Balls figure largely in your hubby's travel itinerary. Golf balls. You mention trekking but he plugs his ears. Fine, you're not Ulysses, but you do have a sense of adventure - something that transcends retail gymnastics in crowded malls. And sure, you love your ma-in-law but you would rather play midwife to the neighbour's cat than vacation with her. Since this is not a good idea, you slot a visit to some prized vineyards with your buddy. But she mockingly sports a colander on her head in response. Feeling weighed down by travel angst? Despair not. Explore the web to link up with your perfect holiday mate.

"I think the concept of finding a travel companion though the internet is fabulous," says 32-year-old Shernaz Batliwalla, an expatriate who shuttles between India and Dubai and runs a garment business. "I had a wonderful vacation in Goa recently with a likeminded friend I discovered through a website. I was able to connect with someone who was game for paragliding, loved seafood and was cool with simply chilling out on the beach. We split the bills, so money wasn't an issue. It was the satisfaction of doing stuff I enjoy with someone who enjoyed it equally." The trend of taking holidays and doing activities with web-picked travel mates is taking off. It halves the costs involved, offers company and helps you make new friends.

But it isn't easy trusting a complete stranger, though websites offer paid memberships to travel-chum clubs and usually verify details for each one. "I worked around this," confesses 21-year collegian Pronit Kumar, who works shifts in a Mumbai BPO. "I made sure I hooked up with my travel companion before making a decision. He happened to make a trip to Mumbai and we connected instantly over beer. We smoked together, talked about our likes and dislikes. I wanted to check out whether we have the same interests. We do. Earlier this month we trekked in Hampi for two days. Now we have decided to backpack through Europe for a month later this year."

The pros outweigh the cons. No pun intended. You might travel with anyone, but when you're in new surroundings, you tend to react to things rather differently. Think about it. Vacations have been known to wreck even the closest friendships because familiarity often breeds contempt. You spend a huge chunk of your time together. Sometimes that leads to squabbles over the day's agenda and money issues, and that sours relationships, especially if you are in a group. When you reach out to a travel companion to share a vacation, you relieve yourself of asking just one of your many friends to join in.

"Who wants to travel in a group anyway? It tethers you completely," exclaims Pune-based Arzoo Mitra. "That is what convinced me not to sign up for these over advertised travel packages." Admit it. You would rather check out a museum, go bungee jumping, get on to a water scooter to ride choppy waters or snore peacefully on a recliner per your mood. For that you need a compatible travel partner who can swing when you swing without trampling your toes. "It feels silly travelling alone, especially for crazy rides at theme parks abroad, when you want to share some real fun with someone. As a woman, I believe if you are with somebody, the unwarranted advances from other quarters get streamlined," adds the 29-year-old homemaker.

Travelling in a group is fun, but part of it sucks. Says Shalini Sheth, a Delhi-based banker in her late 30s, "I took such a vacation last year and needed another holiday to recover from it. Getting up at unearthly hours, putting up with late comers and even combating sexist remarks. Though the interaction with people from different nations was great, it's more fun travel-hooking with someone who is as experimental as you are," she feels.