thailand travel buddy

Thailand Travel Tips – Expert Advice from 8 Trips (2024)

• Last Updated: January 16, 2024

A detailed explanation of the best Thailand travel tips and advice for all travellers.

Thailand is a beautifully diverse and culturally enriching travel destination in Southeast Asia. 

This small country has towering mountains, bustling cities, picturesque beaches, rugged cliffs, dense jungles, and a whole lot more. 

The people are friendly, the food is mouthwatering, and the activities are endless. 

You can spend your days hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, kayaking, practicing yoga or island hopping. You can spend your nights eating street food, watching a ladyboy cabaret or attending a Muay Thai boxing match. 

See the famous Grand Palace or Wat Pho in Bangkok or explore the temples of Chiang Mai. Attend cooking classes, learn to scuba dive in Koh Tao , or attend the Full Moon Party on Koh Pha Ngan.

There is truly so much to see and do in Thailand , so you want to make sure you enter the country prepared for anything. 

In preparation for your trip, you may want to brush up on some general travel tips for Thailand so you can feel confident in your knowledge of the country and its customs. 

Thai culture is very centered around respect, so it is important to always be respectful of Thai people and their way of life. 

Table of Contents

Check Visa Requirements

Pack for hot, humid weather, prepare to pay with cash, verify companies’ legitimacy before booking, remove your shoes, avoid touching other people’s heads, dress respectfully, ask before photographing people, respect the king, learn to love the ladyboys, bargain with dignity, consider the economy of the country, stay in hostels, eat like the locals, avoid drinking too much, find the cheapest form of transportation, fly budget airlines, purchase travel insurance, consult your doctor, don’t drink the tap water, use sun protection, avoid petty theft, take caution on public transport, stick with a group, be safe on the road, do not flaunt your feet, do not ride elephants, do not disrespect the buddha, do not touch the buddhist monks, do not stand taller than a monk, do not make a scene in public, do not abandon your passport, do not overstay your visa, my expert list of the best thailand travel tips.

With this article on Thailand travel tips, you can read about some of the recommended things to know before travelling around this beautiful country in Southeast Asia. 

In addition to general travel tips for Thailand, you can read about cultural tips, budgeting tips, safety tips, health tips, and a few recommendations about what not to do in Thailand. 

READ MORE: Plan your trip to Thailand with our comprehensive Thailand travel guide .

General Thailand Travel Tips

Without further ado, let me share my ultimate list of things to know before you travel to Thailand. Whether you’re visiting Bangkokg, Chiang Mai, islands in the Gulf of Thailand, national parks, or anywhere in between, these travel tips apply to anywhere when you visit Thailand.

Check if you need a visa before travelling to Thailand.

The visa requirements are different for many countries; some nationalities do not need visas for a stay of less than 30 days, some nationalities can obtain their visas when they arrive at the airport, and some nationalities must obtain a visa in advance.

Always check the visa requirements for your country to make sure you are allowed to enter Thailand!

The weather in Thailand is hot and humid. That’s just a fact when considering Thailand travel tips.

Unless you are in higher altitudes where the temperature drops a bit, pack plenty of lightweight, breathable warm weather clothes . 

Even if you’re in northern, mountainous destinations like Chiang Mai, still prepare for heat and humidity.

If you’re wondering the best time to visit Thailand for weather, you’ll encounter this hot weather year-round. July, August, and September have the most rain, but they are the best time to visit Thailand on a budget!

Paying with cash is much more convenient than paying with a card around Thailand.

Street markets, local restaurants, and many tourist attractions usually only accept cash as payment, but luckily ATMs are frequent in touristy areas.

Make sure you alert your bank that you’ll be travelling so they don’t assume your transactions around Thailand are a fraud. 

Before booking any hostels, guesthouses, volunteer programs, or tours, read customer reviews to make sure it is legitimate.

The rise in tourism in Thailand has unfortunately led to a rise in scams and illegitimate businesses that try to get money out of tourists.

Just confirm before you book anything that the business is reputable.  We recommend using Klook for Thailand.

BONUS –  Booking ahead of time ensures you won’t miss out on the tour, and get the best price too! And just for NOMADasaurus readers, if you use the Klook discount code  “NOMADS10”  on the website when checking out, you’ll get $10 off your first booking!

Cultural Tips for Thailand

Here are some other travel tips for Thailand that relate specifically to the beautiful Thai culture.

Feet are considered the dirtiest part of the body in Thai culture.

You’ll have to remove your shoes whenever you enter temples, people’s homes, spas, and other establishments, so wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off. 

The head is considered the holiest part of the body, so you should never touch someone’s head.

It seems unlikely that you would touch someone’s head anyway, but just be aware that it is seen as disrespectful so try to avoid that. 

When entering temples, you have to abide by the dress code.

In addition to removing your shoes, you have to wear clothes that cover your knees, shoulders, chest and stomach. 

There is no strict dress code for everyday life, but Thais do tend to dress modestly.

Respect their way of life by covering up a bit more.

You are perfectly fine wearing shorts and T-shirts when it is hot out, just try to hide areas like cleavage and the midriff so you seem a bit more aware of Thai modesty.

Before taking a photo of someone, ask for their permission.

If you see a local wearing a traditional garment or a monk praying in a temple, this can be a beautiful image to capture.

Thais are usually very friendly, so if you ask for a photo they will most likely oblige. 

If you need more help with this, check out our guide to travel photography tips for beginners .

Thais love their king. You’ll find posters, monuments, emblems, and other displays of affection with the king’s face plastered on them.

All that this means for travellers is to respect monarchy and never say anything negative or offensive about the king. 

Be prepared to see lots of ladyboys…or not see them.

Ladyboys are Thai men who dress up as women, and sometimes they do it so well that you would never even notice the difference.

You can attend a cabaret show to see the ladyboys performing their hearts out, or you can just wander through the streets of Bangkok or Chiang Mai and try to spot them in the crowds. 

Bargaining for goods at street markets is a huge part of travelling to Thailand.

Definitely give it a try, but always be respectful and don’t bargain too low.

See what the original price is, and slowly try and lower the cost.

Generally speaking, half of the original price is as low as you should go. Anything lower than that may offend the vendor.

If you are buying something handmade or truly unique and special, just pay the full price as your money will benefit the local artist and community.

READ MORE: Know what to bring with you with our Thailand packing list.

Budget Travel Tips for Thailand 

I get it, you’re trying to save money when you travel. We all are. Luckily Southeast Asia is the perfect place to travel on a budget.

So here are some budget-specific travel tips for your Thailand itinerary.

Keep in mind, the local Thailand currency is the Thai Baht.

Generally speaking, northern Thailand is cheaper than the south.

Besides popular cities like Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, there aren’t many tourist destinations in the north of Thailand so the prices haven’t been hiked up.

If you are really trying to stretch your money to last a long time, consider spending more time exploring northern Thailand than the south. 

Check out our lists of the best things to do in Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai !

Staying in hostels will be cheaper than staying in hotels.

This Thailand travel tip can actually apply to any country, but you’ll find hostels in Thailand to cost as little as 6 USD per night.

On average, hostels cost between 10 and 15 USD per night.

Thailand is such an affordable destination that even nice hotels can be cheap, but you’ll save the most money by staying in hostels. 

Eat local street food whenever possible! Thailand has some amazing food, and the locals know how to cook it the best.

Pad thai, spring rolls, curries, mango and sticky rice, all these essential Thai food dishes you can find in the street.

Definitely treat yourself to a few nice Thai restaurants, but you’ll find that the street food tastes the same, if not better than the expensive stuff.

Do trust your judgment though. If you have a sensitive stomach, maybe skip the meat and seafood and eat safer street food, like noodles and fruits. 

Drink responsibly to save money. Partying and buying lots of drinks in bars or clubs always adds up quicker than we’d like to think.

If you’re on a tight budget, limit your drinking to a few beers a week and you’ll save a lot.

Also be on the lookout for happy hours so you can get discounted drinks, or consider buying some drinks from the liquor store for cheaper prices. 

Consider just cutting down on drinking in general if you want to save the most money; you’ll also have a clearer head and fewer hangovers so you can enjoy exploring even more.

Compare different forms of transportation to find the cheapest option.

Thailand has an extensive network of travel options.

For travelling short distances you can take a tuk-tuk, rent a motorbike, or hop into a songtaew (red pickup trucks that serve as shared taxis).

For travelling long distances, you can take buses, minivans, trains, or planes.

One transport option isn’t always cheaper than the others, so ask around, do some research, and try to find the cheapest option before you travel. 

I recommend you start off by using 12Go.asia as a guide. You’ll often find the best price here, but do your research.

If you plan on flying around the country, choose budget airlines like Nok Air, Lion Air, Air Asia, Vietjet, Orient Thai, or Thai Smile.

Any of these reputable airlines can get you across the country quickly and cheaply.

They fly into popular cities like Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Phuket, and more.

Because budget airlines are so cheap, they often charge extra for other things like food, drinks, and bags.

To save the most money, pack your own food and water, and keep your bags to carry-on size. 

Health Tips for Thailand Travel

It’s important to stay healthy when you travel, and a trip to Thailand is no exception.

Always have travel insurance for your travel itineraries.

You never know what will happen abroad, especially if you are taking part in more extreme activities like riding motorbikes, hiking mountains in national parks, cliff-jumping, and doing water sports.

Even if you don’t plan on doing crazy sports, you still want to be covered in case you get sick. 

READ MORE: Check out this post if you need more reasons to purchase travel insurance.

Important Note! Before you book any international trip, we honestly recommend getting travel insurance. You never know when things will go wrong, and medical bills can add up quickly if you get sick or injure yourself overseas.

Our personal recommendation based on our own experience is World Nomads .

Visit your doctor at home before you visit Thailand. Ask them if they recommend taking any medications or if you need any vaccinations before you go. 

The tap water is not safe for drinking in Thailand.

Bring a reusable water bottle that you can refill at drinking water stations, or bring your own filter so you can always have clean water.

You can buy bottled water during your trip to Thailand, but try to reduce your plastic waste whenever possible!

Always wear sunscreen. Whether you are on the beach, in the city or in the mountains and national parks, whether it is sunny or cloudy, just wear sunscreen to be safe.

The sun is so strong in Thailand, so you are always at risk of burning, no matter what skin type you have.

You may want to bring your own sunscreen from home, as the prices are quite expensive in Thailand. 

Also, wear sunglasses and a hat whenever possible.

READ MORE: Plan your trip with our 1,2 and 3 week Thailand itineraries .

Safety Tips for Travelling in Thailand

Thailand is overall a very safe country for tourists.

Just use common sense and street smarts and you shouldn’t have any problems. 

The biggest crime for tourists to encounter in Thailand is just petty theft. Most of it will occur in touristy cities like Bangkok or Chiang Mai.

To keep your belongings safe, lock your stuff in a safe or locker at your accommodation and try not to bring too many valuables out with you while exploring.

Only take as much money as you think you’ll need, and avoid wearing flashy jewellery or expensive watches as it makes you a target for pickpockets.

Carry your belongings in a secure bag that you can always have a hand or an eye on, especially when walking through large crowds. 

Also, try to keep your baggage safe when travelling on local buses.

Especially on overnight buses or when your bags are thrown up onto the roof of the bus, lock everything up and keep your most important items on your person in a smaller handbag. 

Try to avoid walking around alone at night. This is common knowledge, but it is so true.

Stick with a group and don’t stray too far from the touristy areas unless you are very familiar with the area.

If you’re travelling alone, you’ll be fine to sightsee during the day or check out touristy areas at night on your own.

But if you plan on straying off the beaten path, try to find a travel buddy in your hostel to accompany you, especially at night. 

