How much does it cost?
TravelChums is completely free! Being a member entitles you to publish your Member and Travel Personality Profiles, post your photo, send messages and reply to messages you receive from other members, and access/utilize the MessageBoards, Tips, Experiences, and Knowledgebase areas. To become a member click Register.

Can anyone join?
Any adult (18 years of age or older) who is interested in meeting new travel companions can join. Membership is not open to individuals soliciting or selling products or services. If you see a profile for or receive a message from such an individual please contact us and their profile and messages will be deleted.

What information do I have to provide?
The only required information is your email address, so that we can forward matches and message notifications to you. It's in your best interests to respond to most or all of the questions on the Member Profile form to provide a fuller description of who you are and increase your response. The fewer the fields you complete, the less likely other members will be to find and contact you. You should also complete the Travel Personality Profile, a 10 multiple-choice questionnaire that identifies your travel preferences.

Can I post my profile on message boards and other websites or e-mail it to friends and acquaintances?
Yes. Your profile is a clickable web page that you can post or email and others will be able to view it instantly. Just add your Member Name after the slash on our home page address, e.g., http://www.travelchums.com/yourmembername.

How do I submit a photo?
If your photo is in a digital format, e.g., .gif or .jpg file, you can submit it online from your My Account page (at the bottom of the right column) or email it as an attachment to .

How do I search for someone?
If you are not a member you can use the Quick Search form at the top of the page. However, your search criteria are limited. If you are a member you can use both the Quick Search form and the Advanced Search form (click "Search" on the left menu) to enter your search criteria, which will be saved for you. Your search results will contain capsule profiles of each match. You can then click the View Profile button on the Chums that interest you to read their Member and Travel Personality Profiles. You will also be notified by email when someone joins who matches your search criteria.

How do I contact another member or reply to a message I receive?
Click on the link above the photo (or photo space) on their Member Profile -- "Click here to write me a note" -- to send them a message. To reply to a message from another member click "Reply" at the top of the message. Members can send up to 10 messages per day.

How do I save the names of Members I want to communicate with?
On the Member Profile, above their photo (or photo space), click "Click here to add me to your Favorites list". The member will be added to your Favorites Page, which you can access from your My Account page (click "View My Favorite TravelChums"). If you wish to delete a member from your Favorites Page, click on their name to display their profile and then click "Remove" after the words "TravelChum is a Favorite" above their photo.

How do I prevent a Member from contacting me?
On their Member Profile, above their photo (or photo space), click "Click here to block my Profile and Messages". That member's profile will no longer display in your search results, your profile will no longer come up in their search results, and they will not be able to send you messages. They will be added to your Blocked List, which you can access from your My Account page (click "View My Blocked List"). If you wish to unblock a member, click on their name to display their profile and then click "Release" after the words "TravelChum is Blocked" above their photo.

How do I keep track of correspondence with other members?
You'll have your own private TravelChums Message Page where you send/receive messages to/from other members and store them for future reference. Your TravelChums mailbox is completely separate from any other email accounts you may have with commercial Internet Service Providers. Its purpose is to provide an anonymous way of corresponding.

How will I know when a member has sent me a message?
An email will be automatically sent to the email address you registered with to notify you that a new message is in your TravelChums mailbox. It will contain a link to your My Account page. Click "Messages" on the left menu to access your TravelChums mailbox. To view the sender's profile, click their Member Name (under "From"). To read the message click the Subject, to reply click "Reply" (after "Status"), and to delete the message click "Delete" (after "Status").

How will I know when a new member joins who matches my search criteria?
A message will be automatically sent to the email address you registered with to notify you that there is a new match for your search criteria. It will contain a link to your My Account page. Just click "Search for TravelChums" and then click "Search" at the bottom of the page (don't make any changes). The new match will appear at the top of the list with the word "NEW".

Can I suspend my membership temporarily?
Yes. Below your photo in the right column of your My Account page is a link to deactivate your account. You should deactivate your account when you're not interested in being contacted by members and before leaving for a trip, so your profile will not show up in TravelChum searches during that period. Your account will be re-activated the next time you log in using your TravelChums Member ID and password.

Can I permanently delete my account?
Yes. At the bottom of the right column on your My Account page is a link to delete your account. Account deletion is permanent: all of your personal and login information is erased. If you had initiated contact with other TravelChums, they will no longer be able to contact you.

What do I do if I forget my TravelChums Name and/or Password?
On the home page (www.travelchums.com) click "Forgot Password?" on the left menu. Enter the email address that you registered with and your login information will be emailed to that address immediately.

If I do a search and don't find someone who's a match how long should I wait before returning and searching again?
New members join every day, so you may find a match tomorrow.

How is my privacy protected?
Your private contact information is provided for our administrative purposes only and will not be sold or bartered or given out to other members or visitors to our site. All communication between members is done through our internal TravelChums messaging system, which is accessible through your My Account page.