Couch-Surfing has become a growing trend for backpackers and travellers on a budget, thanks to a website that connects hosts to travellers. People across the globe are now offering their spare rooms or even couches – hence the name couch-surfing – to travellers exploring their country. Two people sharing their whole lives for an agreed amount of time, usually at no cost sounds fantastic to most nomads. However, jumping onto the couch-surfing bandwagon should be done with caution. This blog will underline the many pros and cons of choosing to couch-surf on your travels. First to pinpoint some of the advantages: Live with a local By staying in a local’s home rather than a hostel or hotel, you will have a completely different experience that money can’t buy. Your host will be able to personally show you their home town’s hidden gems that you would have never found on your own, and tell you traditional and interesting tales from their country’s history. If you want an experience rather than a holiday, staying with a local is the ideal choice. Create a Cultural Exchange Staying in this social environment is a great opportunity to create a mutual cultural exchange; don’t forget that your host has invited you for a reason. They will enjoy learning about other backgrounds and cultures, and as much as they enjoy showcasing their city or town they will want to learn too. This experience may even be the foundation for a new lasting friendship. Sound good? Don’t forget to asses the negative aspects too: Remember you’re living with a stranger Bear in mind that essentially, to...
When you make the decision to take that long awaited dream vacation, you might need to decide whether or not you want to travel with a friend. There are actually many good and bad points to traveling alone or with another person. In deciding which will be best for you, there are some things to consider. To begin with, you may want to view travelling with a companion as something like a marriage. Depending on the person, travelling together can end with renewing your vows, becoming even more intimate with each other, or it can end in divorce. What can make the biggest difference in making or breaking a travelling relationship is how much the two of you have in common. For instance, if you are someone with very unique and diverse interests when it comes to travelling, you may have a difficult time finding someone who shares those same interests. In that case, you will most likely do better if you travel solo. Chances are excellent that you will meet someone along the way who likes the same sort of trips because they are also visiting where you are. That means you can enjoy company while on your trip but you’re not obligated to stay with them beyond that particular trip. You can bid each farewell at the end and be on your way. Therefore, you still have company for the trip but also maintain your freedom. If you have found someone that you feel truly shares the same travelling passions as you and you have almost decided to ask them to take a trip with you, there...
—-Travel Friends Press Release—– In 2012, it was estimated that a staggering 2.5 million young Brits were planning a gap year travelling, and the numbers keep on increasing. Around 7% of UCAS applicants choose to defer their university place to embark on a gap year, and 20% of parents decide to help fund their child’s gap year. This increase in gap years and shorter “snap-gaps” has been noted globally, especially in Australia where now 11% of students take a gap year before university study. Additionally, the academic results of students who took a year out prior to university are very positive; gap year students are more likely to graduate with a First Class Honours or an Upper Second Class Honours degree than those who skip travelling and go straight into study. Moreover, 80% of students who travelled or volunteered abroad thought that their gap year added to their employability. In light of these figures, an online social network connecting people with a passion for travel is urging gap year students or snap-gap travellers to sign up and share their trip of a lifetime. Temi Odurinde, founder of the social network Travel Friendz says, “As a society we are travelling and exploring much more, and more people than ever are travelling alone. 30% of gap year students choose to travel solo, and while this is a rewarding experience it can also be overwhelming and at times lonely. Travellers can sign up to Travel Friendz completely free before they set off on their gap year adventure, to chat to like minded people with whom their paths may cross – or just...
According to a Danish travel agency called Spies, the best way to reverse the decline in Danish population is for couples to travel and go on more holidays. Well, naturally you will expect a travel company to want people to go on more holidays so that they can make more money, but how will that help reverse the population decline?. According to the video, people have more sex while on holiday than when at home. Spies uses a woman called Emma, as a case study to support its argument that increase in travel could reverse Denmark’s population decline. Emma was said to have been conceived in Paris 30 years ago, when her parents were on holiday in the French capital. The video which you can watch above, claimed that 10% of Danish children were conceived while their parents were on holiday or travelling. An expert added to the gravitas of their claim by saying that couples get friskier and have more sex while on holiday because they see each other in light. The excitement of seeing your partner in new light creates endorphin rush which increased the desire to have sex. The video went on to give some stats which includes the claim that Danes have 46% more sex on holiday. Its a tongue-in-cheek video but its a...
Welcome wanderers to our first ever newsletter, featuring the secret of avoiding loneliness on the road – signing up to Travel Friendz! Gateway to the World Do you love long term travel? Whether you’re a backpacker, flashpacker, lady of leisure who wishes to see the world or you have a serious case of wanderlust, Travel Friendz can help. We’re the fastest growing social network site to help find fellow nomads for friendship and more! Travelling solo can be an amazing experience, and we certainly recommend it – but every single traveller can feel a pang of loneliness now and again. These days many people like to travel alone to enjoy the utter freedom it gives and the rewarding journey of self discovery. Of course you will meet people along the way to socialise with, whether its locals or people at different stages of their journey; but at other times you will struggle to find people who speak your language or can connect with. As a member of Travel Friendz, you can find a travel companion guaranteed to share your interests before you even arrive at your next destination. Are you sick of travelling alone and want to find a serious travel chum? Do you just want someone to accompany you on a 2 day expedition into the wilderness? Maybe you just need a friend to go out with for 1 night? Need to fill a car journey to cut costs? Search all our members and upcoming trips on the website to find whatever kind of travel companion you are seeking. Looking for Love? Travel Friendz also acts as a...