Drivers in Thailand can be insane to say the least.

Sometimes road traffic doesn’t seem to have any rhyme or reason, and some locals drive super fast.

You’ll see about 10 people on motorbikes in one lane, all packed close together and whipping around corners.

It is a bit scary, so always pick reputable bus companies so you know you are safe on the road. 

If you plan on driving in Thailand, either in a rental car or on a motorbike, be very careful at all times!

Like I said, local drivers can be crazy so always be aware of them and make sure you drive carefully.

On a motorbike, always wear your helmet. 

What NOT to Do in Thailand

Now for some tips for how to act, or more importantly how NOT to act, in Thailand.

These are some of the most important things to know before you go travelling in Thailand.

Do not use your feet for anything except for walking.

As mentioned earlier, the feet are the dirtiest part of the body and doing anything out of the ordinary with your feet is considered disrespectful.

That means no putting your feet up on seats, no pointing at things with your feet, and no pushing or moving things with your feet.

Keep them pointed away from people, or under your body and out of sight. 

There are lots of companies that exploit animals for tourism, which is a sad and horrible reality.

Elephants’ spines are made to carry lots of weight underneath them, not above them.

That means riding elephants puts lots of stress on their bodies and can be extremely harmful.

Some elephant sanctuaries rescue elephants and keep them in a safe environment.

Here, you can visit with the elephants, photograph them, and observe them without harming them.

So if you are eager to see Asian elephants in their natural habitat, always do your research to ensure you are choosing an ethical tour company, and never book a tour that allows you to ride the elephants. 

Let me say it again. DO NOT RIDE ELEPHANTS!!!!!!!!!!

Check out our complete guide to sustainable tourism .

Buddhism is the main religion in Thailand, so the Buddha is highly revered by locals.

When visiting temples and statues of the Buddha, avoid taking any inappropriate or goofy photos and avoid touching the Buddha.

You are also not supposed to point your feet directly at the Buddha since the feet are considered dirty.

That is why you’ll see locals kneeling with their feet pointed behind them when praying to the Buddha. 

Especially if you are a woman, avoid touching the monks in any way.

That means no hand-shakes or hugs, and sometimes you can’t even hand them anything; you’ll have to put it on the ground first for them to pick up.

Buddhist monks are not allowed to touch women, so, therefore, women should not touch them either.

Do not put yourself in a physically higher position than a monk.

If a monk is sitting down, you should not stand next to him, but lower yourself down to his level.

The monks are some of the most highly respected people in Thailand, so they take their traditions very seriously.

In Thailand and lots of other Asian cultures, modesty and respect are very important.

Try not to attract attention to yourself in any way.

That means no screaming, yelling, arguing or fighting, and no excessive public displays of affection.

Just carry yourself in a poised and humble manner and you will blend in with the locals more. 

Do not leave your passport with any tour companies, medical centres, or scooter rental companies.

Some businesses can be sketchy, and leaving them with your most valuable travel item allows them to scam you.

Always carry a paper copy of your passport and give that to them instead.

Do not stay in Thailand longer than your visa allows.

Thais are pretty strict with their immigration rules in terms of overstaying visas.

Usually, in your passport they will write the ending date for your visa, so make sure you leave before then.

If you fall in love with the country and want to stay longer, which very well may happen, you can apply for a visa extension. 

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Gabby Boucher

Hi, We’re Alesha and Jarryd!

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Hello all – I can add a few cents from a trip to Thailand just finishing today.

If you are staying in Bangkok, the train system is really good and very cheap. You can get this directly from the airport for just a few dollars. Consider getting your hotel near a train station so you can literally just have a short walk from the station, so you will avoid being stuck in hellish traffic and also being ripped off by taxis. The train is fast, very safe, efficient and has excellent aircon. The staff were always around somewhere and invariably helpful even at a far flung place at 11pm! This was a superior experience to trains in Australia and I have used them regularly in all metro areas there so speak from extended experience.

Before you leave your country, I suggest you estimate how much money you will spend and then bring it in cash to Thailand. This is to reduce transaction costs. On the lowest level at Suvarnabhumi airport, level BL, near the ticketing area is the place with the best exchange rates. It is called HappyRich. There is a helpful guide to find this place elsewhere on the internet. The others are all total ripoffs even if they say they have the best rate in Thailand!

By using the train and getting the best currency conversion rate you will save a lot of money and time that you can now spend to enjoy yourself!

For example, let’s say you bring $5000 AUD (as I did). HappyRich gives you around 8-10% more money than the other exchanges – that’s getting up to 500 dollars extra!

Another tip in Bangkok for less hassle with travel and keeping discretionary costs down – if you must catch a cab, get the GRAB app (equivalent to Uber) – this ensures you get a quoted fare that the driver has to agree to. It is the best way to go. I still always tip around 10% myself with GRAB drivers because the cost of the ride is low and the tip too, therefore you are appreciating this honest option without being scummy with money. Even with a nice tip this will still be a LOT cheaper than dealing with taxi drivers and tuk tuk drivers – avoid them when you can!

My trip was mostly Koh Samui, with a few days each side of it in Bangkok. For Koh Samui, you can use the KLOOK application which is the “Uber” option for Koh Samui. That way, you can book your transport costs as Koh Samui taxis are expensive. For example, the standard airport taxi was 400 THB to Chaweng which is not very far! That said, it is better to pay that then get the minivan which is marginally cheaper as you might be waiting at the airport for an hour as we did!!! Not worth the 5 bucks savings. Using klook, the quoted cost of the taxi from our hotel in Lamai at 5am back to the airport was 593 THB and Lamai is a lot further out than Chaweng!

The other thing I did was to choose accommodation in a place where I was going to stay for most of the trip, to avoid any unnecessary taxis. This means you can spend the money on better accommodation instead. Much nicer!

One thing I would have done differently is to rent a car there. But you need to know in advance that to hire an insured car, the minimum time is a 3 day hire and so it is best to make your enquiries early enough. I left it too late for that. If you can use a motorbike or moped/scooter, this is an alternative. Both are preferable to using taxis.

A few ideas for Bangkok – the hop on, hop off boat on the Chao Phraya river there is very cheap and a good way to explore. It is also much better than commuting by road traffic to some big tourist attractions. One way you can get to the Sathorn pier via the train is the Saphan Taksin stop but there are others. Ignore the touts at the entrance to the pier and go straight to the tourist hop on hop off counter. Get a blue day pass.

From there you can go to Wat Arun, the Grand Palace/Wat Pho (reclining Buddha). There are some other stops like SiamICON and the last one is close to Khao San Rd. Khao San Road is not worth visiting in my opinion. Boring, pointless and a waste of time of time. The others are definitely worth it. Make sure you wear below knee shorts and a top with sleeves, otherwise you cannot enter the temples (but you can buy garments). You will need cash to go to Wat Arun and the Grand Palace.

Also in Bangkok, I liked the Siam Paragon on the second last day of my holiday – Siam station is easy to get to and if you use trains at some point you’ll probably cross through there, so it is worth a visit. It is a very high end mall, with outstanding shopping and unexpectedly great to wander around in as a tourist. To give you an idea, there are Aston Martins, ferraris, a bentley, maseratis, various beamers, teslas, minis range rovers etc in just one small area. There’a a whole floor for technology and something I’ve never seen – a shop just for deluxe high end PC gamer rigs. Paragon is really massive and knocks the mall experience out of the park compared to what I have seen in Australia, at the same time removed any doubt about the wealth that is in Thailand now compared to 20 years ago on my last visit.

I watched a movie at the top – where there is a large plush cinema complex, also IMAX and 10 pin bowling. The food court was better than I have seen in Australia in any city. There is also the finest fresh food market I have ever seen. Just the sushi and sashimi section alone was 6 whole cabinets, there were more than a dozen types of fresh oyster from around the world, enormous live crabs, a caviar display, even salmon from Tasmania. The sheer volume and variety was awe inspiring.

I did this near the end of my holiday and it was an amazing contrast to some of the other experiences and to buy gifts. I used this to find the elusive Thai items I cannot get at home in any asian stores and the best dumpling sauces. Exchange rates were also about the same as HappyRich here, so it is a good place to do this, eg OH!Rich on the 3rd floor, but also there was a jeweler I saw with the same rates so it may be more general.

I can also recommend watching a Muay Thai fight night. I got ringside seats but it’s probably better to get the second class or club class as you are higher up and the cost difference is not justified, imo. It was crazy enough on Wednesday with the gambling thai guys going bananas and seeing some pretty brutal beatings, however international level fights are on Saturday, at least at Rajadamnern. It’s not all that easy to get to, because of the slow traffic and a bit of BS with cabs/tuk tuks, but you can get quite close to it via Sam Yot station (we used Grab on the way back from the stadium to get there) and we got there by getting off at National Stadium station, walking a bit and then getting a tuk tuk. I would probably just walk it from Sam Yot tbh, in the day and see some of the sights there as it is “old bangkok”, but if you do this it involves several changes of train which might not suit some people. If you are a drinker, it is best to preload with alcohol on the way from the station to reduce costs as on site booze is exxy. You can’t bring alcohol in. There’s some relatively cheap beer outside at half time and some cheap eats.

Another inexpensive and awesomely local day trip is to get a fairly early morning train out to Ayutthaya, the ancient capital. We got the cattle class train and it was worth the tourist novelty. The sites are revered by thais and remind me of the tomb raider games. There are several clustered together but you’ll need transport to get to several as they are not really walkable.

Again, temple rules apply for Ayutthaya – sleeves and below knee shorts, as well as entrance fees for each site. You’ll need a driver unless using a moped/scooter. Easiest to use the service at the station.

Got the “Rapid” train back, which cost a lot more and it was over an hour late! (It comes from Chiang Mai). The train station bar/restaurant chicken with fried basil leaves was surprisingly one of the finest I’ve had ever.

On Koh Samui – I really liked the VIP rarine park speed boat tour via 100 degrees east and the buggy driving tour with a Z10 buggy (best with 2 people). Neither are cheap options but you get what you pay for and if you save money elsewhere as suggested, you can now spend the money without guilt on really great things like higher grade 4 and 5 star accommodation and awesome whole day tours such as those mentioned.

I’m not sure if I can say Ko Pha Ngan was worth the trouble of staying there. If I was to do it again (which I won’t), I’d just go there for the day and get the boat back the same night back to Bang Rak (the jetty area on Koh Samui). The boat directly to Haad Rin from there is cheap and the quickest. People cry about the safety with the “Queen” boat but it was ok (with a few bumps and chorus of “ooohs” from the passengers. Book online and get there early to get a good seat. It really doesn’t matter if you are in a big line if you are not carrying much luggage. Make sure there is life jacket above your head and if there is water on your seat, guess who is getting wet when the boat is out to sea! You book via 12go asia. Do NOT get the giant ferry boat that takes 2 hours from Koh Samui and Thong Sala unless you are staying on the west side of Koh Samui (it’s 67km away from Chaweng! The taxi fee will be an atrocity, not to mention the time spent getting there and then 2 hours to Ko Pha Ngan!!!!)

Value for money for accommodation on Ko Pha Ngan was really poor and you are forced to stay 3 days! If I was to do it again, I would not stay in Haad Rin. I would stay near Thong Sala, Baan Thai or elsewhere. This was the exception to the rule about accommodation and taxis. The cost-benefit tilt is definitely to have the accommodation well away from Haad Rin. The cost of the Song Thaow “taxi” from Thong Sala is 150 THB to Haad Rin. The driver will ask for 200 THB. Up to you if you want to haggle. I did once and felt a bit mean afterwards (after all it’s just 2.50 AUD difference you are fighting over, really nothing much and not worth feeling bad about yourself!)

