Tracking Down Compatible Mates for Traveling

At least since Noah’s Ark, it’s been a rule of thumb in the travel industry that twosomes get the best deals. Rates are almost always based on the use of double-occupancy rooms or cabins, and the “single supplement” for one unaccompanied person can be as much as 70% to 100% more than the per-person rate.

Usually, the only practical way around this economic reality is to scare up another warm body. The problem, of course, is that your Aunt Dot may not be willing or able to share a room with an unknown stranger, even of the same sex. Sometimes a cruise or tour will try to fill leftover low-end accommodations by pairing up strangers, but that’s a crapshoot--they could end up getting along famously or loathing each other.

There is, however, a reliable and well-run service that helps track down truly compatible travel mates. Based on Long Island, N.Y., the members-only Travel Companion Exchange matches up a variety of folks who, for whatever reason, can’t or would rather not hit the road by themselves. Over the years a number of such match-’em-up outfits have come and gone, but since 1982 this one has survived and prospered thanks to its size and relative diversity.

TCE has about 3,000 members throughout the United States. Many are retired, but whippersnappers in their 50s, 40s, 30s and even 20s can choose from a considerable pool of potential travel companions in their own age groups. Upon joining (starting at six months for $99, up to $357 for three years), “newbies” fill out a detailed form listing information relevant to potential travel partners; aside from basic description, it includes travel background and habits, language abilities, budget preferences and miscellaneous items relating to smoking, snoring, hobbies and religion (optional).

Excerpts (without names attached) appear periodically in TCE’s no-nonsense bimonthly newsletter Travel Companions, a mini-gold mine of travel news, tips and bargains for anyone--not just singles--interested in travel and especially travel on a budget. Members who spot personals that pique their interest can ask for full profiles (usually with photos) and make further contacts on their own.

The enterprise has built as much of a name for itself in the world of singles as in the travel arena, given that many members are openly looking not just to beat the single supplement, but to deep-six their single status. Though about 20% specify that they’ll accept only a purely platonic arrangement, many more check off the box that says, “Given the right person, I would like an intimate companionship/friendship.”

The service isn’t perfect, of course. Some members grumble about people who send decade-old photos. Also, while an effort is made to screen out undesirables (gold-diggers, gigolos, marrieds on the make for the opposite sex, problem drinkers and jailbirds looking to prey on lonely hearts), TCE-sters need to exercise some caution and good judgment. They also need a certain amount of flexibility and should not demand that prospective sidekicks invariably meet every single one of their criteria in addition to agreeing to travel exactly where and when they want.

More clients than not, though, come away satisfied. It may not be for everybody, but TCE does offer one of the few reliable ways to beat the single supplement--and make some new friends along the way. Contact Travel Companion Exchange at (800) 392-1256 or fax (516) 454-0170.