How to Make Good Friends While Travelling Foreign – Top 8 Tips:
As the famous saying goes among travellers “you never really travel alone, the world is full of friends waiting to get to know you”. Another one is “a journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles”. One of the nice and best things that is about traveling is that even if you’re shy, it’s easy to make conversation with people around you, or if you are ambivert enough or outspoken you can easily ingress your way through engaging with local community and win their hearts. In this article we’ll explain about How to Make Good Friends While Travelling with top tips.
Make Good Friends While Travelling
If nothing else, you have travel in common. Imminent solo travellers should know that, despite their label of being a solo traveller, solo travel does not have to mean you’re alone all of the time. There are many local communities for them to safely interact with as well as multitude of fellow vagabonds in a very similar position as they are.
Laying out few tips for traveller to get out of their comfort zone and absorb the world around them while making friends on their way.
1. Be flexible in your approach to connect – Give everyone a crystal clear chance to fill your mental and emotional realm with stories and live experiences of the world they have seen or going to see, immerse in the captivating experience of making friends while you travel. Keeping an open mind while you travel helps a lot in attaching your spirit with fellow travelers and locals. You will meet different people from all around the world, which is totally different from what you will encounter back in home. Be approachable all the time, minimize your use of gadgets when around people like un-plug your earphones otherwise people will see as unapproachable, and avoid closed body language like crossing of arms and crossing of legs that gives vibe of “stay away from me”. Don’t slouch or keep your head down this gives of that you are not engaged or not enjoying which creates a negative air around you.
2. Remember to smile and talk – Keep a positive and friendly attitude while traveling. Making friends is a million times easier when you’re upbeat and happy. A simple question like “work or leisure” in plane, in a bus, train, ferry or in any kind of long or short hour transport can help you with connect and make friends easily while you are travelling. When you make random eye contact with any stranger be it local or tourist, be the first one to say “Hello” and you never know where that might lead. While travelling there are myriad of travellers and locals who are waiting to start a conversation, maybe you won’t always have such an conversation starter, but as it’s afore mentioned you have one thing in common which is travelling. As they say a simple smile will take you miles.
3. Stay and stick around hostels is your best bet to make friends when you are travelling – It would be outlandish not to make conversation with those around you in a hostel dorm and you’ll soon be sucked into the vortex of chit chats like “Where are you from? or What’s your home town like? or Where have you been till now? What do you do for a living? Where is your favorite place you’ve been? How long are you traveling?” and alike conversation that will follow you everywhere, so find some common ground. This is the best way to meet and become friends with people while travelling in any foreign country. You simply can’t beat the social and emotional aspect of staying in a hostel as it helps you in growing your communication skills makes you more outspoken. Don’t worry if hostel dorms aren’t your thing even when you stay in a private room in a hostel, you are assured of a very comfy social stay. If you’re wondering where to meet people in a hostel, the answer is Hostel lounges, Whether you’re there for a crazy night out or just to hang out while playing cards, hostel bars are the hotbed of globe – trotters and their rendezvous point. Before travelling do book a hostel which meets your criteria like you want an all-party hostel or hostels with exciting and enthralling games or the ones with café’s.
4. Food is the way – Many hostels offer free food for the morning breakfast. Show up for it show up for the breakfast while you are staying in a hostel or Airbnb, first of all its free food and second you get to meet up with lot of people that are planning their day ahead, this the time to be flexible and start up a conversation, on what they are planning to do for the whole day, or can you accompany them, or are they comfortable to accompany you in your endeavors for the day. It’s a very easy conversation starter since people are always excited to tell others about their plans and in places like this they will be more than happy to join you or invite you in their expeditions. Even if you did not accompany them, when later meet them in common room of the hostel, make sure to take a heads up of their plan, it will make a good impression in the mind of fellow travellers. These small connections and conversations will often turn into invites to hang out or deeper conversation, the basic formula for any new friendship while you are travelling.
5. Stay and Eat With A Local or Host – For a truly authentic experience and to get to know and immerse in the culture of the foreign country you are travelling, consider staying with locals. Find a room for rent on Airbnb or opt for something more casual and budget-friendly like world packers, which is available around the world. You can also get to know locals through world packers reviews which will help you stay and eat in a host house in exchange of your skill.
6. Connect with like – minded travellers through travelling Facebook page, or online groups, or apps – No road is long if you have a good company, Sometimes it is preferred to cut the middle man and go out and meet and greet people on you own and share your interest with. There are many free apps on IOS and Android platform that let many travellers meet like – minded people. This helps in better connecting as others can understand what you are going through and will come to your rescue if it’s needed. There are many region-specific Facebook groups and reddit threads to engage with travelers, expats, and locals in your destination of choice. Also things to keep in mind since chatting and engaging in social media while travelling is fun it better to be safe while meeting them in real life. Meet in public places and when venturing out be safe and alert some one that you know could be of help there.
7. Know a good bit of the local language – What better way to connect with others than to learn their local language. As it really helps in everything from shopping to engaging in community welfare projects or just to hang out with locals. If you are exploring around and find a local to strike up a conversation with but could not go beyond a “hello”, it will be really embarrassing. Try apps like Duolingo, which helps in enhancing and brushing up of foreign language skills. Learning their local lingo will give you a whole new perspective on the destination you’re visiting.
8. Visit local hotspots and events – Meet people and travel often, your life will become less toxic. Visiting local hotspots or events has its own advantage as you get to immerse properly in the way – wards of people in the foreign locations and helps in meeting lot of new people as you get there many people both local or travellers will find you having common interest with them. Since you ended up at a niche audience based event or show.In bigger cities like new york or London you may have to leave the neighborhood you’re staying in to find these kinds of hotspots or events, but this will only cultivate and expand your knowledge about the world and will surely give you an empowering experience. It’s good to have conversation with people who actually live in the place you’re visiting it is an excellent way to immerse yourself in the local culture and get some good insider tips for the next time you visit
* Things to consider when globe – trotting *
There are so many connections that you can make when you can travel the world, but be always sure to use the best safety practices when you are traveling. Don’t go to secluded places alone with someone you have only just met in some local hangout or met online. When using apps like world packers, always read and consider the host’s reviews first. Never become too relaxed about keeping your valuables safe from theft in foreign countries as unattended gadgets draws heavy attention.
Life is meant for spectacular adventures. Let your feet wander and your eyes marvel at the beauty that this world can provide.