I would not stay on Ko Pha Ngan unless you can drive a motorbike/scooter/moped or you hire a car, because these are the best and cheapest forms of transport, particularly 2 wheel options. Taxi is not as good and much much more expensive.

The full moon party was overcast and then rained. It was pretty ordinary I thought. Over rated. But then again, I’m not in my 20s anymore.

The return speed boat late at night from the Eden party was, however, a “trip to remember” 🙂 Not for the faint hearted. It is not cheap either – 1000 THB. I heard there is a better party of this kind on Koh Tao and if I was to do it again, I’d stay on Koh Tao instead of Ko Pha Ngan. (I did a day trip snorkel and walk there and would not go out there for those things as a day trip – it is better to stay for a bit longer by the look of it)

Remember to bring at least 50SPF water resistant sunscreen if you need it (80% of UV can get through clouds even when overcast and the sunscreen costs are jacked sky high in Samui), a light wide brimmed deformable hat or at least a cap, bug spray (eg 20% DEET, the mozzies loved me!). I also brought silicon ear plug putty – for perfect sleep at night if in Bangkok near a highway.

While weed is everywhere (for now), if this is something you do, I would not take it or anything else questionable on a train. I saw some military style dudes with large dogs at times at train stations and maybe they are not just looking for durian fruit!

I also read vapes were illegal in Thailand with one blogger practically shrieking this. I’m so glad I didn’t caution a tourist I saw using one at Chaweng beach because that evening I must have been asked about 20 times do I want to buy a vape, from people with open suitcases full of them everywhere on the main beach street. Still, given this reality, there is no need to bring one if that is your thing.

One last tip – Covid is regarded as endemic. I reckon I was exposed to it within 24h of arrival as I had symptoms by day 4, used my RAT on day 5 and it lit up like a neon light. First time I’ve had it ever. It was mild – a few days of fatigue and lack of motivation and this was over in a few days except for a light post viral cough I still have at times. I saw quite a few tourists open mouth coughing and wondered if they knew what they had. Just so you know!

Thank you for these tips! I am travelling soon to Thailand and was looking for some health tips. really scared of mosquito’s bites. Any advice?

HI, thank you for the great article. I have been to Thailand many times and still amazed how much it has to offer. Great tips for anyone visiting Thailand. Thank you

OH! Great insights I am a Thai food addict and I cook too. Whenever I think about Thailand, the first thing that comes to mind is food.

Hi thank you for all the wonderful information Haven’t travelled much but planning on going to Thailand in Nov 2023, with my boyfriend. Doing as much research as possible. I don’t wanna go in not knowing or being disrespectful I really enjoyed reading the guide and your advice just makes me a bit more excited to go! found out a piece of information Id like to look into more as well thanks so much Kayla.

Your article is very helpful, especially for the beginner. I love traveling. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you very much for your helpful and educational tips! Adi

Glad you found the article helpful. Happy travels. 🙂

Thank you for sharing the information, really enjoyed reading it.

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As a local born and raised in the heart of Bangkok, I’ve spent years exploring every corner of this vibrant city and across the beautiful landscapes of Thailand.

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FIND A TRAVEL BUDDY

Going on a trip? Meet people who love to travel. Share your adventures with a travel companion.

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Travel companions and their plans

These members are planning a trip and looking for a travel partner. Get in touch a start discussing your plans.

Mexico Carribean coast

Looking for a companion to Mexico Caribbean coast

Looking for: Any

Type of journey: Backpacking, Beach, Other

Split costs: No

Budget: $1000 - $1500

Uk (Scotland/England) and Europe

I have already visited some of these places but it would be…

Looking for: Female

Type of journey: City break

Split costs: Yes

Vietnam Strolls

the more the merrier

Looking for: Mixed group

A week trip to Cappadocia. Including hot air balloons,…

Type of journey: Other

Budget: $500 - $1000

Adventure through the Beauty of Egypt

Visiting Two or Three Egyptian Cities on the Way of the Red…

Type of journey: Backpacking, City break, Beach

Budget: $150 - $500

Meet travel friends from all around the world

Meet travel mates from all over the world and have fun traveling together. You can find travelers from more than 100 countries at TripGiraffe.

Netherlands

Katharina 30

Harshvardhan Gupta 27

United States

Switzerland

Federica 31

Lena Dang 35

Travel the world together using our website - find your travel partner

How it works.

Create a trip and invite people to join you or join an existing trip. Finding a travel buddy online has never been easier.

Create a Trip

Create a trip and wait for someone to join up or find an existing one that you like the most.

Trip Around Asia!

13. 3. 2019 - 24. 5. 2019 (73 days trip)

by Sophia Jenkins

Vietnam, Cambodia, Turkey, Thailand

Looking for: Male

Invite Travelers

Let travelers know about your plans by inviting them to your trip. You can always wait for someone to join up.

Find a Travel Companion

Approve travel buddies you like and start planning your trip together.

Summer Adventure

Approved buddies

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Find a trip buddy and make lasting memories

Traveling is more fun when you can share it with someone else.

Find a travel partner and don't travel alone.

South America

North america, popular destinations.

Most travelers go to these destinations. Browse trips and travelers and find your travel buddy today.

Going to Thailand

Going to India

Going to the USA

What makes TripGiraffe the best place to find a travel companion online?

Travelers us!

"Easy to make friends"

Whenever I travelled in the US or abroad I always found someone who joined me on my adventures.

"No Fake accounts"

TripGiraffe might be the only website for finding a travel buddy where you don't get spammed by fake travelers just to get money from you.

"Detailed trips"

Trips created by travelers on TripGiraffe are usually very detailed, so it is easy to find a travel companion with a similar travel style.

Find & meet friends to travel with from all around the world

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It doesn't matter where you're going, it's who you have beside you.

Travel the world together., tourlina recommended in the press.

Tourlina recommended by users

Download tourlina app now and find your travel buddy.

With the Tourlina app, women can find interesting and fun travel companions and locals within a safe and trustworthy network.

Download the Tourlina app – find your travel companion  now for free from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Travel Blog - find your next travel companion or travel buddy

8 Inspiration Ideas That Will Have You Booking Your Solo Trip Today

  Solo travel may sound like a crazy concept to some people. They wrinkle up their noses as they spit out the words; a bitter … Read more

Sydney – 10 Reasons To Move To

Sydney – 10 Reasons To Move To   The most densely populated Australian city and the capital of New South Wales, Sydney is truly a … Read more

South Africa – 10 Best Things To Do

South Africa – 10 Best Things To Do   Zuid Afrika can offer you so much more than you can even imagine. If you’ve read … Read more

About tourlina - find a travel companion

TOURLINA IS SAFE AND RELIABLE Our team checks each and every new user. Only verified users can chat with others. Tourlina rates quality over quantity if it comes to a travel buddy !

TOURLINA IS FOR WOMEN ONLY Our market research shows that women like to travel and prefer a female travel partner as having a male companion.

TOURLINA MAKES YOU WANT TO TRAVEL You will never travel alone.

ARE YOU IN?

HOW THE TOURLINA APP WORKS: • Enter a trip by country and time • Discover matching travel companions with mutual interests, destination and travel time • Select a travel companion simply by easily swiping left or right • Chat and plan your trip together once you and your travel companions are matching • Find locals and other travelers in your area … chat and meet with them!

WHY YOU SHOULD ALSO USE TOURLINA FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP?

Female users of Tourlina can connect before or while they travel. Tourlina connects women based on their future travel plans. Of course, they can connect as well with other female travelers while they travel, e.g. for one evening in Bangkok or for a part of their trip. Women find more meaningful and long lasting connections with other women and make lifelong friendships as Tourlina connections are based on shared interest in travel and socialising.

MEET FEMALE TRAVELERS – MEETUP WITH LOCALS Find interesting female travelers to travel together! TOURLINA manually verifies each new user if this user is a woman and not a man or fake. This means that Tourlina is able to provide you with a much safer international female travel buddy experience. Be confident when you choose a female travel buddy or look to connect with someone for your trip, because our Tourlistas are manually verified users and are really who they say they are.

MEET LOCALS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN MEETUPS AND ARE INTERESTED IN TRAVELLING Travel with women who are familiar with the city from the inside, because they live there! These women will show you the most interesting places of their city and the best beaches around. Local woman will meetup with you and guide you to the best locations in town.

FIND YOUR FEMALE TRAVEL BUDDY – MEET FEMALE TRAVELLERS WORDLWIDE AND TRAVEL TOGETHER! Wherever you are going as a female traveler, you’ll be able to easily find a female travel buddy or a friendly local female traveler at your current location to go out, eat, explore beaches or nature, or just hang out with terrific people and a great new travel buddy – register now and meet travellers (women-only!). Join now and meetup with other female travellers/ backpackers or find a solo traveler/ backpackers for your next trip.

TOURLINA is the first women-only travel app with verified female travelers (e.g. backpackers, luxury travelers) from all over the world. Each day hundrets of new users join Tourlina and become a Tourlista. Tourlina is a great travel app for solo travelers or for women who just would like to meetup with other solo travelers or meet-up with locals who are interested in travelling. Meetup with thousends of solo female travelers from around the world – from countries like: Germany, Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, India, Asia (Thailand, Singapore,…), New Zealand, South America (e.g. Peru, Chile, Argentina,…), Central America (e.g. Mexiko, Guatemala, Honduras,…). Find and meet-up with other girls and have a great time!

TOURLINA – Secure Travel App For Women – Solo Travel App For Girls – Meet Travelers – Meet Backpackers – Travel Meetup App For Solo Travelers – Meet Travellers – Online Meet-up – Find And Meet Fellow Travellers

Find a travel buddy / find a travel companion/ find a local girl from more than 160 countries all over the world:

Currently, you can find locals and female travellers from the following countries: Argentina, solo travel app Australia, Austria Urlaubspartner, Belgium holiday, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile chat, Colombia au pair, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic chats, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece travel buddy, Honduras online sites, Hungary, Iceland solo travel, India travel app, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel tralvel sites, Italy meet up travelers, Japan, Kenya travel partner, Laos backpacking, Latvia au pair, Lithuania Backacker Meet-up, Luxembourg Travel Community,  Travel Forum, Malta Travel Meetup, looking for Mexico, Travel Community, Montenegro, Myanmar travel buddies, Nepal backpacker meet up, Netherlands buddies app, New Zealand solo travel meet-up, Nicaragua Forum, Norway vacation mate, Panama chat, find locals in Paraguay, Peru travel meetup, Philippines backpacking partner, Poland au-pair, find locals Portugal, South Korea holiday mate, Moldova blog, Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia, looking for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines vacation mate, find travelers app, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain Reisepartner Forum, Sri Lanka meet travellers, alone in Sudan, Swaziland meet solo travellers, Sweden, Switzerland Reisepartnersuche, Tajikistan, Thailand find fellow travelers, alone in Trinidad and Tobago, How to find solo travelers in Tunisia, Turkey meet backpackers, Ukraine forum, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Tanzania, United States of America USA solo travel app, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam find travelers. 

The Tourlina travel app connects girls who like to travel. Tourlina is the first women-only app, which brings together female travelers who have the same interests and who like traveling or just meetup with like minded girls who love to travel or with local girls around your current location. Tourlina also allows Tourlistas to connect with potential travel buddies from their current location and/ or from their home town.

Join now! Download the Tourlina app and start chatting with like minded female travellers from all over the world – in a secure and trusted network for women-only!