Europe is one of the world’s most fascinating continents, drenched in different cultures and histories to explore. The continent is comprised of around 50 different countries and states of whose citizens speak over 15 languages– it’s a traveller’s dream. Many of the world’s most sought after events occur in mainland Europe and in the UK, and the wonderful spectrum of music and theatre festivals, sporting events and cultural celebrations are one of the main reasons why Europe is such an attractive destination. Tourists are drawn to the continental culture, food and lifestyle and the amount of small, neighbouring countries makes it ideal for backpacking, gap years and longer trips. However, with the likes of France, Spain, England, Germany and Italy hosting such a wealth of exciting events every single year it can be hard for tourists to decide where to go and where to drop from the travel wishlist. 2014 is no exception, and we’ve gathered a handful of events that we think are definitely classed as ‘not to miss’ on the continent this year. Champions League Final – Lisbon, 24th May Sport is embedded in European culture, and perhaps no other sport can be classed as the nationwide sport than football. The Champions League is a football competition involving all of Europe’s top clubs, and this year it is to be hosted in Lisbon at the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Tickets to the match are likely to be gold dust, but just being in the city will be enough to soak up the exhilarating atmosphere. Oktoberfest – Munich, 20th September-5th October Germany’s famous beer festival is...
Travel dating can be some of the most fun you’ve ever had simply because you’re with someone new and exciting and this person shares your interests in the types of places to visit. Once you’ve connected with someone on the travel dating website and spent a reasonable amount of time getting to know each other, it’s time to plan your first travel date together. This should be just the first step of a mutually incredible experience. To begin with, take an honest look at your own budget. It’s really a better idea if you pay your own way or are at least prepared to do so. You might as well face the fact that even when someone seems super nice and trustworthy, it’s still a possibility that they’re not what they appear to be. So, in trip planning, you should make sure that everything about it is something that you can pay for on your own. If you feel comfortable in allowing someone else to pay for everything; that’s fine. But you’ll still be prepared to pay your own way if that becomes necessary. Talk over the various places that the two of you would like to visit and narrow them down to a couple of feasible options. Of course, if you choose to take a European tour, there’s the possibility of visiting several countries during one trip. If that seems a bit too ambitious and you both prefer to travel to a lesser known and more exotic locale, joint research can be a great way to connect. Decide ahead of time just what sort of travel date this...
New travel dating website Travel Friendz is highlighting credible university-led research, which proves that marriages originating from online dating last longer than the traditional method of meeting. The research which involved 20,000 participants revealed that online marriages are 25% more likely to last, and the couples who met were found to be happier than others who met offline. While the research suggests that online dating leads to more secure unions of love and marriages, the study doesn’t determine why. However, experts suggest it is probably down to the motivations of online daters and the selective nature of the process. Most internet dating sites have a filter system to enable people with similar interests to connect. Travel Friendz is a niche online dating website, where people across the world can connect and meet up with other people who possess a passion for travel. The website is the brainchild of Temi Odurine, who realised there would be a strong following for a travel dating site whilst travelling around Europe himself. “For solo travellers who are travelling long term, it can be hard to find a serious relationship,” he explains. “This research proves that when people join up to a dating site with a shared agenda and comprise similar interests in life, the relationships established can be more successful than if they met at work or in a bar. The problem for travellers is that they don’t usually stick around one place long enough to commit to relationships, making it harder to find love. The internet is a tool that travellers and backpackers can utilise to find a partner or romantic companion...
Travelling alone is now much less likely to be labelled scary or dangerous, and most people are now embracing solo travel. Travellers enjoy the freedom and independence involved in going solo on their journey of self discovery, and there’s nothing quite like the feeling of embarking on an adventure all alone with an open mind. Want to explore Europe by train, or New Zealand by campervan? Do you want to volunteer in Asia or take a work on the ski slopes in Canada? The best thing about travelling alone is that you can go anywhere on the globe without taking into account anyone else’s interests or budget. It is an indulgent time where you don’t have to think about anyone but yourself and your wanderlust. Here are just 5 reasons why travelling alone is just as fun (if not more fun) than travelling as a couple or a group. 1. It’s rewarding Nothing beats the overwhelming feeling of accomplishment when you face challenges head on in another country all alone, and overcome your fears and insecurities. Planning a long trip, getting through the obstacles and making it home safe all alone is massively rewarding. You will find your inner strength as you get lost in unknown places, re-arrange missed flights and work out road signs in another language. 2. You’re more open to meeting new people When you’re travelling alone, you’re much more approachable and open to meeting new people and having shared experiences than you would be if you were part of a couple or a group of backpackers. What’s more, other people are drawn to solo travellers...
If you like meeting new people, then staying in a hostel can be a fun way to travel, especially if you are travelling solo. Shared dormitories have their advantages and disadvantages, but overall for most people they are ideal; they’re budget friendly, sociable and full to the brim with travel tips, advice and offers on local attractions. However, sharing a room with anywhere between four and forty people (and sharing a bathroom with much more) can take its toll if you’re travelling long term. That’s why we’ve put together out top 5 tips for surviving hostel life. At the end of the day, when you’re kept awake by loud shenanigans just remember – you can probably thank the hostel for all those new friends you’ve made, that job you heard about and the money left in your bank account. 1. Bring an eye mask and ear plugs Hostel rooms are loud 7 nights a week; that is something you will have to get used to. Not everyone is one the same schedule, so people will want to sleep on the nights you come home at 5am and vice versa. Lights will get turned on and people will be shouting and giggling. Most travellers carry an eye mask and ear plugs for long journeys anyway, but you may find yourself needing them on a regular basis. Don’t get grumpy because you can’t get enough sleep! 2. Be considerate Be considerate to other travellers’ needs, and hopefully they will be considerate in return. If some people in the room like to read or have to be up early the nest day,...
