How to Make Friends While Traveling Alone
Traveling alone can be a very rewarding, restorative experience. I am a big believer in solo travel. I’ve spent time alone in Cambodia, Germany, Montana, and who knows how many stops in between. I’m not saying I “found myself” in all these new places, but I’ve definitely learned to enjoy my own company. I also learned some tips and tricks to meet new people. Even on trips where the goal is solitude, there will always be moments when I want to express myself and make travel friends.
Making friends while traveling alone doesn’t feel like a tough climb, but you have to be strategic. In addition to being outgoing and approachable, you need to know how to put yourself in the right situation to make friends with strangers. Even if you don’t aspire to make lifelong friendships, there are many times during your solo trip that it helps to feel safe. If you want to meet other travelers on your solo trip, here are our tips for making friends quickly.
Join group travel activities
Organized group activities are by far the most effective way to strike up a conversation with fellow travelers. Sure, it sounds obvious, but there is a smart way to do it. Before booking any old tour, make sure you read the reviews for any indication that the activity has downtime to strike up a conversation with other people in your group. In addition to travel-focused sites (like Expedia or Viator), Eventbrite has a dedicated travel filter that allows you to view a wide range of activities. This is especially useful if you want to do something to get to know people, like organizing a bar visit.
Stay Social
Accommodation can make or break a vacation. There are many reasons why hotels are preferred over Airbnb these days (like comparable prices, guaranteed cleanliness, and a better location). But if you know you want to meet new people, you might consider giving up hotel privacy.
If you’re trying to make friends, or at least drinking buddies, nothing beats living in a hostel. While hostels are associated with young, drunk students who “study abroad,” I have met travelers of all ages and backgrounds who have stayed in hostels.
If you don’t want to live in a communal apartment, then my advice is to book hosts on Airbnb or Couchsurfing who advertise themselves as sociable and down-to-earth. And if you prefer staying in a hotel, try to spend time in common areas such as the lobby or dining area.
Get your AirPods out
Look, I love a good travel playlist. But if you leave your headphones on, you may miss out on the opportunity to strike up a conversation with a fellow traveler. This tip isn’t so much about Air Pods as it is about making yourself accessible.
Use social networks
Start meeting people before you even reach your destination. Facebook groups, Reddit boards, and friendship apps like Bumble BFF are all useful ways to find other people who are interested in making friends during your travels. If you feel safe, you can even post on your existing social media that you ” want to meet friends (and friends of friends) at [insert location] from [insert time] “.
A word of advice: For Facebook and Reddit in particular, try looking at other keywords in addition to “traveler”, such as “expats” or “day trip buddies”.
Final Thoughts
Solo travelers can be overly gullible. Keep basic safety tips in mind, like always keep an eye on your drink and never tell a stranger where you’re staying.
Likewise: respect the boundaries of strangers. Whenever you are trying to befriend someone, make sure they are enthusiastic. You don’t want to be ” that guy ” who gets in the way of someone’s desire for solitude.
At the end of the day, remind yourself that you don’t have to make friends everywhere you go. But well done for trying.