Any experience of finding someone 40+ to travel with?

[Robert Poste's Child]

While I'm used to travelling alone, not least for work, I've been thinking it might be fun to find someone to do a bit of leisure travel with. I wondered if anyone has had a good experience of doing this that they wouldn't mind sharing?

I tried Companions2Travel a couple of years ago but was put off by married men whose wives didn't understand them... I looked again recently and it only has 70 or so members so perhaps it has had its day anyway.

I'm not looking to travel with a group a la Exodus, Explore etc - they're great, but what I have in mind is doing interesting things with a like-minded person.

Thanks in advance for any helpful suggestions.

[raasaygirl]

Might not be exactly what you are looking for but have you thought of doing a few days volunteering?, eg

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/may/08/green-ethical-wwoofing-holidays-europe

http://www.helpx.net/

My daughter has done wwoofing in California and New Zealand, had a great time and met people of all ages.

[Robert Poste's Child]

Thanks, raasaygirl. They look great (is the girl on the home page of helpx.net wearing a bra?) and a friend of mine has done that kind of thing and raved about it, but I'm looking for someone to go with rather than destinations or activities at the moment as I have a few ideas already about where to go. Thanks for the suggestions, though.

[LadyDeliah]

Maybe put up your ideas of where you want to go and see who's up for it?

[siousxiesue]

https://www.triptogether.com/travellers

http://travelhappy.info/travel-tips/how-to-find-travel-friends-online/

[Robert Poste's Child]

Just looked at triptogether.com and had an urge to shoot myself. Surely those women are looking for husbands rather than someone to go hiking with?

Sorry, that sounds ungrateful.

May have to fall back on LadyD's suggestion - under another name though.

[LadyDeliah]

I usually travel on my own or with my kids/granddaugher but I know a lot of people who go on fitness weekends and I've been on a few. They are ok and I've done a 2 week holiday in Grenada with them, which was bearable because I did my own thing most of the time and I got on well with my room-mate.

My mum used to go on day trips with a group and started doing weekends away and stuff with one of the women she got friendly with, but they went to Ireland for a week and nearly killed each other. I think groups are safer, lol.

[Robert Poste's Child]

My favourite so far on triptogether is Dieter, who dreams of visiting Germany. Dieter is German and lives in Germany. He's living the dream already.

[Robert Poste's Child]

That's the problem, LadyD - if I knew anyone I could stand one on one for a fortnight without wanting to offer them violence I'd probably marry them.

[LadyDeliah]

Lol, just checked the triptogether link above. It looks like a hook up site!

Maybe if it's an activity thing you'd be ok. I was thinking of doing 4 weeks on a Thai Boxing boot camp. You're welcome to join me :-)

I'm actually crap as a travelling companion. I can cope with doing stuff with other people for a couple of days, then I want to go and do my own thing. It must be even harder with someone you don't know.

Has anyone got any positive stories of this kind of thing? It must work for some people.

[Robert Poste's Child]

We-ell, that's a very kind offer, LadyD, but I'm thinking more Scottish islands or possibly the Amalfi coast or Greece, springtime, light walking, picnic lunch on a hilltop, bit of cycling kinda thing. Glowing rather than sweating, you might say.

[ACBP]

If you ski/snowboard try cold fusion holidays. Great individual travelling. I had two separate holidays with them and not a hook up in sight!

[ACBP]

Crossed posts RPC...

[Robert Poste's Child]

Good suggestion but right now I want to plan something warm.

[hpsaucey]

Pilgrimage route to Santiago is wonderful and walked and cycled by a wide variety of folks, religious, 'spiritual' or plain atheist like me. Time it right for sunshine and take it your own pace. Guaranteed to find good walking or cycling companions en route if not before, great scenery food and drink and guaranteed to remember the experience forever....

HP

[Robert Poste's Child]

Sounds lovely, HP, but I really want to get a companion sorted before I go this time. I'd ask my stalker but he'd only take it the wrong way and by the time I put him straight I might as well have gone with a toddler. You know how sulky they get.

[Ruffler]

How about looking at companies that specialise in group activity holidays such as Headwater http://www.headwater.com/all/activities/walking-guided.htm. We went cross-country skiing many years ago with a similar company and part of the enjoyment was meeting new people. We were free to go off on our own if we wanted, but we mostly went on guided trips with the rest of the group.

[Mustard]

There is a website called Thelma and Louise, never used it, but just had a glance at it and it has different ages.

[LadyDeliah]

Robert Poste's Child Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> We-ell, that's a very kind offer, LadyD, but I'm

> thinking more Scottish islands or possibly the

> Amalfi coast or Greece, springtime, light walking,

> picnic lunch on a hilltop, bit of cycling kinda

> thing. Glowing rather than sweating, you might

> say.

Lol

[red devil]

If you want a holiday companion that you get on with socially, why not keep your search more local. Are there any interest groups you can join? Try searching the 'What's On' section here for events and the like. Even then, a like minded soul doesn't mean you will get on with them day to day. You'll need plenty of time to build up a friendship first...

[sheilarose]

Do you like the idea of dinghy sailing at all? My husband and I used to go on Menorca Sailing Holidays (http://www.minorcasailing.co.uk/)a while back and there was always a number of single people of varying ages who were having a good time together, but were not necessarily on the lookout for a hook-up. No need to know how to sail, excellent equipment and instruction for all abilities, plus plenty of time to go sightseeing without relying too much on just one other person.