AU
Some people prefer to travel alone whilst others feel a little nervous about it. If you’re in the second group, we encourage you to find a travel buddy to share your journey. It can be really exciting to travel with a new friend because you get to learn about each other whilst exploring a new place together. It’s a great way to develop a lifelong bond with someone in a short time and we encourage you to think about it. We put together a few tips to help you find someone great to share the adventure.
Find a friend online
There are websites out there dedicated to helping people just like you find a travel companion. Try looking at Travellers Meeting to find people to talk to about travel, share your stories with and hopefully you’ll even find someone to join you on your next adventure.
Join a group or travel club
Group tours are a fantastic way for the solo traveller to get out and see the world. Church groups and other clubs like garden clubs or walking groups are a great place to start. Group travel is safer than Travelling alone, and it’s much easier and more efficient to follow an itinerary that’s been designed by an expert who has comfort, safety and all the best places to see already planned out. Whilst on tour, you’ll no doubt find at least a few fellow travellers who you click with. They can make excellent travel buddies in the future, so be open to making lots of new friends.
What to look for in a travel buddy
Make a list of the characteristics about yourself that your travel buddy would need to match. This can be anything from your energy level, sense of humour, food preferences, ability to handle challenges and even what time you go to sleep and what time you wake up. For example, a night owl and an early riser are not a great match.
Look for people who have similar interests and go from there. If you’re a foodie, find another foodie. Love to take photos? Hook up with another shutterbug. If you love shopping, seek someone who shares your passion. Doing something you enjoy is sweeter if you have someone who shares that interest.
When talking to potential travel companions, don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions and to share important things about yourself. You want to be completely honest and let the other person know what your expectations are and be clear about what they are looking for as well.
Good luck finding your new partner in adventure!