TOURLINA – meet travellers app – travel buddy app – travel with other solo travelers – find solo travelers – meet travelers – solo travellers meetup – travel meetup app – solo travel app – female solo travel meetup

Meet other travelers! Tourlina is a fun travel app to meet others travelling. Do you want it to be easier to meet other backpackers? Tourlina is a backpacker social networking app for any destination. Connect with women looking for backpackers with common interests. Whether you’re travelling solo or in a group, Tourlina is a great way to meet nearby travelers as well as locals! Tourlina app makes it very easy to meet up with other solo female travelers, e.g. adventurer travelers, backpacking travelers, business travelers or solo female travelers who prefer a luxury accommodation. If you’d rather meet up with other female backpackers or travel mates on the road then this travel app is exactly what you´re looking for. Organised activities are also a fantastic way to meet other travelers in every country using a travel app (to find a travel companion, a travel buddy or awesome female travel buddies or even find a local). Buddies, the Tourlina female travel app is for all those solo backpackers and solo travelers who want to go out with other solo travelers, but do not have buddies or a local women to go with. Join Tourlina and get your female travel buddies and explore the world! Tourlina is a secure social network for women who love to travel. Find a travel buddy for your next trip with similar travel plans and similar interests or just meetup with a local woman. Don´t forget to take a latest version of the Lonely Planet on your trip! Tourlina is a available in three languages: English, Deutsch and Español!!! Finde einen Reisepartner! Encontrar un compañero de viaje! Find a travel buddy! Finde weltweit einen Reisepartner! Finde eine Reisepartnerin!

Find and connect with locals and female travelers who live or travel to the many countries. 

The most popular destinations at Tourlina are:

Australia, Thailand (Asia), New Zealand, USA, Canada, Indonesia (Asia), Malaysia (Asia), India, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, South America, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Vietnam.

Finding the right travel partner or the right woman to accompany you on your trip is easy with the Tourlina app – create a trip and enter your travel preferences and Tourlina will show you all suitable travel partners. Chat with potential travel partners for your trip and see who is currently in your area and organize a meeting. Tourlina is the world’s first travel partner exchange just for women who are looking for a travel partner in a secure network. Whether you want to backpack, travel by car, rent a camper van or work and travel Australia, you can find a suitable vacation companion worldwide in the Tourlina app – for your entire trip or an evening in Singapore or Spain or India or Bali and so on. Tourlina is safe and reputable! We check all new profiles! With Tourlina, you are sure to find the right vacation partner for your trip to Asia, USA, Europe, etc..

Some work & travel examples  which Tourlistas had in the past: Working as a snorkeling instructor in Thailand, working as ground crew in Kuala Lumpur, Teaching English in Singapore, Working as an Au Pair in America (Work & Travel), working in Backpackers Hostel in Argentina, voluntary teaching in Vietnam, bar maid in Bogota (work & travel job), watersports instructor in Costa Rica, kitchen assistant in Ecuador, bar woman in Buenos Aires (work and travel job), childrens club in Greece, work& travel as housekeeping in Italy, teaching English in Madrid, children’s rep in Barcelona, work & travel as fruit picking in Australia, bar manager in New York (work and travel), barge hostess in Berlin, work & travel as strawberry picking in France, conservation research assistant in Greece.

The Tourlina travel app is like a membership app only for GIRLS who want to find a travel buddy or travel partner or just want to meetup with locals and other travellers nearby . Sign-up to the Tourlina travel app and connect with thousends of like-minded girls around the world. The Tourlina team verfies all girls manually, therefore Tourlina is safe and it is really easy to connect and meetup with like minded girls. Sign up and start exploring the world and find interesting female travel buddies to meet with and travel with all over the the world. Never be lonely while you travel and even find like minded girls in your home town or at other cities.

You are an au pair girl  and stay in a foreign country working for, and living as part of, a host family. You take as an au pairs the family’s responsibility for childcare as well as housework. Have fun and meetup with other au pair girls nearby. Find au pair girls in America (USA), Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, Netherlands, UK (United Kingdom) and many other countries. Meetup with au pair girls  and exchange about your experience or just do some

• Tourlina helps female travelers to find a female travel buddy  and locals
• With the Tourina app, you can connect and chat with other international female travelers  and you can connect and chat with women who live nearby your home location or at any other location around the world – even before you go to this location
• Tourlina is an international community of female travelers . You can find travelling girls and solo female travelers
• With the Tourlina solo travel app , you can connect with girls who are looking for a travel mate, travel buddy or a travel companion
• Tourlina is the first women-only travel app where female travelers can find international female travel companions, travel mates and travel buddies
• Tourlina allows women to connect and chat in a large and international female travel community and meet travelers  from all over the world. It is an easy and successful way to find solo female travelers  within a large travelling girls community
• Well known companies like New York Times, El Tiempo, Hostelworld, Kayak, Washington Post, Huffington Post, National Geographic and many others recommend Tourlina app for solo female travelers from all over the world
• You should choose a destination where the risk for a woman traveling alone is low. Such countries actually include all countries in Europe as well as many countries in Asia, such as Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Japan and Indonesia (Bali). You should not necessarily travel to India alone as a woman. Muslim countries are also rather difficult for women traveling alone and should be visited by women who already have a lot of experience with traveling alone.
• Plan your vacation carefully and make sure that you always travel during the day and arrive at your next accommodation before dark.
• Share your travel plan with friends and family
• Don’t try to see as much as possible in a short space of time, but take your time traveling and stay in one place for longer.
• Find a travel partner: Use apps like Tourlina and meet locals and other travelers.
• Try to master the important terms and phrases in the language of the country before your trip
• Use social media and solo travel meetings as well as travel apps to find friends, such as the Tourlina app
• Stay overnight in a hostel. You’ll always meet like-minded people there and quickly make new contacts
• Book tours and activities on site to go on an excursion together with others
• Go to cafés and restaurants. Especially in Asia, you will quickly make new contacts over a meal
• Meet new friends, for example if you book a yoga retreat
• Try out a work & travel experience
• You decide what you want to do and when. That’s just great and fun!
• You become braver and braver!
• You have more intense experiences and see more on vacation!
• You get to know yourself better and better!
• You become more and more self-confident!
• A solo trip makes you more relaxed!
• As a solo traveler, you’ll make friends more quickly and meet new people more easily!
• Despite traveling solo, you will find that you are only alone when you really want to be. Otherwise, you’ll be meeting other people all the time!
• Classifieds travel partner wanted
• Travel partner wanted free of charge
• Search for travel partner free of charge
• Vacation partner wanted serious
• Female travel companion wanted
• Travel partner over 20, 30, 40 or over 50 wanted

Find A Female Travel Companion in Bangkok, Share Costs & Travel Together

How GAFFL Works

Search destination, find female travel partners, get connected, trip together.

• Female Travel Companion
• Female Travel Companion Bangkok

What GAFFL Users Are Saying

"It’s really nice to have a platform like GAFFL with lots of travelers wanting to do the same as you, a real beautiful cultural exchange. You can meet people so easily and in a trustful way. We were four girls, from French, German and American backgrounds, without knowing each other from before. We spent an amazing week together, 2000km driving, camping on the way. We saw kangaroos, koalas, penguins and pelicans"

“I have found GAFFL to be an amazing tool for finding similar minded travel partners to embark on an adventure. Through GAFFL, I had organized a trip to Mexico City last month and Quazi joined the trip from Victoria, BC. We spent 14 days of straight exploring, hiking, eating and drinking. Quite an amazing experience - all thanks to GAFFL!”

"I accidentally scrolled across GAFFL and I'm so pleased I did. I met Amaia and immediately decided to road-trip together. We're spending 10 days together and it's great because we have so much in common. Couldn't have done it without GAFFL helping us find one another! It has honestly made NZ so much cheaper to explore as I get to split the costs with someone too​"

Were you looking forward to a trip with your friends, only to find out that they had backed out last minute? Wondering how to find other women to travel with online? Even if your family and friends' schedules don't match yours, your vacation doesn't have to be ruined because of it. GAFFL can help you to find the perfect female travel companion for your next adventure.

The best way to find a travel buddy on GAFFL is to search for your desired destination and browse through thousands of user-generated trips created by solo female travelers around the world.

A good travel companion is someone who has a similar itinerary to you. It's also someone you think you'll get along with.

Every user on GAFFL has a profile where they list their interests. If you and your potential trip mate share some common interests, it’ll make your trip go a lot smoother.

It's also important to have a similar budget in mind. If your travel companion wants to do more activities and eat at expensive restaurants but you can’t afford it, it can lead to an unpleasant trip for the both of you.

When browsing trips on GAFFL, make sure to read through the trip details to learn more about the trip and determine if the activities are something you want to do and can afford.

If you like a trip on GAFFL, simply click 'Connect,' and you'll be able to chat with your travel buddy right away. If you have your own travel plans, you can start your own trip and others can request to connect with you!

Finding the right travel companion online can be difficult for solo travelers. GAFFL, on the other hand, makes it very simple. Use our world-class real-time messaging system to get to know your potential travel partner. Chat with them to see if they'd be a good travel companion for you, and then plan together, meet up with your travel buddy, and start exploring together.

GAFFL is the best website/app for solo female travelers looking for female travel companions online because we prioritize our travelers' trust and safety. Our multi-step verification process includes social media, phone number, and a valid government ID, so you can be confident in your potential travel companion. With adventurers from over 190 countries, you can connect, chat, and find the perfect female travel buddy to meet up with on GAFFL.

One of the things that hold people back is that they don’t have a partner or a best friend to travel with and they feel scared and uncertain to travel alone, especially long-term. GAFFL helps with that!

Another thing that holds people back is the perceived cost of travel. While travel doesn’t have to be expensive, it’s always more affordable when you can share the cost of accommodation and groceries with someone else. Again, GAFFL provides a solution for that!

I think this is a fabulous idea because the things that can get expensive while solo traveling can usually also be easily split between people. If you aren’t a hostel fan, it would be awesome to have people to split hotels and Airbnb with.

If car rental is the cheapest way to get around a destination, it would be ideal to have others to split the costs with. But most importantly it always makes the experience that much more memorable when you have new friends to share it with.

I think GAFFL plays a role by allowing solo travelers to find travel buddies when needed. Though solo travel is a great way to travel, there are some experiences that are better enjoyed with more people (some don’t even allow for solo).

Friends and families are not always available to travel with, and sometimes the interests do not align for travel. Or sometimes you just want to socialize while still being solo most of the time. I think GAFFL helps solve these problems.

We truly believe that the best memories and experiences are the ones that are shared with others. It doesn’t matter if you’ve known someone for an hour or your whole life, when you do something badass together it’s sure to be a time you won’t forget.

Making connections and becoming friends with people all over the world is such a powerful tool to have when traveling. One day maybe you’ll visit your new friend in their homeland. Some of the best trips happen when you have a friend playing tour guide in their country.

GAFFL is a really cool opportunity to enrich your travels with like-minded people who will push you to get out of your comfort zone. No matter what type of personality you have, making new friends on the road is easier than ever.

Solo travel is great. But there are some times that I do not recommend someone travel solo and where I personally try my hardest not to travel solo. Some examples of this relate to safety, like hiking a trail that doesn’t have many people walking it each day, or being in certain destinations where I’ve heard from others that it’s difficult as a solo female.

Other examples relate to expenses, like taking a road trip and renting a car. Situations like these are where I think something like GAFFL is a great idea. With GAFFL, you can find a group to go on that hike with or split that car rental with!

Looking after you and your holiday needs in Thailand

What we offer

24/7 Support Line

If you need advice, information, have an emergency or need some support, just give us a call anytime.

Dedicated Buddy

Your personal Host & local Expert. Acting as your first point of contact to help you plan your holiday and navigate the city.

