While traveling alone is terrific for many reasons, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, mainly because some people find it hard to talk to strangers. For backpackers, finding someone or a group to share experiences with can be beneficial for safety and extremely fun. After all, the people you meet on the way can make your journey memorable when traveling.
Talking to strangers, especially when you’re introverted or shy, can take a lot of energy. However, if you’re in the right place at the right time, amongst the right people it’s not as hard as it may seem. Making friends while traveling, doesn’t require you to become a social butterfly or the center of attention. If you make just a little bit of effort and be smart about it, you’ll meet plenty of people during your travels. Here are five ways you can meet new people while traveling.
- Participate in small-venue Events or Experiences
Have you ever noticed how the chances of communication increase ten times in a small-venue event compared to, say, a sprawling music festival? While traveling, attend events where you have a high chance of bumping into like-minded people, such as a small group tour
or experience. Recently I booked an afternoon city tour in Toronto, and I’ve participated in pub crawls while visiting Beirut and Istanbul, where I made some good friends.
- Offer to take a Photo
One of the most effortless ways to introduce yourself to others is by offering to take their pictures or asking them to take yours. Once the picture exchange is done, you can ask them where they’re from and what their plans are. Make sure you’re not coming off as a creep, though. You can even ask them to grab a bite together if things go well.
- Find Friends Using Social Media Apps
Social media apps can be a great way to meet new people. I’ve used meetup.com for years and highly recommend it. Additionally, Facebook and Reddit Groups can also be useful. If you’re traveling on business, LinkedIn groups can be useful as well. Although dating apps such as Bumble is known for connecting people for dating purposes, the app’s BFF setting can exclude you from the usual dating pool and connect you to people just looking to make friends. Other Social media apps such as Instagram can also come in handy. Just post about where you are and what you’re looking for, which can lead to a useful connection.
- Search for Good Local Food/restaurants
Another good way to connect with people is through food. When I travel, one of my goals is to find the best places to eat near me. As I mentioned before, you can participate in groups or tours where you can explore different restaurants with groups of people. However, if you’re traveling solo, then you can always get advice on great places to socialize from locals working in the restaurant. This will not only help you in finding new people you can connect with, but it also allows you to get insight into the specific place and its people.
- Airport Lounges and Travel Hubs
I’ve had the opportunity to meet interesting people while in transit, waiting in airport lounges and train stations. Utilize them to your advantage. Strike a conversation with the person sitting next to you. Find some common ground, such as a book or magazine they’re reading, perhaps a hat from a sports team you’re a fan of or a city or country that you’re familiar with, or even better; you’re going to the same place. In the airport, you can easily find someone with a similar life experience. However, be mindful of everyone’s personal space. Leave them be if you feel like they’re not into the conversation.