5 Tips for Making Friends While Traveling

Traveling can be an amazing experience – not only will you infuse your knowledge with other cultures and get to experience breathtaking views and cityscapes, but you will also get the chance to meet new people – and thus, make new friends.

How do you make friends while traveling, though? We have gathered some tips for you – so read on and find out more.

Stay in a Hostel

The chance of meeting likeminded people and actually getting along with them when staying in a hostel is very high – so why not? The accommodation is a lot cheaper than your traditional hotel or bed and breakfast, and you get the chance to make some new friends.

Of course, you may not want to sleep in a room with strangers – but hanging out in the lounge area and at the hostel’s bar can really help you strike up some pretty interesting conversations. It may be a bit awkward for you to make the first step – but, as long as you keep your common sense in your back pocket and stay safe, the worst thing that could happen to you is to meet someone who doesn’t want to make friends as much as you do. Other than that, backpackers in hostels are very likely just like you: travelers looking to meet new people and visit amazing places.

Couchsurfing

Looking for an even cheaper alternative to hostels? Cue in couchsurfing. If you are not familiar with the concept, couchsurfing sites enable people to connect for accommodation. In other words, you can stay at a local’s place for free, as long as you are willing to accommodate them when they visit your city. Nice, right?

To many solo travelers, this might feel a bit unsafe – but as long as you only choose to stay at couchsurfers who have great reviews, there’s little chance of anything going wrong. This type of accommodation is great not just because it’s free, but because it enables you to connect and make friends, as well as travel like a local (because who else would know the best restaurants and the best people in town, other than a local?). Worth looking into the option!

Strike conversations in transit

Traveling around the country? See if you can’t find someone who looks likeminded on the train, or on the bus you’re using for transit. There’s a pretty high likelihood that there will be tourists just like you – so striking a conversation should be easy!

See if you can find your community abroad

If you are part of any kind of organization, or if you just pertain to a specific community (e.g. you’re a travel blogger), it’s easy to connect with your community while abroad. Again, this is a great chance to meet likeminded people and befriend them – so it’s more than worth looking into the option!

About that common sense…

Sadly, not everything is pink when you’re traveling – and not everyone has their best intentions at heart. It is always important to maintain your common sense – not sharing your personal information, home address, or even hotel address (if you meet new people in public spaces, like bars, activity groups, or even in transit). Always stay safe – making friends is great when traveling, but safety should be your main priority!

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