Local Knowledge

Nothing beats good old local knowledge. We know what to do, where to go and the best way to get there. 

Discover Thailand in a

New and collaborative way.

See how we helped James & Kate

See Bangkok from a new angle

So how does it work.

Tell us your travel dates & what you are looking for during your holiday in the contact form.

A member of the Thai Buddy Travel team will get back to you within 24 hours.

You let us know more about your interests, what you want to see, do and experience in Bangkok.

We match you up with one of our Buddies and they will get in contact with you to introduce themselves and start planning for your arrival.

Congratulations! You have just made your first friend in Thailand.

A familiar face to meet and greet you at the airport, bring you to your hotel and show you around your local area.

How we can help? 

We know that the average person only gets 1 or 2 holidays per year so its important to make every minute count.  Holidays are a time to recharge the batteries, experience new things and create some happy memories. Thai Buddy Travel are here to make sure you have a stress free, magical time in Thailand by solving some of the most common problems facing holiday makers like you.

Our Buddies are here to help you with:

Communicating with locals to make sure nothing is lost in translation.

Understanding the customs, cultures, lifestyle differences and business etiquette​​.

Getting around using local transport, the timetables and local infrastructure.

Uncomfortable situations where you may feel uneasy and can use a local friend.

Being overcharged for taxis, food, souvenirs, excursions, shopping, etc.

Most importantly, we want you to feel comfortable, welcome and supported.

Bangkok in pictures

• Join as a Workawayer
• Join as a host
• Buy a gift membership
• Find a travel buddy
• Plan your trip

Thousands of Workaway members are looking for a travel partner. New travel-mates added daily. Lots of opportunities to find exactly the right travel buddy for you. Choose the places you want to visit, write a quick note explaining the type of person you'd like to travel with or what you are intending to do while away. You'll then appear on the list. Other travellers can find you, get in contact and discuss plans.

Sign up to put yourself on this list and find a travel buddy.

People on this list are looking for someone to travel with, you can join them. Send messages to other travelling members and be contacted yourself.

Perfect if you're going to an unfamiliar destination or just fancy some company on a trip.

Forgotten your password?

• let lastPlace = { country: '', countryName: '', isCountry: false }; let addressLevels = { 'locality': 50, 'neighborhood': 50, 'administrative_area_level_5': 80, 'administrative_area_level_4': 100, 'administrative_area_level_3': 150, 'administrative_area_level_2': 200, 'administrative_area_level_1': 250, 'country': '' }; $(function () { if ('undefined' === typeof $window) { window.$window = $(window); } if (window.getRealWidth() Loading results '); $.ajax(aurl, {data: data, method: 'get'}).done(function (responseText) { let response = ajaxWasSuccessful(responseText); if (response) { let objData = { locals: { ajaxfile: '/report_request.php', results: response.results.data, data: { 'currentPage': response.params.Page, 'pagination': response.results.pagination }, totalNum: response.results.totalNum, params: response.params, loggedIn: false, lang: 'en', langtext: { 'delete': 'delete', 'dateformat': 'd/m/Y', 'meetup_linktext_visit_profile': 'Profile', 'meetup_linktext_contact': 'Contact', 'meetup_linktext_add': 'add', 'travelbuddy_no_results': 'We couldn’t find anyone to match that search.', 'travelbuddy_try_searching_country': 'Try searching all travelling to', 'lastLogin': 'Last login', 'travelbuddy_label_destination': 'Destination:', 'travelbuddy_label_dates': 'Dates', 'meetup_title_lastlogin_status_green': 'This Workawayer has been active within the last 7 days', 'meetup_title_lastlogin_status_yellow': 'This Workawayer has been active within the last 30 days', 'meetup_title_lastlogin_status_red': 'This Workawayer has been active within the last 60 days', 'ww_label_last_activity': 'Last activity', 'found': 'found', 'label_showing': 'Showing', 'splr_of': 'of', 'splr_to': 'to', 'travelbuddy_label_show_more': 'show more...', 'popover_signuptocontact_workawayer_guest': '<p><b> <a href="/en/login">Login here</a></b> to start a conversation</p>', 'signup_workawayer_url': '/en/signup/workawayer', 'join_as_workawayer': 'Join as a Workawayer', 'signup_host_url': '/en/signup/host', 'join_as_host': 'Join as a Host', 'profile_verified_popover_title': 'Verified with ID', 'profile_verified_popover_content': 'Member has provided their ID to increase trust in their profile.', }, testversion: false } }; let template = swig.render('{% if data.pagination.pages.length > 1 %}\ {% set addPlusToTotal = \'\' %}\ {% if \'10000+\' == totalNum %}\ {% set totalNum = 10000 %}\ {% set addPlusToTotal = \'+\' %}\ {% endif %}\ \ \ \ \ \ {#\ {% if data.pagination.arrows.first %}\ \ \ \ \

Workaway has committed over $20,000 USD from the Workaway foundation to help refugees from Ukraine.

Upon request all workawayers based in Ukraine will have their accounts extended for free until further notice.

Hosts in Ukraine have been temporarily disabled for safety reasons.

If you are a host and are able to take in refugees please add the information in your account and you will be added to our last minute host list .

Should you wish to donate and help please click here .

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Find a travel buddy and meet local singles worldwide!

• Current country is United States. If you are traveling set temporary location. Change it to your hometown, when you are back home.
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Meet local singles

Meet local singles in your next travel destination! They will show you their favorite places, the best beaches, the best local clubs, bars and restaurants. Better than just a dating app, better than a free local guide!

Find a travel buddy and plan a trip together!

Make your vacation a fun, exciting and unforgettable experience.

North America

South america, last ads from tourbar users.

Rishikesh, India

• Short/weekend break

Phuket, Thailand

• Beach break

• Concert/festival
• Foodie tour
• Sightseeing

South Korea

• Shopping trip

Cadiz City, Philippines

• Business trip

Kodaikanal, India

Popular destinations

Meet people traveling in your city and show them around! Connect, take them to your favorite places and maybe next time you will visit them in their hometown or even travel together as travel partners

United States

United kingdom, find a travel buddy with our fun & safe international dating site.

What should you do first while looking for a travel buddy?

Many people who desire to travel around the world and see breathtaking places don’t have a suitable travel companion. And not everyone can make an announcement “travel buddy wanted” via social networks.

Most likely your perfect travel buddy and even destiny are not among your old internet friends. And this is the main reason to start looking for a travel buddy on the special project. At first pick and post your best photos, decide where you want to go and what do you plan to visit, write all hobbies, interests and plans in your personal profile and start an exciting race of making new friends all around our planet.

There are several secrets that help while choosing a travel buddy

Pay attention to people’s plans and habits. For example, if a person writes in a profile that he prefers energetic lifestyle with tons of activities and you enjoy calm and quite sightseeing – probably you won’t make a good match even if other interests are similar. If you two are early birds – that’s great, if not it could do you wrong. Imagine the situation when your buddy is a night owl and doesn’t give you a chance to rest.

So try to write a list of what you prefer while traveling. Do you like organized or spontaneous trips? Riding a car or hiking miles? Dining at home or tasting foreign cuisine? And you can also mention on what side of the bed you sleep. Make a funny note - travel buddy with left bedside preference wanted. Fortunately, your perfect travel buddy will appreciate this tiny joke. And don’t forget that sense of humor is one of the most important things in any relationship.

Travel Buddy Blog

Tips how to become more attractive, published issue of national geographic traveller, preparation to go on a trip, are you single today is the best day to meet your love, various ways to find the right buddy to travel around the world, top places for european dating, international dating.

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hi I'm 65 and never been but very interested fit and healthy ex-bricklayer still laying bricks would love to go oct or Feb are you definitely going in oct or are you flexible im on decided about oct or feb im free and single and just looking for a like minded companion just to enjoy the stay and as it says have a travel buddy if anyone interested in this please contact me

ps i think feb would be my best date but still flexible around the 7th feb till around the 25 but that can change to longer so any help and advice

I think you would be better off trying to find a travel buddy back in your own home city. There may be other tourists around your age looking for travel companions. Perhaps hitting up some local travel agencies in your city and asking them if there are women asking about companions.

No problem going on your own if you want!

(When you ask for Travel Buddies on an open forum you might end up with weirdos, or guys wanting you to pay for everything. Never meet up with strangers in your hotel room, meet them in a public location away from your hotel.)

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How will you cope if your brand new travel buddy gets a coronary? Can you trust the new buddy to do anything useful if you get a coronary? Thailand does not have an ambulance service that delivers highly-equipped paramedics and even doctors within 15 minutes of calling 911.

If need a travel buddy, find a local and do first a short trip to find out if that person is actually more trouble than traveling solo.

This post has been removed at the author's request.

Tripadvisor staff removed this post because it did not meet Tripadvisor's forum posting guidelines with prohibiting self-promotional advertising or solicitation.

I love dogs and enjoy long walks in the park.....LOL

Sorry but I'm not buying the authenticity of post 3,7,8,9 and the OP. All 1 post wonders.

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Home » Budget Travel » How to Find a Travel Buddy: Travelling with a Friend 101

How to Find a Travel Buddy: Travelling with a Friend 101

There’s a certain romanticism in the life of an intrepid solo traveller—solitary and stoic—braving venturing unto new frontiers. But do you want to know the truth?

Some of my warmest, happiest, and most sincere memories from the road are of experiences shared travelling with a friend.

Now, that’s not necessarily to say a friend  from home.  No, rather, a travel buddy that I met on the road. People that, astonishingly quickly, became treasured friends and companions.

Because that’s the underlying magic of finding a travel buddy: it’s a shared experience, and that makes it more real. Suddenly, there’s someone to tell that story with—someone to reminisce with. At the one-year reunion, the two-year reunion, or, hell, maybe (if you’re lucky enough), then when you’re old and grey and still complaining about the price of cigarettes together.

And that’s exactly why I want to teach you how to find a travel buddy! Because remembering and sharing those stories together… that’s more special than the travels themself.

We’ll be covering the basics today, i.e. how to make a friend (in case you missed that 101). But also the peripherals: how to find a travel buddy online AND offline, the (more practical) benefits of travelling with friends, and even the stampeding elephant in the room that is the variable of gender.

Why Travel with a Stranger?

How to find a travel buddy online, how to find a travel buddy offline, the ins-and-outs of travelling with a buddy.

Ok, so ‘stranger’ is a bit rough. Sure, when you first meet a travel buddy they’ll be a stranger, but that’s the beauty of travel relationships: they get real deep real fast.

Imagine a friend that you see every day of your life, be it for 3 days or 3 months. Every decision is shared, resources are shared, stories—new and old—are shared. Rapidly, this person becomes a staple and constant in your life.

It sounds almost like a… real relationship , right?

But it is, essentially, albeit platonically (most of the time).

If the idea that you won’t find a travel partner is holding you back from travelling, that’s daft. There are incredible places to travel alone in the world.

Short of disappearing into the frozen expanses of the Alaskan tundra, you will never be alone. Often, alone time can almost be like black gold for a traveller.

The world is a big place, and no matter how hard you try, you’re never really alone.

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The Benefits of Travelling with a Friend

Outside of all the esoteric mumbo-jumbo about meeting people to travel with and forming lifelong kinships of an almost spiritual substance, there are heaps of logistical reasons to travel with someone!

