5 steps to finding a travel mate

1) Fill out your profile
2) Add photos to your gallery
3) Put up a post listing your travel plans
4) Search posts from other travel mates
5) Send private messages

Step 1: Fill out your profile

Before you even think about posting your travel plans on the find a travel mate messageboard, you need to fill in your gapyear.com profile. This is the section that gives other gapyear.com users a good idea of who you are - and who they may potentially be travelling with. Use your profile as an opportunity to sell yourself.

Are you a top laugh? Shove in your best joke. Got the longest hair in Wiltshire? Boast here. Got a weird crush on an embarrassing celebrity? Tell us all about it... we promise not to laugh.

Fill in all the fields on your profile with as much detail as you can - possible travel mates will be more likely to contact you that way. Ok, so the fact that you lust over David Hasselhoff might not be the most important thing about you, but it gives people a reason to get in touch. If only to confirm that the Hoff is actually quite hot for an oldie.

Click here >> to fill out your profile now!

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Step 2: Add photos to your gallery

When looking for a travel mate, people want to know two things.

1) Do you look like a mad axe murderer on the hunt for fresh blood?
2) Do you look like a mad axe murderer on the hunt for fresh blood?

No, but seriously, adding a few photos to your photo gallery can really reassure people. Share your travel pics, stick in some shots of you and your mates on a mad night out, show us your impression of a moon walking chipmunk... basically, upload anything that will give us an impression of you. The more the better...

Don't forget!
Once you've uploaded a photo, pick the one you like the best and make it your default profile image. It's simple... click your fave photo in your gallery and press the 'Make this my avatar' button above it. This means that every time you post on the gapyear.com messageboards, your image will pop up too. Clever huh?

Click here >> to upload photos to your gallery

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Step 3: Post up your travel plans

Now it’s time to share your travel mate intentions with the world. Head to the Find a Travelmates & Meet Up Overseas section on the gapyear.com boards and have a look through the list of messageboards there. Select the messageboard that best fits your travel mate request and click Post New Topic.

Clearly state your trip plans and departure date in the title of the post (we find March 06 - 4 months - Sydney to Cairns works well...) and then give further details of your travels in the body of the message. The most successful travel mate requests should include:

- Full itinerary details
- Departure date
- How long you plan to travel for
- Plans you have along the way (Christmas in Sydney, Carnival in Rio...)
- The type of trip you are planning (strict budget, partying every night...)
- Information about you and the type of person you are looking for

Click here >> to head to the Travelmates & Meet Ups Overseas messageboard

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Step 4: Search other posts

Finding a travel mate is like anything; the more you put in, the more you get out. Don't just sit back and expect them to come to you. Have a browse through the other travel mate posts that have been made. Somebody is bound to be heading your way. If so, drop them a reply to their post and see whether any of your plans match.

Click here >> to search through the Travelmates & Meet Ups Overseas messageboard

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Step 5: Send (and check your own) private messages

Aside from the boards, private messages are another top way to suss out the potential travel mate suitability of others. See someone you like hanging around and just want to say hello - drop them a pm! A great way to find out more details about their travel plans without posting endless replies to their posts.

If you’re looking for a travel mate, remember to check your private messages each time you log in. You can see if you’ve got a new one by looking at the top of the page and seeing whether the number next to the Messages link has changed from (0)

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Travel mate do's & don'ts

We love you gapyear.com members, we want to wrap you up in cotton wool, make you lots of tea and generally be your best friend forever and ever... however, bear in mind that not everyone you find as a result of this site may be as nice and friendly as us. We've put together this section to help you find a perfect travel mate - and to ensure that your first meeting with them goes as well as possible.

When searching for a travel mate...

- DO fill out your profile as fully as possible.
- DO Stick a load of photos into your gapyear.com photo gallery.
- DO choose one of these piccies to be your default profile image - it'll pop up everytime you post!
- DO post plenty of posts on the gapyear.com Find a Travel Mate & Meet Ups Overseas messageboard.
- DO let other gapyear.com users know when you plan to leave!
- DON'T be vague. Give full details of your trip if you can!
- DON'T sit back and expect people to come to you! Reply to other peoples posts.
- DO check your private messages regularly.

When meeting up with a travel mate...

- DO get to know each other through emails or over MSN Messenger first.
- DO plan to meet up in a public place - pubs and cafes are good bets.
- DO tell other people where you are going.
- DO take your mobile with you.
- DO take a mate with you for moral support - and get your travel mate to do the same.
- DON'T ask your travel mate to pick you up - grab a taxi, just to be on the safe side.
- DON'T go overboard on the alcohol if you're going to a pub or club...
- DO trust your instincts.

Remember...

This is your trip... don't change your plans completely to accommodate someone else. Being open to suggestions is fine, just remember why you wanted to take this trip and where you really wanted to go. If your travel mate tries to persuade you to do otherwise just to fit in with their trip of a lifetime, they are probably not the right travel mate for you.



Click here >> to fill out your profile before posting for a travel mate
Click here >> to upload photos to your gallery
Click here >> to search for travel mates now!