Some people say that you haven’t really traveled if you haven’t tried solo traveling. Solo traveling gives you so much freedom to plan and explore without really relying on other people. It’s a chance to open yourself up to new things, trust your instinct, and most importantly, make new friends while traveling.
During your travels, you can meet a lot of new and interesting people you can learn from. Either because they’re far more experienced in solo traveling, or just someone with a different worldview who can give you new insight on how to approach problems. Building friendships during your travels can really change your perspective on life.
But how exactly do you make new friends – better yet, a life-long connection – while traveling? Here are a few tips on how to make friends on your solo travels!
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How To Make New Friends While Traveling Alone
1. Be Friendly
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Friendships don’t just start out of nowhere. The first step to making new friends while traveling is to be friendly – and that starts with presenting yourself as welcoming and approachable. By doing this, people will feel more at ease and will be more likely to open up to you.
You can show your openness through body language and initiative. Here are a few things you should remember to appear friendly:
- Initiate conversations;
- Don’t spend too much time on your gadget;
- Keep your head up, avoid slouching, and remember to always smile; and
- Last but not least, avoid closed body language such as crossed arm, crossed legs, or turning away from the other person.
2. Take a Class
Have you ever heard of the saying, “kill two birds with one stone”? The saying means “to achieve two things at once”, and taking a class during your travels is definitely considered one of the ways to do it.
Taking a class can help you achieve two things: to learn a new skill and to meet people who share the same interests as you. You might not meet a lot of people during your class, but as the class goes on you can ask why they’re interested in taking the class. Usually, the conversation will come out naturally from there.
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3. Join a Group Tour
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A group tour doesn’t always mean a tightly scheduled trip where you barely get the time to breathe in-between each destination. That kind of tour usually takes up a lot of your energy and doesn’t even leave much room for you to actually interact with other tour participants.
Try a small group tour instead, it’s usually limited to six to eight people and isn’t as tightly scheduled as the usual tour. In this kind of tour, you’re more likely to meet fellow solo travelers – making them much more open to conversations than ones in a normal group tour.
You can start by striking up a conversation during the tour. Ask them why they’re interested in taking the tour and let them steer the conversation from then on.
4. Be Spontaneous
Solo travel is all about having freedom. That’s why during the travel period, you shouldn’t make strict itinerary where you plan everything right down to the second of your day.
Allow some room for you to be spontaneous, it can be the key to a long-lasting friendship during your travels. For example, you met someone during your group tour and they invited you to have dinner with them. Instead of declining because you have other plans, you should say yes and water the blossoming friendship!
You can always go to your planned destination on the next day. Maybe after that dinner, you can even go there with your new friend.
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5. Stay in a Hostel or Capsule Hotel
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Aside from being a cheap accommodation alternative, a hostel or a capsule hotel also offers a chance for you to meet new people due to its communal nature.
For that reason, a hostel or a capsule hotel are usually a hotspot for solo travelers. Here are a few ways you can make friends in a hostel or a capsule hotel:
- Hang out in the common area;
- Get started with your day early and show up for breakfast; and
- Join social activities, such as group tours or any group activities in the common area.
Looking For a Cheap and Safe Accommodation During Your Visit to Indonesia? Stay at Bobobox!
If you’re looking to travel all over Indonesia, then you can definitely staying at Bobobox. It’s perfect for travelers who wants to allocate their budget for other activities instead of on accommodations.
Each Bobobox branch is located in a tourism hotspot, so travelers can visit many iconic culinary gems and destinations within a short walking distance. Safety is guaranteed – you will be given a QR code unique to you so you’re the only one who can access your pod!
On top of that, Bobobox strives to offer a unique experience. Guests can stay in a futuristic pod powered by the Internet of Things. You can personalize your stay by adjusting the pod lighting according to your mood for a more pleasant stay. For solo travelers, you can make new friends in our communal space – complete with WiFi for those who want to upload everything about their travels.
Book your stay now to experience Indonesia in a unique yet authentic way. For more information, download the Bobobox app here.