• Saving money – Duh— budget backpacking 101 ! Someone to split costs with means spending less money overall.
• Taking nicer rooms – Kind of an offshoot of the last point but think about all the private room options that will open up if you’re sharing. You can take swanky Airbnbs at a steal or share grimy single rooms (with one person on the floor) for a pittance!
• Sharing resources – “Hey, dude, got any mozzie spray?”
• Someone to watch your back – Safety in numbers, naturally, but not just that. You’ve got someone to watch your stuff when you wander off for a piss or to talk to on the long train rides. It’s the little things.
• They might not finish their meal – Cha-ching!
• Photo-ops – You’re gonna be featured in way more Insta-basic-beach-poser shots with someone around to take them.

Travelling with a Friend from Home

Personally, I’m not a fan of the ‘bring a friend’ method. You know how sometimes friends choose to live together and then they discover they’re shit housemates and it gets petty and causes schisms within the whole friendship group? (No, you’re a projection!)

I know the dream is to have your mates from home tag along for the adventure, but a dream can quickly turn to a lucid nightmare. Once you’re travelling—solo or with a travel buddy—you’ll discover the glory of freedom. Both the freedom of the road and freedom from home.

Travel is a chance to be free of the perceptions of who you are held by the people closest to you. It’s a chance to grow, develop, and learn about yourself, with yourself, in brand new and unprecedented scenarios. Bringing a friend from home along to that experience is like sneaking a flask into an AA meeting.

I wouldn’t say doggedly avoid travelling with a friend from home. I would, however, suggest to experience travel in its fullest before you bring that home-friend.

A home-friend, or, yes, a partner, is—to be blunt—a ball-and-chain. A travelling friend is someone you meet on the road. You have no unspoken contract to uphold; if it goes south, then so do you (while they go north).

A friend you travel with , however, has all sorts of potential to get messy, and it’s not a good first-time introduction into the backpack-o-sphere. It’s a commitment and one that works counter-intuitively to the freedom of travel.

It can be a real restriction.

Will here again!

While planning an entire backpacking trip with a friend (or friends) can lead to surefire disaster, a short stint through the crazies of Asia or clubs of Europe is a blast!

When it comes to getting my friends to come out and travel with me for a bit, I am absolutely a convincing bastard! What I like to do on longer trips is to make a Facebook group, add my favourite homies, and then post my—extremely rough—itinerary and any general directional updates. That way, people can work out where I’m heading and decide if they’d like to swing by for an interlude.

I tend to much prefer to go my own way during the adventures, but seeing the peeps from back home is always such a heartwarming experience, especially in the reaches of some far-flung land. It may just take some persistence to convince them. 😉

Travel Alone or with Someone: Shoulda Put a Ring on It

While travelling with a friend may be the dream, solo travel is the real journey. If you find a travel buddy, you’re not solo travelling, and that, simply by nature, is restricting.

As a solo traveller, you’re living on a whim. Anywhere you go is entirely in your hands. And experiences come a lot more frequently as a result of your solitude.

• Hitchhiking alone is easier.
• Meeting locals is easier.
• Having someone host you is easier.

That’s not to say that this stuff doesn’t happen when travelling with someone. Only, it’s more restrictive.

A pair of exotic foreigners is a lot more daunting to approach than a single dazed soul. And you haven’t got to hash out decisions with someone either before you do something crazy in the spur of the moment. You do you.

However, you do lose a lot too. Travel isn’t about being alone: it’s about all the people you meet. It’s about all the things that they teach you, and all the things that you learn together. Meeting a travel buddy and earning a travel companion is a natural extension of that.

What I’m trying to say is that sometimes you just wanna smoke a joint by yourself. I get that—we all do. But, at the end of the day…

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It’s the 21st-century. Of course, we’re doing this digitally! Isn’t the main reason to travel to be looking at your phone more?

Ok, so finding a travel buddy online may not be my favourite flavour, but it does work. There are no shortage of travel companion sites and ‘find a travel buddy’ apps fit for the purpose of hooking you up with some loose cannon through cyberspace.

The most obvious is social media and this does work:

• Facebook – Is the no brainer. Check general backpacking groups, backpacking groups for the country you’re in, groups for specific hobbies (hiking, climbing, etc.), or even ride offering/asking groups in the famous road trip countries (Australia/New Zealand/etc.).
• Instagram – Yeah, Insta does have its purposes ; try posting a photo or story showcasing where you’re at now. Chances are someone you met on the road before will hit you up.
• Twitter – I’m not even going to pretend to be an expert on Twitter, but if you’re already an avid tweeter of twits, then I’m sure you know how to utilise it. I have heard success stories!

Your socials are already covering a lot of ground given that so many people—and travellers—are active users. But your also looking at a huge gene pool of many splendid examples of the lowest common denominator. There are no referrals, no rating system, and no barrier of entry.

They definitely have their uses, but there are plenty of much more nuanced travel friend apps and sites to find people to travel with.

Best Travel Buddy Apps and Sites

• GAFFL – On the reverse end of social media’s low threshold to sign up is GAFFL with its 4-step verification process—yikes! There’s a site with a yummy UX and an accompanying travel buddy app, plus you get some extra bonus features for planning the trip itinerary and securely splitting the costs even prior to the trip.
• Travel Buddies – Well the name certainly fits! It’s kinda like a social media platform with the explicit purpose of advertising your upcoming trips and seeing other peoples’. It’s pretty straightforward to contact people and overall a pretty clearcut travel buddy site.
• Meetup – It’s not actually a site for finding a travel companion but rather a site for group meetups and events—hiking, pub drinks, Taco Tuesdays, LGBTQ Taco Tuesdays. You may never meet a travel buddy through meetup, but you’ll definitely meet some friends!
• Tinder – I know, I know. But, using Tinder while travelling does have its uses.
• Backpackr – Just a straight app without a website. You can browse people’s profiles (so, yeah, it’s a bit dating-ish) and a ‘Common Room’ for asking questions, getting tips, and screaming into the void.
• 5W: Women Welcome Women Worldwide – I wanted to throw a ladies-only choice in, and this one is more like a worldwide network than just an app for meeting travellers. 5W is a non-profit that’s been around since 1984. You’ll have to complete an application process first to ensure you meet the prerequisites (i.e. having a vagina), but once you do, you’ll be given the keys to the kingdom: the members list with plenty of opportunities for attending gatherings or organising one-on-one meetings.

Then there are Traveller forums. They’re a dime a dozen for both seeking tips and finding travel buddies. If you’re not a massive fan of apps, these are the major players you should look at:

• Tripadvisor forums – People ask a lot of questions over there too.
• Reddit –  There are endless subreddits divided by different destinations, communities, and hobbies. Check out the Travel Partners and Solo Travel boards particularly.

Couchsurfing – A Broke Backpacker’s Secret Weapon

Heya, Sexylegs.

While the above apps certainly serve the cause, there’s only one platform that I believe takes the true crowning jewel of being the best app to find a travel buddy—Couchsurfing! I have Couchsurfed in all manner of weird and wonderful locales—Iran, Venezuela, and Jordan just to name a few—and I have always found the Couchsurfing community to be absolute gems.

As well as being a fantastic platform for finding free accommodation and meeting locals, Couchsurfing is also a great site and app for making travel friends. I have found numerous people through Couchsurfing’s groups who I have travelled with, and I’ve won some truly treasured friendships as a result.

The best group to look in is either the ‘Backpacker’ group or the ‘Travel Buddies’ group as well as checking out the specific group for whichever country or region you are travelling and Couchsurfing in. Often, people will post in country or city groups asking if other CSers are around for drinks, an adventure, or to see if anybody else is trying to find a travel mate. It’s also definitely worth heading to any local Couchsurfing meetups in your area too!

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Look, I’m old fashioned. I don’t like Tinder. I prefer paying in cash, and I do enjoy popping the odd Werther’s Original. Finding someone to travel with offline is my jam.

You’re going to meet travel companions organically as you travel alone (assuming you’re lovable with a winning smile). It’ll be in any number of differing formats too. They could be a:

• Solo human with an equally unquenchable thirst for the world’s most adventurous places .
• Pair of humans who are either previous friends or also travel buddies.
• Group of any size and connecting factor (though a group of all solo travellers is always madness of the finest calibre).
• Romantic pair of humans. This actually happens more often then you might think and is more-often-than-not excellent fun! Bonus points to the travelling couples who argue in their native tongue for the sake of politeness.

There are probably other formats than this, but that’s the basics. And again, it will happen organically , even if you’re not lovable with a winning smile. (Unless, of course, you’re a total prick, but then you have bigger issues).

Meet Other Travellers (But Never Settle for Second-Best)

Do let it be organic. You’re a solo traveller! Be the badass motherfucking homeless-hero thou most certainly art.

Go and solo travel. Brave new ventures, be lonely sometimes, and make many, many new friends. When the right companion to travel with comes along, you’ll know it. Forcing this issue is just like forcing relationships – it doesn’t work out very well!

Usually, finding a travel buddy (or buddies) is a matter of something shared; it is a core value of The Broke Backpacker Manifesto . A shared desire for the same off-beat adventure. Or it could be a shared matter of convenience— we were both going to the same place, but then we stayed together.

Often, for me, it’s just a shared love for the same simplicities in life: living cheap, travelling without money , eating local, smoking the finest dankeries, and, sometimes, sleeping under the stars. The dirtbag life.

My point is, don’t settle for mediocrity! You’re way too good for that. Wait until you meet travel buddies that truly deserve you.

Just do you, soak up the journey, and let the opportunity come to you. Ultimately, it’s gotta flow.

Places to Find a Travel Buddy Offline

If you’re steering clear of the apps and socials in your travels (or are just terrible at using them), then there are still some classic meeting points to find a travel mate:

• Hostels – Staying in backpacker hostels is the tried-and-true classical method to meet travellers and find someone to travel with. But remember to pick hostels that match your vibe.
• Work Exchange Programs – Absolutely! Things like Workaway, WWOOF, Worldpackers, HelpX, etc… these types of travel jobs are tops places for meeting travellers. Particularly solo and long-term travellers.
• Public Transport – If you’re carving a typical backpacking route for any given place—say the Banana Pancake Trail in Southeast Asia —then you’ll always encounter travellers en route between the major destinations.
• On the Plane – You can find a travel buddy before you even leave the airport! Scout the plane and passengers (at the baggage claim is also a smart spot) for any smelly backpacker vagrant types, and ask them if they’d like to share a taxi to the nearest backpacker hub of whatever city you’ve landed in. A general rule: the cheaper the flight , the more likely you’ll walk into some fellow broke backpackers!
• Declaring a Grand Adventure – It’s happened to me no short number of times. You declare with great intention (no bluffing allowed) about some grand adventure you’re planning—say, hitchhiking across India or finding some legendary hidden mountain village. If the chances of death are still low enough, people are always gonna want to tag along.

Often, if the flow is right, someone that you met as a short-term travel buddy (say, on the bus) can end up being someone you travel with for a while. Sometimes, it can be a long while.

Seriously, work exchange programs are a brilliant method to meet other travellers. Given that the people you meet—not even counting the local friends that you’ll make—are more than likely going to be dedicated to the slow travel life (and to exploring a country away from the tourist bubbles), forming substantial friendships is just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

It also helps to know your way around the voluntourism sector, and how to choose worthwhile programs (ideally, with a steady influx of travellers). Worldpackers and Workaway —two esteemed platforms for volunteering abroad—are good places to look too.

Worldpackers: connecting travellers with  meaningful travel experiences.

Nobody said it was easy. No one ever said it would be this hard.

Yes, indeed, the man known as ‘Coldplay’ was correct. While sometimes it flows effortlessly, sometimes it is hard.

They’re not a true friend until you’ve seen them at their worst. They’re not a true friend until you’ve considered throwing them out of a 6-storey window.

If you’re going to choose to travel with a stranger, you’ve got to be prepared for some strangeness. Sometimes it gets tense. Sometimes it gets uneasy.

