Teresa Teal from Hastings is a member of www.companions2travel.co.uk

'I'm mad keen on holidays and travel and, as I only work part-time, I've got lots of time to get away, but I was running out of people to go travelling with.

'I had travelled on my own, and still do occasionally, but one thing I really don't like is eating on my own in the evenings. I also resent having to pay a single supplement. I joined companions2travel.co.uk about a year ago and about six months later, after emailing and meeting up with a few other members, I went on my first weekend to Stockholm in May.

In the end six of us went - two women and four men, aged around 30 to 50. I shared a room with Alex, a lady whom I had met once before, and met some of the others at a get-together a few weeks before. I prefer to travel with active people - I don't want to just sit on a beach. I've since been to Sorrento - this time five women and two men. I shared with another lady, which helped cut down the cost again.

'I'm not hugely bothered about meeting beforehand if it's just a weekend, as long as they're non-smokers. I don't spend any time in the room anyway. I am single, but there are married members too, whose partners aren't as keen on travel, or don't have the same interests.'