How Do I Meet People While Traveling?
Traveling can be hard when you’re on your own. You might think, How would I meet people? What if I get lonely? Answering these questions really just depends on your personality and your willingness to experience something different.
If you aren’t a naturally social person, meeting new people can be somewhat of a challenge. The good news is that traveling solo puts you in the perfect position to meet as many people as you possibly can.
Tip #1: Start Now
Just making the decision to start traveling on your own will put you in a position where you’ll constantly have chances to be around different people.
If you aren’t exactly a social butterfly, traveling will put you in situations where you’ll have a lot more chances to meet different people while also practicing your social skills. Taking that first step is half the challenge.
Tip #2: Don’t Overthink It
If you find yourself worrying about what people will think, worrying about how you look, or saying something embarrassing, Then you’ll never be able to get over your insecurities.
If you really want to meet people while traveling, you have to put yourself out there. Even if it’s just something simple like saying hi or asking someone where they’re from,.
As you meet more people, you’ll slowly become more and more comfortable socializing with others. You’ll gradually build your social skills and confidence without even knowing it.
Tip #3: Meet People at Hostels/Airbnb’s
This is probably one of the easiest ways to meet people, especially other travelers. Of course, it depends on which hostel you go to and in which country. Hostels in European countries, for example, are popular among younger travelers in Europe.
Whereas in the United States, hostels aren’t exactly the most popular places to meet people. Southeast Asian countries and South American countries are also popular places for hostel stays.
Just keep in mind that everyone’s experience could be different. Even if other people had a great time and met some great people, your experience might end up being different from theirs. Not to be negative, but it’s better to have realistic expectations.
Tip #4: Plan on a Longer Stay
Sometimes it takes time to develop a friendship or relationship. Try staying in a specific place for a little longer than just a weekend or even longer than a week.
Think about a month, or maybe even a couple months. If you’re one of those people who struggles with socializing, just remember to try and actually be social. This is where tip #2 becomes really helpful.
Tip #5: Be a Regular
This tip sort of goes with tip #4, but try visiting different places multiple times. This is a good way to establish yourself as a regular. You may even develop a friendship with other regulars or even become friends with some of the employees who work there.
Of course, this could take some time, but it’s another option to consider if you’re trying to meet new people.
Tip #6: Move Around to Meet People
If you plan on constantly traveling, try staying in different neighborhoods around the city you’re staying in. If you get a chance, maybe try staying in a place where locals live.
If they seem friendly enough, try to strike up conversations with your neighbors. Explore the neighborhood; if you meet a friendly local, ask them what they would recommend in terms of what to do and where to go.
Tip #7: Try Something Different
Trying out different things can help you find yourself. It can also help introduce you to new people you might have things in common with.
Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn how to ride a horse. You can try joining a class to learn how to ride horses. Or you might find yourself interested in art and decide to take up calligraphy. If you’ve always wanted to learn martial arts, now’s your chance.
The key to this is doing something you’re interested in that you’ve never tried before. Eventually, you’ll meet other like-minded people as you go around trying new things.
Tip #8: Keep an Open Mind
This seems like something that goes without being said, but I still see people who travel somewhere different and, for whatever reason, still keep a close-minded attitude.
I understand that some people just can’t get used to some cultural differences, but if you aren’t able to keep an open mind and stay adamant about sticking to your ways, You most likely won’t meet many new people.
Tip #9: Learn the Language
Depending on where you go, this might be more of a necessity than a tip. I know it’s hard to learn a new language, but it stands to reason that if you learn the language, your chances of meeting people will skyrocket.
If you’re determined to learn the language, you’ll be able to fully take in the culture and have a higher chance of understanding that culture’s point of view. Which would only serve to help you meet more people while developing better relationships.
Tip #10: Be More Generous
Sometimes it’s good to be a little more generous. This is a good way to show people that you’re friendly. The only bad that might come from this is being too generous. You don’t want to be too generous to the point where someone may take advantage of you.
This seems like an obvious thing to be wary of, but again, I still see people who come off as a little too generous and end up getting taken advantage of or worse.
If you can strike the right balance and find the right moments, being a little more generous can go a long way towards making a good impression on people.
Tip #11: Be Genuine
I still meet a lot of people who tend to lie too much or always try to do or say things based on what they think you might like. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially if they’re just white lies or lies that aren’t meant to hurt or decieve anyone.
Even so, if you tend to do this a lot, you most likely won’t stand out among the crowd. If you put in a little more effort into being a little more genuine, a lot of people out there will take notice. That, in turn, will attract more people for you to meet.
I’m not saying you should tell people everything about yourself, but being more genuine, especially when traveling alone, can really make you stick out from the crowd. Many people out there naturally gravitate toward people who come off as genuine.
Tip #12: It’s a Numbers Game
This sounds like something a salesman would say, but it still applies to meeting people. If you really want to meet people, you should start talking to anyone and everyone.
(Even if you don’t think you might have a connection with certain people, sometimes you just have to take a chance.)
If you want to think about it in a logical way, this will give you the most chances to meet people wherever you go. So if you really want to meet people while traveling alone, start talking to the first people you see.
Even if it becomes awkward or you fall on your face, just know that it takes time to get better. Not everyone is a social genius.
Tip #13: Be Curious
People who are naturally curious tend to ask themselves questions. They ask themselves, Why do some people do this and not that? Is there some kind of benefit to doing that? How do I understand their point of view? etc.
Thinking in this way helps you understand why people do the things they do (which, of course, is a whole different subject on its own).
People who usually do this tend to gain some understanding about the people and culture around them.
Which leads them to not only be motivated about meeting people, but also gives them a lot of insight to be able to connect and understand where someone is coming from.
This gives them not only the confidence but also the understanding to be able to attract people based on the knowledge they’ve gained because of their curiosity.
What Else Should I Do To Meet People?
These are just some basic social tips that I think anyone can apply to their daily lives as a solo traveler. I left out things like joining meetups, taking tours, and using apps or social media.
The reason I left those things off the list is due to the fact that even if you try to meet people through apps, social media, or other ways designed to bring people together, It wouldn’t necessarily help you with your social skills.
(I put hostels on the list because they’re a different experience due to the fact you’re essentially living with different people.).
Again, these are just some basic social skills to think about when traveling alone.
But if you were to use every tip on this list, you would most likely be able to meet as many people as possible while also developing your social skills and quality of relationships wherever you go and in whatever you do.
If you want to read more about solo travel, visit the main page at Traks&Paks.
