Traveling Solo and Meeting People
New friends I met while visiting Hangzhou, China
If you’ve been following me for a while, you’re probably wondering how I always seem to have a bunch of friends with me during my travels. Well believe it or not, 100% of my travels have been solo! That’s right! I travel alone. So, where do I meet these people? Did I know them before moving to china? Well, my friends, I use a couple of methods to meet people when I travel. First, I’ll like to point out that I didn’t know most of the people I know now before traveling to a particular place. I say most, because usually I’ll get in contact with people before I arrive to a new city or country. I’ll explain below.
The lady on the left I met on Instagram. The lady on the right I met at a hostel. We all decided to spend the day together touring a temple and going to the beach later on that day in Thailand! We all still keep in touch!
People I met while on my Great Wall tour with Great Wall My Love. To see more images or learn more about my experience see my previous post.
Facebook Groups
Most of the people I meet are from several Facebook groups. I am a member of several travel Facebook groups. I try to only join specific country, city or ethnicity groups. For example, I am a member of China group for people of color living, working and studying in China. I also try to join groups for cities or countries I plan to visit. Once I am added to these groups and I am planning my next trip, I would write a short message on the group’s feed asking about doing a meet up or asking about the city’s hot spots to meet people while in town. Typically, I get a few messages from people sharing advice about the city or wanting to meet up for a fun day.
Please note: You do have to be smart about the meet ups. Make sure you do your research on the country or city you are visiting. Try to set up day time meet ups in a well populated place. Finally, make sure the Facebook group you are in isn’t sketchy and you’ve heard of other members positive meet up stories etc.
Stay at a hostel
Hostels get a bad rep sometimes, but after traveling consistently for two years I would say they are the best way to meet other solo travelers. Hostels are cheap and its usually a hub for solo travels from all walks of life. When I was staying in Moal Boal, Philippines, every day and night during my holiday I had friends to do activities with that I met at my hostel. Since hostels are usually filled with other solo travelers, many are looking to do the same thing your’re trying to do: meet people!
My friend, Candace, I met while living in Thailand during the beginning of Covid19
People I met at my hostel in Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines. I met them one morning and the next day we were biking it through the mountains together in the Philippines.
learn a few phrases in the native language and talk to locals
I think this is common knowledge, but I will share it anyways. Learning some basic phrases of the native language can get you far. Usually local people are so grateful that you took the time to learn their language and speak to them. I’ve been invited to lunches, dinners, and even got a tour of the city from locals just because I said “hello” or a basic/friendly phrase to them in their native language. If you are traveling solo and want to learn more about the city or country you are visiting, what better way to learn than with a native right?
Do Tours
Tours are not only the best way to see the city, but also to meet people. There will be lots of other solo travelers doing the same. I went on several tours during my travels, met a lot of people and still keep in touch with most of them.
Front Desk Receptionist at my hotel in Beijing. She became a really great friend and decided to hang out with me for lunch before I left.
Chinese woman from Fuzhou, China. Met her in an elevator after saying hello in Chinese. She invited to have lunch with her friends that same day! We’ve been friends for almost 2 years now.
How do you meet people when traveling solo? Share your responses below!