http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCWvnp7-ikI&feature=player_embedded

Intro video for inbed.me

Over the years, there have been several attempts to combine travel and social networking.  The latest on the scene is inbed.me (that name is just asking for double entendres).

The idea is to solve the problem of that first-night loneliness in a new hostel.  You’ve just arrived, and all the previous guests have formed their cliques, so you don’t have anyone to talk to.  With inbed.me, you can connect to travelers who will be at that hostel before you arrive.  By reading their profiles, you can find common interests and make plans to hang out.  Ideally, you land in a new hostel with some ready-made friends.

It is a cool idea. I tested it out by entering a few cities: Taipei, San Francisco, and Bangkok.  Your mileage may vary, but I often only saw one traveler in each hostel.  Since the site is so new, I think travelers haven’t widely adopted it yet.  If the site gains a bigger audience, then it would become more useful.  Something to keep an eye on.

What do you think of this idea?  Do you know similar websites that do a better job?  Please share your thoughts in the comments.