Cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages are great motivators to encourage people to take vacations. However for people traveling alone or couples unfamiliar with their destinations, making new friends while on vacation can make a meaningful difference in the quality of that vacation. Now there are companies trying to help people interact with like minded strangers: Globetrooper connects complete strangers deemed to be compatible on trips. Over 1,400 people, mostly from Australia, have -liked- this year old service on Facebook.
Vacation Relation caters to people taking vacations and helps them to find out if any of their distant friends will be at their destinations at the same time as well as connect them to strangers with similar interests who will be there.
Travel with Spirit is a faith based Christian travel social network. Users are able to post ads in forums on this site which also suggests destination ideas.
Rent a Friend is a service whereby people in cities around the world offer their time on an hourly basis to accompany visitors to attractions or wherever they might want to go. Users can hire a Friend to share a new skill or hobby, or just provide companionship. The typical hourly rate is $20.