How to Make Friends While Traveling Solo
Written by: Nina Grace
So you want to, Go it Alone, huh? You know what they say, “traveling solo does not mean you have to be alone.” In fact, traveling solo can be quite invigorating, Emilee explains why both here and here. Even so, traveling alone doesn’t mean you’ll be by yourself your entire trip. Most of the time you have an even greater chance of meeting people than you would if you were traveling with a group. Here are a few ways that have helped me meet new people and make lasting friendships while traveling solo…
* If you are indeed traveling by yourself, never disclose that information with a stranger! Be cautious and aware of your surroundings at all times to maintain your safety.
Blind Dates
Okay, I don’t actually mean a romantic blind date ;-). Do you have a friend that knows someone who lives in your destination? Call in a favor and have your friend set you up to meet with their friend. As one of my coworkers says, “by association, we’re automatically friends!” It makes things so much easier if you’re anticipating a meetup with a trusted associate.
Tours
Hey, don’t knock it until you try it. It’s a sure way to meet like-minded people. This doesn’t have to be an eight day escorted tour, it could be a day trip somewhere or even a few hours of some walking tour, so long as you keep an open mind you’re sure to meet very interesting people from around the globe! Vayable.com is a recent find, but it has served as a pretty cool resource.
Local Cafes/Pubs
This works anywhere in the world, at home or abroad. Spend an hour or two (or three) at a local cafe or pub – it’s important that it’s a local spot, the environment and attitudes of the individuals walking in is just different than at a chain business. Sit at the bar, start a conversation with the person sitting next to you and see what happens…#MostInterestingConversationEver!
Meetup.com
Meet up groups are another option for us solo travelers. Meet up with locals for a number of reasons, there are groups set up just for expats, young professionals, indie rock fans, etc. There are hundreds of meet up groups, sign up and find a group you would feel comfortable meeting.
Classes
My absolute favorite way to meet people is a win/win! Book a class of some sort, something that interests you. For me, that will more than likely be a cooking or art class. Since this isn’t a private course, there will be other students taking the course as well – you may even have to partner up with the person next to you for some reason – strike up a relevant conversation with them while doing something you love (see, win/win!).
How do YOU meet others while traveling solo?
