If you are an avid traveler, then it is likely that you are never in one location long enough to make friends or get into a relationship. You might even think it is pointless if you are going to be quickly moving on to the next destination.
Traveling solo doesn’t have to be lonely. It is important that you make friends and connections along the way, as isolating yourself from people can lead to feelings of loneliness, anxiety and depression.
Social connections play a huge role in your health, and how you feel on a day-to-day basis. Having quality connections in life can enrich your life, boost your self-esteem, increase your sense of belonging, provide you with comfort, relieve stress, and so much more.
If you are away from home a lot and want to make some new connections, follow these top tips to help you make friends while you are traveling.
Mindset
The first and most important part of making friends is your mindset. You have to be willing to make friends, or else this will reflect in your actions and your body language.
\When you are positive and ready to put yourself out there, you will become much more approachable, and people will be naturally drawn to you. To make yourself more approachable, try to:
- Avoid constantly being on an electronic device
- Use open body language (avoid crossing your arms or angling yourself away from people)
- Sit up straight
- Keep your head up
- Smile
People aren’t always going to approach you, so you have to be willing to reach out to people. If you don’t feel confident, you can start small by having short conversations with people in the supermarket, or in a queue. Try not to overthink what you need to do.
Try to let go of your ego, and find something at the moment to talk about. One good way to start interactions is to ask questions. Perhaps they have some interesting items in their trolley that you have never seen before, or you don’t know how to use them.
Alternatively, if you are traveling to a new destination, maybe you could ask them about the local area and what places they would recommend you to visit. If you are looking for where to store your luggage locals might be able to help you find the best options. Unfortunately, not everyone is going to be open to talking, so you need to be able to detach from the outcome of the interaction, and not let any rejection knock your confidence.Â
The more you start interacting with new people, the more confident you will get. And the more people you start talking to, the more likely you are to start finding common ground with people and increase your chances of making friends. As a traveler, you will have plenty of stories to share, or even questions to ask the locals about the area you are about to explore.
Join online travel groups
Did you know there are a plethora of online travel groups that are active all around the world? These are great places for solo travelers to connect with like-minded people, share travel tips and advice, and more importantly, meet up with people in the same areas as you.
With a simple search on Google and Facebook that includes the location you are traveling to and the specific activities you like to participate in on your travels, you will be able to find groups that you can join, and start socializing in.
Many solo travelers meet other solo travelers on the road, become good friends and even move on to the next location together. Traveling solo is great, but when you find someone who is as adventurous as you are, it can double the fun that you are having. It can also open you up to a fresh perspective, and new destinations.
Volunteer
Volunteering is a popular way to travel. This is because you typically get your food and accommodation covered, as well as being put in a group of like-minded individuals, who share the same passion and purpose as you to travel and help others.
You will likely spend a lot of your time with the same people throughout your placement, so it is a great opportunity to be social and get to know others. Many people volunteer, make friends and stay in contact long after the trip has finished. Volunteering enables you to connect with the locals, make lifelong friends, and do something good.
Learn the language
One of the biggest barriers to making friends in new locations around the world is speaking a different language. Fortunately, with the use of smartphones, learning a new language has been made easier than ever. With the right applications, you don’t need to study the language for years, but you can learn the basics of any language, as well as use the applications as a translator.
In the majority of places you travel to, there will be a large number of people who speak English. While this is great, it is also a thoughtful gesture to make the effort to learn the language of the country you are traveling to. Not only will this enable you to gain a new skill and keep yourself busy and challenged on your travels, but it also provides you with more opportunities to speak to people.
Use mobile applications
Connecting with people doesn’t have to be in person, in the location that you are residing in at the time or even relevant to your travels. There are a variety of applications that enable you to connect with people and make new friends if you share common interests.
For example, if you are looking for a companion, you can connect with people on dating applications using the best chat lines. If you are looking to find friends that are interested in the same hobbies as you, then you can start by searching the relevant hashtags on social media applications such as Instagram and TikTok.
Traveling solo is a great experience, but that doesn’t mean you have to completely isolate yourself. Making friends or starting relationships can improve your health and happiness, and can be made possible while traveling. Follow these top tips to make quality connections.
