How To Make Friends While Traveling Alone – One question tortured my poor introverted soul before I took my first solo trip – how do you make friends when traveling alone?
But when I came back from three months of backpacking around Southeast Asia, I had made 100s of new friends from Sweden to Singapore. Also, I gained dozens of followers on Instagram and Facebook (a nice little bonus).
How To Make Friends While Traveling Alone
My social life at home also improved – suddenly I had the confidence to talk to anyone about anything. And people found me interesting because I had a repertoire of funny, scary and curious travel stories.
Marvellous Benefits Of Travelling Solo By Qberrors
Ever since then, I’ve continued to grow my list of travel buddies using the 9 simple steps below. Follow these steps and you too will become a traveling social butterfly.
And to make your life even easier, I’ve also shared 22 extra tips that will make you the most popular Paris to Perth pilgrim.
How To Make Friends When Traveling Alone – My 9 Step System1. Filter search results to find social housing
When backpacking, I always book my accommodation 1-2 days before I arrive at my next destination. But before finalizing the booking, I make sure the accommodation meets two criteria – it’s affordable and sociable.
How To Make Friends While Travelling Solo
While it’s already easy to make friends in hostels, here’s a trick you can use to make sure your accommodation has a particularly sociable atmosphere.
These are shared areas where you’re likely to meet strangers and strike up a conversation (eg “That’s an interesting meal you’re cooking there, what is it?”).
I have also read the description and reviews. I look for mentions of group activities like party nights, bar crawls, free walking tours, a game room, etc. Also, reviews give you an idea of the demographic staying at the hostel and if you’ll get along with them.
But how can you make friends on holiday when you live in private accommodation? Use a website like Booking.com and set the following filters:
Reasons Why You Will Benefit From Traveling Solo
Again, read the property description and reviews. It’s a plus if the hotel or motel offers day trips from the lobby—a great opportunity to make friends with your fellow guests.
The moment you step into the airport, bus depot or train station, you can start making friends while traveling alone.
Your fellow passengers are likely headed to the same destination and share similar interests (eg Cairo may attract history buffs while Hurghada mostly attracts divers).
When a fellow traveler takes a seat next to you, say “Hi” and ask something like, “Are you also going to (insert destination) to do/see (insert attraction)?”
Useful Tips For Making Friends While Traveling Solo
Alternatively, you can comment on something they’re wearing or a piece of technology they’re using (eg a Nintendo Switch or a Bluetooth adapter for airplane headphones).
On my last flight from Singapore to London I sat next to a boy wearing a t-shirt from the band The 1975. I said “I like the shirt” and asked him if he caught their latest tour (which I was also on ). We hit it off straight away and spent the flight discussing Formula 1, UFC and music festivals before exchanging details.
Some of your fellow passengers may even live in the same accommodation as you (especially if you are waiting for the same bus or taxi). Ask them something like, “Hey, you’re not going to (insert hotel name), are you? I’m trying to find the right bus.”
If things go well, exchange information on social media and make plans to visit an attraction or have drinks together at your destination.
Best Way To Meet Other Solo Travellers
Walking into your hostel dorm for the first time is awkward. The call stops and all eyes are on you – the intruder!
Walk in with a smile on your face and make it known right away that you will be a loving and carefree roommate – not a nasty narc.
Say “Hi, I’m (insert name)” to the whole group and throw your bag on the bed. Immediately follow up with “What’s your name?” and give them a handshake or a simple wave.
Usually the next question everyone asks is ‘Where are you from?’ You answer and the conversation starts to flow naturally from there (see step 4).
Ways To Meet People While Traveling, From Apps To Social Media Tips
If you act awkward and don’t make an effort to introduce yourself to your roommates, they’ll assume you want to be left alone. It’s hard to recover from that.
But what do you do if there’s no one in your dorm when you check in? Simply introduce yourself at a later stage or head to the social areas around your accommodation (see step 7) to meet new travel buddies there.
When traveling alone, you will quickly discover that 99% of conversations follow a set pattern. It might sound boring but it’s not – it actually makes socializing easy.
All it takes are a few basic questions to start a conversation (see my tips below for more examples). You will quickly discover that you have a lot in common with your fellow traveler and can talk for hours.
How To Make Friends While Traveling Alone
But if you’re struggling to find common interests, try asking a question about your destination:
After having a fun and insightful conversation with your new travel buddy, don’t just leave it on a cliffhanger.
But if they’re too busy to hang out right now, suggest exchanging social calls or contact details (see step 6).
People are always coming and going from hostels and hotels. If you don’t exchange details with your new travel buddy ASAP, you may never see them again.
Tips For Meeting People & Making Friends As A Solo Traveler
So don’t leave it to chance. Exchange your social media and contact information during your first conversation.
Most travelers use the following apps for communication, so make sure you have them downloaded and ready on your phone before you go:
Remember in Step 1, when I told you to book accommodation with lots of social spaces (eg swimming pools, game rooms, shared kitchens, dining rooms, etc.)?
With your new student friend(s) (or by yourself), head to one of these social areas and quickly scan the room. When you see a group of people you like the look of, ask them if you can join them in whatever they’re doing:
How To Make Friends When Moving Abroad Alone
It’s easier to approach a group of people if you’re with someone else (ie your new travel buddy). But don’t be afraid to do it alone – it shows that you’re sociable and fun to be around.
50% of your friends when traveling alone will be heading in the same direction as you.
If possible, combine your travel plans so that you book your accommodation and transport together. Having a good travel buddy can provide lifelong memories!
But don’t forget the benefits of solo travel (it’s 2 times better than group travel in my opinion).
How To Make Friends When You Travel Solo Adventure Is Never Far Away
And as for the other 50% of the time, when your new travel buddy goes in a different direction – well, it’s boring. Easy and simple!
But try to stay in touch. There have been many occasions when I have been in a neighboring country two months later and found my old travel buddy wandering the streets by chance.
In addition, I have visited many of my travel companions in their home countries years later and enjoyed their warm hospitality.
At some stage, all your travel buddies will have gone their separate ways and you will feel all alone again.
Ways To Make Friends While Traveling Solo — Travel Jewels
I’m not going to lie – this feels gross. And now you have to make new friends and start all over again.
When I find myself in this situation, I usually treat myself to a night alone in private accommodation. I mope around, binge Netflix and feel sorry for myself as everyone else in the hostel parties all night.
But the next day I immediately get back on the horse. I check into a dorm, go to a social area or join a day trip and meet new friends.
I was painfully shy when I started traveling alone in my 20s. I suffered from solo travel social anxiety and worried endlessly about how I would make friends traveling alone.
How To Make Friends When Backpacking Solo
Then I read a book that revolutionized my social life – How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.
Each chapter provides practical advice and an example of how that technique has been used by a major historical figure – Benjamin Franklin, Andrew Carnegie, etc.
Now I can talk to anyone – young, old, male, female, introvert or extrovert. And within a minute I’ll have them chatting with me like we’ve known each other for 20 years.
Some of the best friends I’ve made while traveling alone are the locals – like my friend Skywalker Love Skywalker from Siem Reap, Cambodia (pictured above).
Make Friends While Travelling Solo
Often I will hire a local tour guide or driver and they will show me around their hometown for the day. During that time I will also tell them about my home life and joke around.
More often than not, they will invite me back to their homes to have an authentic meal with their family. Or they take me to their favorite bar to meet their friends (Skywalker and I hung out for hours at the Siem Reap snooker hall).
Sometimes I just strike
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