Finding a travel partner is only half the journey.

Oh Boy, We’re Discussing Genders

Yay for minefields! I really wanted to avoid this topic because finding a travel buddy should never be about the potential to get inside another traveller’s Thailand Elephant Pants. However, we can’t honestly pretend that gender isn’t an influencing factor and so… it’s into the abyss we go!

Yes, finding travel companions for singles, as a single, is definitely a thing. Finding love and sex while backpacking is a potential natural conclusion of this. Fairly often, it ends poorly once the honeymoon bubble of travelling together wears off; but it does work out too… sometimes.

BUT, it’s more important to shift your thinking away from that and to more consider the variable of gender , i.e. how gender affects travel.

I remember travelling with a friend—female and very much treasured—in Sri Lanka. She cracked the shits at me one night after dinner because I failed to see the host was ignoring her and taking executive decisions on the meal order from me: the man. Truthfully, I was completely oblivious; I was just pumped for dinner.

However, having a female travel companion does help create insight. Many parts of the world are substantially more difficult for a girl to travel in solo or otherwise (though certainly not impossible)…

The Arab World is tricky. South Asia is not the best either? South America is… mmm .

Being a female looking for a male travel partner in these parts of the world—while not a necessity—is smart. It does mitigate the intensity. With a couple of fake wedding rings thrown in, you’ll be coastin’.

If you do end up travelling with someone of the preferred gender and orientation you most enjoy diddling, again, you guys do you. Just remember the variable.

Dudes, stay aware of your female travel companions. Just stand a bit tighter in the surge of a crowded bazaar, or keep an eye on her drinks during a psy-banger in Goa. Remember that her experience will always be different.

As for the Mademoiselles travelling with a guy friend, just keep communicating: be chill, girl-bros. If you’re gonna crack the shits, do so gently. Sometimes, we’re just not paying attention.

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How to Travel with a Friend: On Fights

Yeah, arguments do happen on the road. Travel with a friend long enough, and, eventually, it’ll happen.

The first time I had an argument with a travel buddy, it got ferocious. Imagine two colourfully dressed hippies shoeless on the side of a New Zealand road screaming and cussing each other out—one in broad Australian, one in angry Japanese. That wasn’t our last argument either.

The next time I hitched long distance with someone, I warned him:

“Alright, dude. At some point, we’re gonna fight. We need to decide now, what we’ll do then.”

He thought I was joking.

“Oh, yeah, well how about we roll a joint on it.”

Several days later while being held semi-captive in a buttfuck-nowhere Indian village, we had our first fight, and that’s exactly what we did.

Assume it’ll happen, make the necessary plans in your head, and communicate well. When you find a travel companion, you’re gonna see that person every day. Often, for every meal.

Travelling relationships can be every bit as intense as romantic ones. The only difference is you don’t get the catharsis of a make-up bang afterwards.

How to Travel with Someone – Tips and Pointers

• Talk – And communicate; if you’re having an off-day—a case of the traveller blues—mention it. Talking is important, especially if it’s about something that affects the team.
• Share – If you’re both giving and taking fairly, you’ll end up a stronger team for it. Pool your resources!
• Don’t be an accountant –  For big sums of money, sure, but keeping track of the little things is going to wear very thin. Often, it’s easier just to go 1:1 on buying each other chai, meals, bus fares, and whatever else.
• Take Space – When you feel you need it, and sometimes when you don’t too. Timeout is rarely the wrong choice.
• Compromise – You ain’t solo travelling anymore which means sometimes you’ll need to make concessions! Somedays, you’re just not going want to do the same thing.

And remember that word— team.  Because that’s what you are. You’re a team working together towards a shared goal.

You gotta function as a unit.

Travel Alone or with Someone, but Get Insurance!

I once had a friend spot his travel buddy several grand when she got herself into a medical mess in Nepal (which is yet to be returned, to the best of my knowledge). Now, granted, he’s self-sacrificing to a fault, however, it’s a picture-perfect example of exactly why you should have travel insurance.

Because it ain’t you who’ll be cleaning up your mess.

All kinds of things can happen when you travel, and they do happen. Be sure to consider some quality travel insurance sorted before you head off on an adventure!

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

And Now You Know How to Find a Travel Buddy!

And how to travel with them. It’s kinda cool, right?

Ding-dong—I’m a solo traveler!

For me, one of the greatest thrills of backpacking is to rock up somewhere completely new and meet a whole new crowd of people, travellers and locals alike. I have done a huge amount of solo, partnered, and group travel, and I highly recommend you have a crack at all of them.

Moreso, I can’t stress enough that if the fear of being alone is holding you back from travelling, it shouldn’t. One of the main reasons some would-be vagabonds never leave home is because they’re worried they won’t meet anyone and will be lonely. One of the lessons you’ll learn travelling is that that’s simply never going to happen.

The backpacker community is awesome; everybody is extremely friendly and, in general, people just want to meet-and-greet (the same as you). It’s really quite easy to find people to travel with. And the times that you are, you’ll still be having a damn good time!

It’s something someone said to me a long time ago: some things you can only learn in a relationship, and some things you can only learn on your own. I think the same is true of travel.

Travelling solo is only one part of travel as is travelling with a friend , buddy, stranger, partner, or even in a group. Don’t find a travel buddy because you’re scared. Be scared and be awesome, because the two aren’t mutually exclusive.

Travel in all ways, experience it in all forms, and when you do find travel buddies, experience that too. Because many of those shared stories—and those shared photos—will be the ones that inspire your kids to travel.

1+1=3… which is to say that a unit is greater than the sum of its parts. A team, a friendship, and travel buddies—when it’s right—are stronger together than they are apart. And the end results?

They’re worth all the stupid fights.

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Ziggy Samuels

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17 Comments

Too cool of a website. Thumbed the NA Continent, tried in SE Asia {didnt know what thumbing was} and met fine people. There are great people wherever one goes and ones that will go out of their way to help another. Canada is super, picturesque as is the Alcan, North of 60 {Phillip smith mts}. Stayed mostly northern areas. The south has a different atmosphere but good folks. Want to try Hitching Trains. Valuable info to share with others re the site

This helps. I need a travel companion if nothing else someone to talk to but, I would like to find someone that can do some of the driving. Money is not my problem it’s time. I once said we have 3 things. MONEY, SEX, TIME. SOMEONE INTERESTED IN TRAVELING THE USA STARTING IN MARCH OR APRIL CONTACT ME. [email protected] .

I’ve been trying to FIND Someone Anyone!! to go with me from: TX. To and Through: OK./MO./KS. with NO LUCK!!! LOCAL TRAVEL(S) NOT FOREIGN TRAVELS!! Because I LIVE LOCALLY In The USA DUH,……For TWO YEARS Now,…..SO NOT GETTING ANYWHERE OR ANYPLACE, With DIALING The: CHARTER BUSES, The RIDE SHARES, And Even Other HIKING AND BIKING BUDDIES, Especially LONG Distance, Because I Don’t Drive A Car As A Grown Up ok??? VERY FRUSTRATING!!!! What HAPPENED To Just Getting A SIMPLE RIDE Safely Of Course (That Word SAFE AGAIN Grrrr!!!) (SAFE THIS AND SAFE THAT, Or: Safe That And Safe This, For TWO FREAKING YEARS NOW!!!) (SHUT UP ABOUT SAFE!!!) (And Oh Yeah Also: WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER BULLCRAP For TWO FREAKING YEARS!!! ENOUGH ALREADY!!!) Basically AND Generally??? I N E E D A R I D E From A D R I V E R Or D R I V E R S And/Or A Bike AND Hike Group A LONG A DISTANCE Soon For The REST Of This fall And winter DUH!!! And SOMEONE AND SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS THE AREA And/Or AREAS WE ARE GOING THROUGH Soon!!!!! I JUST WISH!!!!!! I’LL EVEN LEAD THE GROUP OR A GROUP, IF NEED BE, THOUGH I’VE NEVER ACTUALLY HAVE LED A GROUP OF OTHER PEDESTRIANS EVER!!! UHG!!! GETTING MORE AND MORE FRUSTRATED DAILY HERE IN GREENVILLE, TX./Texas AND SOON I’M JUST GOING To Go FIND SOME ABANDONED CAR, AND HOTWIRE IT EVEN IF IT’S A NEW WORLD ORDER AI SCARY BOT CAR!!! TIRED OF WAITING FOR A FEW YEARS TO RETURN There WHEREVER!! And A FRUSTRATED TRAVELER(S), BECOMES A HOSTILE CRANKY TRAVELER(S)!!!

Sad to not see more comments since Covid… It’s like a message in a bottle thrown into the sea. I’m French, 35 yo, fit, gentleman, I don’t smoke, marketing manager teleworking, looking for a travel buddy, a woman, I’m not vaccinated, I already moved to different places with my car in France but I also plan to travel in EU, I usually stay a month or more in the same place. I like to explore around, to try the local food, organic mostly, monuments, history, nature… The week I stay around the place to work and do multimedia art, music, etc. on my laptop… I don’t need someone but when I see that most places I rent are for 2 minimum, well… It’s a shame not to share this experience, right?

TravBuddy & Thorntree shut down their service.

GAFFL is a similar site which matches up travelers with similar travel plans and ensures the safety of travelers through their well-built verification process. Currently, it has users from over 170 countries.

This can be a great addition to this list.

Hi my name is LUIS I live in Houston to and I’m ready for new adventures

Teacher: Looking for travel buddy know knows how to budget. Currently in Mexico and looking to head to Asia. Any takers? My goal is to travel with Will one day!

Yes i too would like to travel to Asia! You still down for it?

Hi Guy !!! I am an asian guy,living in the Netherlands now.I will be travelling to Viet Nam ( from 12th/Jan/2019 till 28/febr/2018. I wanna look for a travelbuddy to join me .You dont need to travel as long as i do if you cant.You dont need to travel with me all the time either,if you dont want it.You can catch me up during imy holiday in Viet Nam.Travelling with me together wont be only a great fun, but it will also be a great advantage for you,because i have known the beaufitul cities and countrysides in Viet nam,i do know where we can get cheap accomodation ,, cheap and delicious local food..and wonderful highlights in Viet nam too.Ofcourse you can afford in travelling with me with your low budget . I can speak Vietnamese ,English and Dutch.Any guys are interested in being on vacation with me together in Viet Nam.Be welcome to contact me : [email protected] Greeting. Khale

Hi I’m isaac 28 yr old currently homeless having lost both my parents rest of family have turn there back on me looking for a buddy to travel with I’ve haven’t got much but a good Hart and great company.

I am nearing 60 , but my heart is still of 25 . Passionate about Travel ( Nature) , Sports Music . I have traveled 59 countries so far , partially due to my official requirement and remaining pleasure- trip . I have now enough free time to explore the World with some like minded travelers at economical way . South America , Australia-New Zealand, Japan , Scandinavian Countries are in my bucket list. I am of very flexible and adjusting nature . I am now looking for a like minded travel buddy. Anyone interested ? [email protected]

I would like to add https://travelmate.world to your list as well 🙂 It’s more than just a platform to meet travel buddies. You can also write a free travel blog and ask others for help.

Nice one! It is really nice to watch people going back to good old fashioned hobby – travelling. I love those new travel platforms and apps, allowing people to find ideal companion from a different country so quickly and easily. I do not have many experiences with a “travel buddy” system, but many times I heared about https://tripgiraffe.com/

Another good article for finding travel partners.. Also, Babak I really liked your network you’ve created too! I started my own travel network a while back for finding like-minded travel partners also – http://www.travelchum.net

Great roundup. I’d add another free resource: https://www.tripolette.com/ I started Tripolette to help you find other travelers with similar plans and share trips together. The benefit of this over other forums is the powerful search and discovery, and social aspect. Give me a shout if you like it!

