As you travel solo, being totally responsible for yourself, it’s inevitable that you will discover just how capable you are.
Maybe you are looking to travel solo for excitement. Maybe you are looking to travel solo for freedom. Maybe for confirmation. Or maybe just because you are sick of waiting for someone to go with you.
Whatever your reason is, go for it. You won’t regret it. However, we all run into times where we feel the need to connect and experience things with others. This is an easy guide on how to meet people while traveling solo:
1. Eat at the Bar
People are more likely to talk to you when you’re alone eating at the bar than if you were by yourself at a table. Even if there aren’t that many people there, you always have the bartender to rely on! I probably use this method the most frequently to meet people or to find someone to go out with. In Berlin, my bartender was a really outgoing German girl who introduced me to her bunch of her friends that spoke decent English and were going out that night.
2. Be on the lookout for people speaking English
Eavesdrop, especially if you’re in a country where your native tongue is rare. If you hear someone speaking English, ask them where they’re from. Chances are, the conversation will take off from there.
3. Take Advantage of the Planes’ Small Quarters
The plane is a great place to meet people, especially since you are stuck in a tight space with the same people for a long amount of time.. and you’re all going to the same place! Keep your eye out for other solo travelers, or groups in your age range that look friendly. Ask them what they’re plans are for the week and see if there is an opportunity to meet up. I’ve met a lot of interesting people on planes, even ones I didn’t want to talk to!
4. Strike Up Conversation With Hotel Staff
There are often young people who work at the front desk, concierge or valet. These workers will speak better English since they are in the tourism industry and will likely have some days off.. or they will have friends with days off. They will also be local to the area and will be able to show you some great local spots.
5. Use Facebook
Of course, you could always use Facebook to meet people if you aren’t scared as coming off as creepy. It really depends on the person you reach out to. Type you’re destination city and country into the search bar and once you click on the page, you can click on “People you may know who have lived in [insert city here]”. Remember to be careful when dealing with strangers, and to always arrange to meet in a public place.
6. Take A Tour
Similar to the plane situation, tours bring a lot of different people together. It’s a lot less awkward to strike up a conversation on a tour than randomly in public. If you don’t want to spend money, a lot of cities offer free walking tours.
7. Do Some Research – Find out where the young people hang out.
Use Google to your advantage and find out what neighborhoods people your age hang out in, and then go there. This will increase your odds of finding someone to hang out with.
8. There’s An App For That
Tinder: Obviously has the ability to facilitate in-person get-togethers around the world. It’s also probably a lot easier to find people that are willing to hang out with on Tinder than it is on Facebook.However, you should always be careful with this one, as the person you’re meeting may be expecting more from you than a new friend. As mentioned with Facebook, always meet in a public place.
Less common apps that may be new to you:
Highlight: Allows you to meet up with people in your area that share common interests.
Planely: Shows you other people traveling to your destination.
Skout: Enables travelers to meet locals or one another wherever they are.
Tripr: Allows travelers to find others who will be in the same place.
Become a member of Couchsurfing.com
You’ve probably heard of couchsurfing.com, a cheap way to travel by crashing on other people’s couches. But, you may not have known that couchsurfing also offers hikes, dinners and other types of gatherings in coffee shops and bars to meet people abroad. All you have to do is sign up to be a member of the site, which is free.
Type in your destination in the search bar at the top and set the filter to “Find Events”.
Also available to members is a chance to meet up with the hosts of couchsurfing.com while visiting their city. Just search for members who have set their “hosting availability” status to “wants to meet up” .
Stay in a Hostel
I actually prefer staying in hostels to staying in hotels because of the fact that everyone is more friendly and open to meeting other people. Staying in a hostel dorm is hands down the easiest way to meet new people, you are sleeping along side a bunch of strangers after all. However, if you aren’t the kind of person that stays feels comfortable staying in hostels, that doesn’t mean you can’t hang out in one! A ton of worldwide hostels have bars inside of them where plenty of young solo travelers hang out, and they are always open to the public.
Do you have a favorite way to meet people while traveling solo? Lets hear it!
