), I’m not providing you with an inventory. However, if you’re nonetheless , you will see an inventory on Google. If you achieve this, I hope you will be cautious with a brand new journey accomplice and browse the Solo Travel Safety part of the location earlier than leaving.

Last up to date: twentieth February, 2023