I’ve taken a lot from this post. Firstly – awesome idea about making the facebook group for your itinerary, I always struggle so much remembering who to tell.

BUT, mostly I’ve decided that if you’re ever short of cash, you should contact Colegate and offer to promote them while you travel. They sponsor you to smile next to a famous landmark and boom, you’re rolling in dollar. While giving 60% to your manager in commission for coming up with such a great idea of course.

Oh, I’ll be your Colegate manager by the way.

This looks crazy fun. This is one of the best things in travelling with family and friends. You get to do all things that can give you the fun that you need.

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The 10 best countries for solo travel – and top tips for travelling alone

W hile travelling with friends, family or a partner can be a great way to spend quality time with loved ones, embracing alone time can open the door to a wealth of new cultures and experiences .

Solo holidays can range from short-haul city breaks to bucket-list backpacking adventures and active excursions closer to home.

But where to start? Holidays for a party of one are more popular than ever in 2024, though inconsistent pricing and solo supplements can be discouraging for those new to lone adventuring.

And, while solo travellers may end up  paying more  for holidays thanks to single occupancy rates, the freedom of choice without the burden of compromise is thrown in for free.

From dining with the locals in Vietnam to guided tours of the Golden Circle in Iceland , there are myriad destinations well-suited to travellers looking to go it alone.

Here are some top countries for solo travel, plus tips to plan and execute a successful trip of self-discovery.

Read more on solo travel :

• The solo holiday destinations in the UK for a singles getaway
• The best US cities for solo female travellers you might not have considered
• Why Greek island-hopping is a gentle way to ease back into adventures

Best for: Singles city breaks

What better way to kick start a solo adventure than with a long weekend in a city that embraces the essence of  hygge  (a feeling of comfort and contentment)? Alfresco summers meet cosy winters in Denmark and, while Scandinavian prices can be eye-wateringly expensive, it’s not impossible to pull off a city break on a budget.

Eastern capital Copenhagen is consistent in its happy atmosphere, low crime rate and world-renowned cuisine. From budget hot dog stands laden with pickled condiments to the tasting menu at three Michelin-starred restaurant Geranium, gourmet food joints pepper the candle-lit streets. Experience “faellesspisning” or communal eating – affordable bites in the charming company of strangers – if you’re a solo traveller looking to socialise.

Make your money go even further by joining in with laid-back Scandi culture and renting a bike, staying in buzzing hostels such as the central Danhostel and purchasing a Copenhagen Card to get money off attractions, including a boat tour of the city’s canals.

Free activities such as walking along waterfront neighbourhood Nyhavn and catching a summer sunset from the opera house are also facilitated by an efficient ‘S-tog’ train network and buses.

And there’s more to Denmark than its effortlessly stylish capital. Visit Odense for a Hans Christian Anderson literary experience fans of The Little Mermaid will love, and take in the multitude of architecture in the old Viking fishing village-turned-second city, Aarhus, for an insight into to Danish history.

Best for: Solo island hopping

Thailand is a welcoming haven for single party animals or beach bums travelling the well-trodden backpacking trail through  southeast Asia .

A solo slice of Thai comes with an affordable price tag once you’re there. Trains, buses, long-tail boats and tuk-tuks transport travellers to the street food of lively night markets and cooking schools well versed in pad Thai and gaeng daeng for just a few pounds, while there are plentiful cheap and cheerful hostels to stay in, helping solo travellers meet new people and save in accommodation costs.

Culture-stacked cities like  Bangkok  meet jungle-clad interiors in a fusion of thrilling nightlife, rejuvenating yoga ashrams and authentic Buddhist temples.

Island hopping across isolated archipelagos is also often a staple of a tourist’s Thailand itinerary. With 1,430  islands  to choose from, including  Phuket  and the Phi Phi on the emerald waters of the Andaman Sea, try Koh Samui for safe, sociable hostels including  The Rock Samui  and catch the ferry to Koh Phangan to experience festival-style nights at a bucket-list full moon party.

Best for: Personal safety

Find peace of mind travelling alone in clean, safe cities as you experience first-hand the Japanese culture of kindness and respect. Crime and harassment are rare and the efficient train network even features women-only carriages .

Master of hi-tech and hub of creative fashion, Tokyo is the ideal place to start your first solo trip to Japan, but its glitzy tapestry of skyscrapers and all-night karaoke isn’t the only bit you should experience.

Venture to Kyoto via the revolutionary bullet trains to regroup in the ethereal landscapes surrounding Mount Fuji. In spring, the city is awash with pink as the cherry blossoms bloom and rural temple tours tempt visitors into serene Japanese gardens to experience customary tea ceremonies. Ski slopes in Hokkaidō are also great for snowsports enthuiasts.

While not the cheapest destination for holidaymakers on this list, travellers can save on expenses by picking up food from Japan’s extensive variety of vending machines, 100-yen stores and Japanese Rail passes . Capsule hotels like the Nine Hours chain and traditional ryokan rooms with hot springs offer classic Japanese zen in rural areas and the city at affordable prices.

What's more, eating alone is celebrated as the norm at casual restaurants familiar with seating tables for one, while language difficulties are usually met with polite patience.

Best for: Short-haul travel

Swerve language barriers and long stints in the air with a holiday to visit our  Irish  neighbours. The Emerald Isle has forged a reputation as a home from home for British travellers, whether they get there by hopping on a ferry or a flight.

Crumbling castles, rambling countryside and live music await; from  Dublin  to Cork and Limerick, cosmopolitan cities sit side by side with verdant landscapes blessed with an abundance of  walking  and cycling routes that are fun to explore as a lone ranger.

Dublin houses more cultural wonders than the famous Guinness Storehouse – nurse a  proper pint  in traditional old-stone Dublin pub away from tourist favourite, Temple Bar, and discover why the Irish capital is the Unesco city of literature.

Eslewhere, solo day trips can include the beauty of the Cliffs of Moher and the busy shops of Graton Street. The best way to get around is by car, and hiring your own is advisable for road trips to more remote areas such as  Galway  and the Aran Islands.

Best for: Social travellers

A favourite with backpackers,  Vietnam’s  well-established tourist route takes the hassle out of planning for solo travellers eager to buddy up along the way.

Hue’s imperial citadel, capital  Hanoi’s French colonial villas, wartime relics including the Cu Chi tunnels, blissful beaches on Phu Quoc Island and rainbow lanterns at Hoi An’s monthly full moon festival all make Vietnam a compelling destination.

Solo tourists can hop on the back of a motorbike with a local for a tour of the chaotic  Ho Chi Minh City , or cruise to the limestone islands of Unesco-listed Ha Long Bay on targeted excursions for like-minded travellers.

In this wallet-friendly southeast Asian country, easy-to-navigate transport networks, overnight buses that take you down the otherworldly coast, and a sociable, hostel-heavy accommodation scene with bargain price tags add up to a destination that’s ideal for lone travellers keen to make friends.

Best for: Self-discovery

Canada , famed for its friendly people with a knack for warm hospitality, is the ideal place for a lone globetrotter to switch off and get back to nature.

Th world's second biggest country balances cosmopolitan cities with unspoilt, remote wilderness. You’ll be greeted with trendy bars in Toronto and the urban oasis of Stanley Park in waterfront Vancouver , while road trips across the North American giant take you through expansive landscapes, mountain peaks and dazzlingly blue lakes.

A treasure trove of outdoorsy activities can be enjoyed year-round, from skiing and snowboarding in Whistler to kayaking, ice hockey and hiking amid the enchanting glacial lakes and grizzly bears of Banff National Park and the vast Rocky Mountains.

Best for: Off-grid adventures

Iceland is guaranteed to squash any feelings of boredom with its extensive menu of outdoor activities, from snowmobiling to horse riding and hikes in the rugged volcanic landscape.

Aptly nicknamed the “Land of Ice and Fire”, Iceland is a playground for nature enthusiasts to go off-grid solo. Black sand beaches, waterfalls, sapphire glaciers and the geysers of the Golden Circle ring road are all natural thrills in this largely safe and friendly country.

Think whale watching during the midnight sun, hunting the colourful waltz of the Northern Lights and the famous milky waters of the Blue Lagoon spa on a solo city break to the capital, Reykjavik .

Best for: Female solo travellers

In the heart of Europe, Slovenia’s small size and charming spirit make it a hit with female solo travellers.

A fairly priced public transport network facilitates travel between cities and English is widely spoken, enabling easier exploration of Slovenia’s beautiful scenery.

Leafy Ljubljana , the capital, is a tangle of terracotta riverside cafes, markets and family-owned restaurants offering sheep cheeses, struklji rolls and orange wines.

But Slovenia’s crowning jewel is its famous lakes fringed with traditional, pretty villages. Lake Bled, for example, is home to medieval castles, wild swimming opportunities and traditional plenta boat rides.

New Zealand

Best for: hiking holidays.

There’s nowhere like  New Zealand  for a hiking holiday off the beaten path, and it’s ideal for solo adrenaline seekers, thanks to its peaceful and safe reputation.

The English-speaking Pacific paradise offers working holiday opportunities for those looking to secure a travel visa, plus bucket-list activities such as helicopter rides, whale watching and bungee jumping fill a prolonged stopover.

From the home of  hobbits in Rotorua to cruising to the waterfalls of Milford Sounds by boat and exploring the Maori culture of vibrant Christchurch, New Zealand is well worth the ultra-long journey.

In between days spent amid its film-worthy natural landscapes, head to Auckland to climb Mount Eden and the Sky Tower for panoramic city views, or visit the fine wine regions of Waiheke Island, known for their Sauvignon Blancs.

Best for: Culture and cuisine

An unspoiled country closed to tourists until 1974,  Bhutan  is a surprisingly popular destination for a solo holiday.

With a confection of cultural wonders in lush green valleys, fortresses and traditional villages, the Himalayan country appeals to single travellers lusting to step back in time.

Find Bhutanese-style red-roofed houses in the quiet capital of Thimphu, yak herding in Laya and the cliff-hugging Tiger’s Nest Monastery at home in harmonious Paro – not forgetting delicious momo dumplings.

The landlocked nation is ideal for trekking after the 403km long Trans Bhutan Trail reopened in 2022; the mountain kingdom can be explored on private tours with a local guide.

Bhutan’s Buddhist culture has a focus on sustainability that permeates all levels of life, particularly in strict tourism regulations. Factor the country’s steep  tourism tax , designed to deter budget travellers and preserve Bhutan’s heritage, into your trip costs –now $800 (£627) for a traveller staying eight days.

Top 10 tips for solo travellers

• Do your research: take your time to plan ahead before leaving for a solo trip
• Be safety conscious: don’t share your specific location online while you’re still there, be aware of your surroundings and stay connected with people at home about your travel plans
• Be flexible: spontaneous plans are sometimes the best kind and things going “wrong” often lead to the most memorable experiences
• Try something new: whether local cuisines or a new activity, push yourself out of your comfort zone to get the most out of travelling solo
• Stay in a hostel: this can be the best way to meet new and likeminded people for social butterflies
• Learn to love your own company: there’s a freedom to alone time
• Practice local phrases: a “please” and “thank you” in the local language go a long way
• Utilise public transport: don’t blow your budget on Ubers and taxis if you don’t have to
• Bring back-up: printed documents, portable chargers, emergency cash and travel insurance are solo travel essentials
• Don’t overpack: don’t fall at the first hurdle by bringing your entire wardrobe

Read more of our best Copenhagen hotel reviews

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