Travel websitesWhat is travel networking?
It's a way of describing travel versions of MySpace and Bebo.com. In the last few months, a wave of websites offering to help people make new friends - and keep in touch with old ones - has begun to break. People use them to find travel companions or people local to an area they want to visit.
But haven't travellers been doing this for ages?
Almost. Sites like virtualtourist.com and couchsurfing.com have been connecting complete strangers for several years; as have message boards like Lonely Planet's Thorntree (thorntree.lonelyplanet.com) and community blogs like bootsnall.com and travelpod.com. What's different is that they've been joined by new sites whose sole purpose is to introduce travellers to each other. Sites like Where Are You Now (wayn.com), tripconnect.com, tripmates.com and gusto.com have seen how quickly teenagers have taken to "social networking" sites such as MySpace and are trying to replicate its success.
How do they work?
By creating a network of membership profiles. To meet fellow travellers, you write a bit about yourself, upload a few photos and list your favourite destinations. You then search for fellow members who might interest you or wait for people to get in touch. The amount of contact you have is up to you: you could search for someone to share a backpacking trek across India or merely someone to share a cup of coffee and a little insider knowledge. You don't even have to meet. Many people just want to swap travel tips by email.
Are they safe?
So far. Although it is always worth checking if your potential travel companion has been verified with a credit card.
Are they mainly for single people?
Not quite. There's a lingering suspicion that something lonely beats at the heart of networking sites, although sites like Couchsurfing - which allows members to offer free accommodation to each other - actively discourage romantic liaisons between members. Others cut straight to the chase. Travelhotties.com, for instance, actively encourages young backpackers to hook up.
Is there a site just for me?
More than likely. The last few months has seen ever more niche social networking sites join the party. The Thelma and Louise Club (thelmandlouise.com) pairs women who don't want to travel alone; carnivalconnections.com helps potential customers of a US cruise line find travelling companions; flight-club.org helps you connect with people sharing the same flight.
Why don't you just talk to the person sitting next to you?
Nothing stopping you. But for devotees of networking sites that leaves too much to chance. Networking allows you to find people who share tastes and interests and filter out the rest. They also allow people who would usually be afraid of travelling alone to share a holiday with others.
But mostly backpackers and singletons, right?
Not any more. Upmarket hotel group Sheraton (sheraton.com) has created its own networking site for members of its preferred guests programme. Membership to the ultra-exclusive asmallworld.net is strictly invite-only and its roster is rumoured to include Naomi Campbell, Paris Hilton and Quentin Tarantino. Behind the virtual red velvet rope its members share information about restaurants, clubs and hotels. A lot like the networking that goes on everywhere else.
My favourites: Brent Hoberman, co-founder lastminute.com
firstluggage.com
Very useful as it enables you to travel lighter and without stress. You can have your luggage collected anywhere in the world and delivered to your chosen destination.
tribewanted.com
This website blends lots of trends. It's a mix of adventure travel, social networking and a desire to change the shape of travel as well as save the world. It's a completely different and innovative way of selling a holiday in Fiji.
turnhere.com
Still in its early days. It has got a selection of digital videos that convey authentic experiences of places and leisure activities in cities around the world. It is very useful, especially when you go to US cities such as New York, as it allows you to see videos of local venues before you get there.
lastminuteliving.com (part of the lastminute.com group)
A community website where you can create your own blog, find out views from other customers - including tips about travel and going out - and see theatre video diaries from the likes of Kevin Spacey.
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