Companions on your travels

So, you're thinking about that trip of a lifetime or gap year but are worried about doing it on your own. Here are a number of options to consider:

Travel Companion Websites

There are quite a few websites where you can post your own request or find people searching for travel companions. Arranging to travel with people you've never met can be a risk, so you will need to check them out thoroughly before your journey. Links (I've not used these sites so I can't comment on their quality etc):

Lonely Planet forum
companionads
solotraveller.com
travelchums
travel-companion.net (site now up again)
companions2travel.co.uk

Solo travel and meeting people in Hostels

Even if you set out by yourself, it doesn't mean you end up travelling alone. If you haven't used hostels before, you should consider them. Sharing dormitories, kitchens and common rooms together, you will meet people who share your interests and humour; and you may end up journeying together. (See this article on hostelling)

Study for a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Qualification - but do it abroad.

If you are fairly independent and self contained but just need that confidence boost at the start of your travels, then this could be for you. There are 2 internationally recognised TEFL qualifications (Cambridge CELTA & Trinity College's Cert. TESOL ) that are door openers for you to teach in many language schools.

Studying for a CELTA abroad at a decent language school you will find:

• there is a ready-made group of fellow students to socialise and enjoy life with
• you have support and advice from the language school as you get to know your new city - e.g. maps, advice on public transport , where to eat and drink, decent shops etc.
• they might be able to arrange accommodation (if you wish, sharing a flat with other students) for a lot less than you can do it yourself.
• you feel that you are really experiencing life in the city, you have a flat there, you take the tram to the school every morning etc.
• you are well prepared to teach, with a qualification that is a door opener to many language schools so you can earn money during your travels.

Cost: Depends on where you take the qualification. I took the 4 week CELTA course at International House (IH) Language School, Budapest which has a very good reputation. The language school arranged my flat in Budapest for me so the total cost including the accommodation was about the same as you would pay in the UK for the course alone and I was allowed to extend my stay in the flat for another 2 weeks.

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