One of the things that most people find intimidating about solo travel is getting bored when spending time alone. I talked before about beating solo travel boredom but in this read, I’ll tell you how you can make travel friends on the road. So, if you’re a solo traveler looking for another fellow travel buddy, read along.
How to Make Travel Friends If You’re a Solo Traveler?
Here are some ways that’ll help you find a travel buddy, or maybe more:
Stay in a Hostel
Hostels are a great way to start, especially if you want to meet like-minded people because, most probably, other solo travelers will also be staying at a hostel. But don’t just expect to meet your future travel buddy in your dorm; join hostel activities and show up at communal areas! You can make travel friends at the hostel bar, by the pool, or in the kitchen; just remember to BE OPEN!
Relevant Read:
Join Group Activities or Tours
It doesn’t have to be the hostel activities; you can join free walking tours, group treks, or maybe go to a class (be it a yoga class, a cooking class, or anything really). You can also visit Meetup.com, which allows you to meet like-minded people at nearby events that align with your interests.
Post on Facebook Travel Communities
Don’t wait for opportunities, create them yourself! Join travel communities on Facebook if you’re not already a member of any and don’t hesitate to ask if there are any other solo travelers around. These groups are also a great way to ask for tips about destinations and trust me, you’d be surprised at the number of people who’d offer help. And who knows? Maybe someone casually offers themselves to tag along and you end up being travel friends.
Here are some of my favorite travel communities on Facebook:
- Female Travel Group | Women Group Travel | GoWonder ®
- The Solo Female Traveler Network
- Solo Female Travelers (FIRST FB group for women who travel solo!)
- Women Who Travel
- BMTM Solo Female Traveler Connect
Consider Volunteering
There are tons of volunteering opportunities that’ll not just allow you to make new friends but also add to your life experiences. You can volunteer at a farm, in a school or learning center, or at a hostel. There are various volunteering platforms that you can check out such as Workaway, Worldpackers, WWOOF, and International Volunteer HQ.
Book an Airbnb Experience
Ever since Airbnb introduced its Experiences feature and it’s become a greater way to meet locals or ex-pats. Staying at an Airbnb enables you to befriend a local family, but booking an Airbnb Experience allows you to connect with someone who shares an interest of yours. Maybe it’s a tour guide, a professional hiker, or a photographer who’d capture your new travel moments.
Download Social Travel Apps
There’s an app for everything, literally, even for meeting other travelers abroad. Here are some of the most popular ones:
- Travello: Available in more than 180 countries, Travello hits two birds with a stone; it doesn’t just allow you to book activities, but it’s also a social network for travelers.
- Tourlina: This is more or less Tinder but for female solo travelers.
- BumbleBFF: Yes, it’s the same Bumble, the dating app that allows the chicas to make the first move. However, this feature is purely for platonic relationships; it’s a great way to make travel friends.
Final Note
My last tips to you would be: be open, be confident, and most importantly, BE YOU! I guarantee you that you can make travel friends as a solo traveler and you wouldn’t have to feel alone at all. With a matter of fact, some of these might even turn into lifelong friends!
Booking a trip soon? Here are some useful travel resources:
- Book your flight with Skyscanner, Kiwi, CheapOair, or WayAway.
- Book your hostel with Hostelworld.
- Book your hotel with Booking.com or Agoda.
- Get your travel insurance with SafetyWing.
- Hire a car with Skyscanner, Discover Cars, Rentalcars, or AutoEurope.
- Book your tours with Viator or Klook.
- Download an eSIM from Airalo.
- Check out my trip planning tools for more travel resources.
Sharing is caring!
You might also like:
- How to Beat Solo Travel Boredom
- How to Prep for an Adventurous Solo Road Trip
- A Beginners Guide to Traveling Alone for the First Time
- Going to a Music Festival Alone – How to Make Friends, Stay Safe, & Have a Great Time
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Nadine is an Egyptian curly-head who decided to quit the norm because it just doesn’t suit her. She ditched her 9-5 as a magazine editor to pursue her dream of becoming a full-time digital nomad and to inspire aspiring travelers to embark on their own solo adventures.
I haven’t travelled solo since I got married. Of course I love sharing new experiences with my husband.
But I have to say I interacted with far more people when I travelled alone. I haven’t heard of WWOOF
before: thanks for the tip!
That’s a bummer! But yes, I can totally relate.. people think that if you’re alone, you would be ALONE! They don’t know that it’s actually easier for solo travelers to meet other people because when you have company, you tend to be in your comfort zone more..
Hostels are an amazing place to meet people. I loved my experience talking to people at hostels when I
was traveling around Europe when I was in college.
Hostels are definitely a great place to start! Never failed me!
Airbnb experiences and group tours
are my favorite when traveling solo!
You meet people who have the same
interests and also get
recommendations for other things
you need to see!
Exactly, it’s like you exchange the research you have both done!
Staying with a local at an Airbnb is
definitely my favourite! You meet so
many interesting people!
It sure is a good way to get to know the locals 🙂
There are really great tips! As someone who’s been traveling solo for the last few years, I can honestly
I’ve used all these ways to make friends as a solo traveler.
Solo traveling is a true blessing really!
This list is great. I actually love the idea of booking an Airbnb experience. I met some amazing people in
Portugal on a vegan brekkie and stretching activity. Not only did I meet locals, I met some fab travellers
who I hung out with and got some great recommendations. You’re right about the interests too – it makes
it better. These are great tips!
Sharing interests can be a great way to strike a conversation! My camera was such a great ice breaker for me 🙂
This is so helpful! Whenever I travel solo I tend to keep to myself and I hardly talk to anyone unless it’s
while I’m ordering food.
I’m glad you found that useful! Hopefully, these tips would help you get out of your comfort zone on your future trips 🙂
These are some great tips! I don’t typically travel solo often, but I love the idea of engaging in Facebook
communities. I’m part of some local community groups and I love helping visitors with their questions
about the area! Thanks for the great guide!
Thanks to these online communities, I now how virtual friends who are all into travel so meeting up with them some day would be super cool 🙂
Travel is one of the most enriching experiences that one can have in life. It allows you to step out of your
comfort zone, explore new cultures and cuisines, and make memories that will last a lifetime.
100% true!
Hey there! I came across your blog on “How to make travel friends as a solo globetrotter” and it
resonated with me deeply. As someone who loves traveling alone, I know how challenging it can be to
meet new people and make meaningful connections on the road. Your article offers some practical and
actionable tips that can help solo travelers like me to break out of our comfort zones and connect with
fellow globetrotters.
One of the things that stood out to me in your article is the importance of staying in hostels when
traveling alone. I couldn’t agree more! Hostels are not only a budget-friendly option, but they are also a
great place to meet other travelers from around the world. I have made some incredible friends during
my hostel stays, and some of those friendships have lasted long after the trip was over. Your advice on
joining group activities and socializing in common areas is spot on, and I appreciate your suggestion of
bringing a deck of cards or a board game to break the ice.
Another tip that I found particularly helpful was to join online travel communities before embarking on
a trip. I never thought about this before, but it makes perfect sense! Joining Facebook groups or online
forums for solo travelers can be a great way to connect with like-minded people before arriving at a
destination. Not only can you get valuable advice and recommendations from locals and other
travelers, but you may also be able to meet up with some of them in person. Overall, I found your article
to be informative and insightful, and I’m excited to put some of your tips into practice on my next solo
adventure. Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us!
Thanks a lot for your thorough feedback 🙂 I’m really glad you found my tips insightful, and hopefully, they’d make a difference on your next solo adventure!