Travel&escapes

alone, lack organizational skills or just need someone to fill the void of your loneliness, she promises to be a great travel companion.

“I’m a funny Finn, crazy company, great person to discuss with,” she wrote in an ad on her travel blog. “Most importantly I don’t have a criminal record. If you don’t have one either and if you are not after that kind of company, what to wait, let’s go!”

Having Rinnekangas tag along on your trip comes at a potentially steep price: you need to cover the cost of her entire trip, including any flights, hotels and excursions.

While Rinnekangas has no formal training as a caregiver, she said her services are aimed at people who require assisted travel – such as seniors, individuals with disabilities and people who are afraid to fly alone. However, in her video ad, she also offers her services to travellers who are just in need of great company, and she probably wouldn’t turn down an opportunity to check more countries off her bucket list.

According to Rinnekangas: “Everything goes in this wonderful world.”

But there is one kind of service she is not willing to provide.

“It’s important for me to underline that the purpose of my job is to help those that actually need it. This is not an escort service,” she said. “This has nothing to do with that kind of service.”

And there are a few limitations that could disappoint adrenaline junkies.

“I wouldn’t do crazy activities, such as bungee jumping, but I don’t think my audience would either,” she said.

Rinnekangas much prefers appreciating nature, practicing meditation and engaging in thoughtprovoking conversations.

Rinnekangas said she received dozens of inquiries after she posted her ad on her blog and YouTube.

One of her blog posts mentions that travelling to Africa would be a dream come true, and she has already received an invitation to road-trip around the continent. Before she accepts any offers, Rinnekangas said she needs to get know her potential clients and ensure they share similar values.

“There would need to be a meeting of some kind,” she said. “If the person is also located in Finland, we would meet face to face. I will accept Skype calls for individuals that are based abroad.”

A formal contract, valid travel insurance and a criminal record check are mandatory; however, the real test is Rinnekangas’s judgment.

“I follow my instincts,” she said. “If I get the feeling that the person is someone I can trust, I’ll go with it.”

Her love for travel began in 2011 during a one-year solo trip around the world. She visited Asia, Australia, New Zealand, islands in the South Pacific and the west coast of the United States.

“I am a creative writer and planner by profession, so it came naturally for me to produce a blog,” she said.

After dedicating years to her website, Rinnekangas was intrigued by the idea of assisted travel.

“This concept didn’t seem to exist yet and I wanted to change that. Being an entrepreneur and planner helps me produce new ideas; offering this service was one of them,” Rinnekangas said.

Though Rinnekangas is based in Finland, she is willing to travel with people from all over the world.

If you have a travel budget big enough to hire Rinnekangas – she said you can expect the greatest adventure of your life.

Happy travelling.