How To Meet People When Travelling Solo

How To Meet People When Travelling Solo

Travelling solo can be lonely at times. Even though we enjoy our own company we all enjoy meeting other people once in a while. We might like to have a little grown up discussions, to share our travel experiences, to seek advice or just learn about the latest gossip going round. So how can we beat the solo travel loneliness?

Practical Tips For Meeting New People When Travelling Alone

When we travel we meet people all the times. We meet other travelers, we meet people that work in the tourist trade, we meet local people when we are out and about, etc. The outgoing person does not necessarily meet more people than the shy person. It's just that the outgoing person is more likely to become friendly with some of those strangers.

So the first tip goes against what you learned as a child... but you must take the plunge and talk to strangers. The easiest way to start a conversation with a stranger is to ask questions. You can ask for directions or for recommendations. It might not lead to lasting friendships but it will get you talking to strangers and that's always the starting point.

When travelling solo you should chose carefully where you stay. You don't want to eat breakfast every morning surrounded by happy romantic couples. There are places that specialize in solo travelers - those places tend to be good for hooking up with other solo travelers for a meal or a drink, or even for a day or two.

Going on organized short trips can be a great way to meet new people when travelling alone. You could go on a day fishing trip, go on a three day safari with a small group, take a mini cruise, etc. Or you could take some local courses where you can learn some new skills as well as meeting people, e.g. take salsa lessons, go on cooking course, or learn how to scuba dive. Few days in company like that can rejuvenate you before continuing happily on your own.

Established tourist meeting spots can be found in many popular tourist destinations, especially those that frequented by young backpackers. This can be great option for some people but not for all, this is likely to suit outgoing people better.

Introvert people travelling solo might prefer to head off the beaten track because it doesn't matter how shy you are, when you meet another tourist somewhere in the middle of nowhere... the two of you will talk.

Dining solo is maybe what most solo travelers dread the most. If you want to find a dining companion you might look out for places that are busy and ideally with other people dining alone. It can also be easier to start chatting with the people next to you when you are sitting at an outdoor cafe or dining alone at the bar table.

Many solo travelers always take a book with them when dining solo, which can of course be used for reading while you dine happily on your own. However leaving closed book on a dining table is kind of a code for other solo travelers. It indicates to them that you are travelling alone and might welcome a company. You can of course also ask other solo travelers if you can join them, closed book or paper on their desk might mean they were hoping that you will approach them. And if not... then they will only say no.

The Golden Rule For Meeting New People When Travelling Solo

Last but not least... smile. Smiling is internationally recognized and a smiling person travelling solo meets more new people than a person that doesn't smile - that's a fact.

Asa Gislason and her husband are the founders of Top-Travel-Tips.com, a website that offers relevant and practical international travel tips and advice. Their focus is to provide you with relevant travel information that can save you time and money when planning your next trip. They also provide information about products and services that can enrich your travel experience even further.

You can find more information about tips for solo travelling on their website, including practical safety tips for solo travel.