Although I consider myself a solo traveler, I’m rarely actually alone. It’s easy making friends while traveling. That being said, an effort is still required—if you book a solo room at the Hilton, you’re not going to meet many people. The key is surrounding yourself with other solo travelers and the best way to do this is to stay at a hostel! Even if it isn’t a party hostel there is still tons of socializing, usually a community room, and sometimes organized activities. Every hostel I have stayed at minus a couple exceptions has been upbeat, friendly, and inclusive. If you are thinking about going the hostel route then check out Hostelworld.
Working
If you plan on staying in one area for at least a week, I advocate volunteering/working at a hostel instead of just staying as a guest. The nice thing about working is it puts you in a position where you are forced to interact with others. I find that as an employee I feel more confident and therefore, I am extra sociable. For more information on how to find work at a hostel check out my previous post on Workaways.
Communities
The other way to obtain travel buddies is to stay in a community as I did in Hawaii. I stayed at a raw vegan community on the Big Island of Hawaii with tons of young solo travelers who shared the same interests as me. Friendships were made instantaneously. Unfortunately, that community is no longer in existence, but there are more like it all around the world.
Classes
An alternative way to make friends if you prefer to stay alone at a hotel is by joining a class or activity. While in Koh Pha-ngan, Thailand, I took a vegan cooking class, and not only did I learn a lot, but I also made friends! (Actually, I didn’t learn anything but I did make friends).
The most important advice I can give for making friends while traveling is to put yourself out there in any way you can. So get out there, make your own memories. Join a class (and learn nothing about cooking), stay at a commune and have everyone question if you’re in a cult, or stay in a tiny hostel room with seven other strangers. Step outside your comfort zone and go make new memories.
“You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” ― A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
