Traveling alone doesn’t mean you don’t like to make friends. There’s nothing I like more than meeting cool people in new locations, but sometimes I am a bit awkward. I’ve listed some tips I use to break me out of my shy bubble and create friends in new spaces. Here are some tips on how to naturally meet people while on the road:

How to Talk to Strangers While Traveling

Staying in hostels.

The easiest way to make friends while on the road is by finding accommodations in a shared space like a hostel. Hostels are budget accommodations that offer travelers communal spaces to eat and sleep. Because these spaces are meant to house multiple people, the likelihood of you coming across a traveler similar to your style is very high. Not only would your sleeping arrangements be in a group, but hostels usually host different excursions and share opportunities that will have you and your new roommates talking about the next activity.

Booking home shares or shared spaces.

As appealing as hostels sound, unfortunately they aren’t everywhere. If you’re traveling through an area that does not have budget, shared spaces like hostels, your next opportunity is searching for a home share. Home shares are shared accommodations from locals that include a room or their whole house. These types of arrangements can be made on Airbnb, VRBO or even Couchsurfing.

Using Bumble BFF

Similar to the Bumble Dating App, Bumble BFF is a great way to find friends in your area. Turning your profile to ‘Travel Mode’ allows you to change the location of your profile and potentially make friends in an endless amount of places. Just as you would swipe left or right to meet a potential partner, your search for finding a new BFF is just as easy.

A tour from a local guide.

Big tours ran by companies can get the job done, but they aren’t personal. So many times have I reserved a company tour and had someone unenthusiastically screaming facts about the location we are at or even worse playing loud audio of the things we should be looking at. If you prefer a better touring experience, I suggest spending half the amount and actually reserving some time with a local tour guide. Local tour guides know the area like the back of their hands, are passionate about their work, and also offer smaller group sizes so that you can actually introduce yourself and get to know everyone.

Normally I hear about people finding tour guides in different travel related groups on Facebook. These groups are usually specific to the location you are going to (Expat Groups, Travel Enthusiasts Groups, etc) or piggybacking off of post of someone who has recently been there. My most preferred way to find a host is by looking on platforms like Airbnb Experiences and connecting with someone on there.

Become a regular somewhere.

In my personal experience becoming a regular somewhere has allowed me to communicate with people that I didn’t reach out to initially. My travel style is tried and true so if I find a good breakfast/lunch spot, you’re going see my face a few times during my trip. It’s usually on my second or third visit that the staff is comfortable enough to ask me what I’m doing in the area and it opens the door to more conversation.

Speak more.

Last, but certainly not least a great way to get to know the people around you is by actually speaking to them. Unless someone is reading a book or listening to music, there’s no reason you can’t exchange a few words and test the waters. You don’t need to ask them personal questions, but small talk is a great way to start. After all you are trying to have new experiences and that also includes meeting new people.

What are your best tips for meeting new people?

Did I mention any of your tactics or do you use another approach to get to know the people around you? I know some people are super social butterflies while other people (like me) need a little bit of tips to figure things out. I’d love to hear what type of traveler you are in the comments below.

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