An Anxious Girl’s Guide to Making Friends while Travelling
Many of my readers and followers have asked me for advice on how to make friends abroad, or told me that they’re nervous to do so. Completely understandable and normal! I was absolutely shitting bricks on my first trip abroad, especially when I realised that the people in my tour were either (a) in a romantic couple or (b) travelling as friends.
However, I soon learnt that the people you meet abroad are some of the best connections you’ll make in life! I love being independent every now and then, but I’m a very dependent person that hates being alone. And when you’re travelling, I think there’s a very fine line between independence and loneliness.
So here’s some of my tips (as someone with anxiety) on how to make friends whilst travelling!
An Anxious Girl's Guide to Making Friends while Travelling
Go on tours
As much as I love travelling independently, I’ve also gone on my share of group tours (read my reviews here). Group tours are a great way to meet lots of new people, and a unique way to see a country! Tours vary from a day or so to a few weeks or months.
My favourite companies I went with were The Dragon Trip and GAdventures. We also did a couple of hop-on-hop-off passes too, which I’d highly recommend. Quite often we’d be on the same journey as other travellers again and again, and we made some friends this way too! I’d recommend both Bamba and Oz Experience (partnered with Greyhound).
As well as larger group tours, there’s also small tours such as free walking tours, tours organised within your hostel, and budget friendly tours. Going on tours is a great way to meet similar travellers on a smaller budget.
Stay in hostels
Hostels are the best way to meet people whilst you’re travelling. There’s a real mix of hostel styles, and with that comes a mix of travellers, so you can really tailor your accommodation to meet people similar to you. We stayed in a mix of party hostels, digital nomad popular hostels, no.1 hostels recommended on Hostelworld, and random ones we found on Booking.com!
Always read the reviews beforehand, don’t just listen to word of mouth.
I made some incredible friends in an all-female dorm in Thailand, some interesting acquaintances in a 12 bed mixed-dorm in the Philippines, and some awesome people in a 30+ person dorm in Hong Kong.
Don’t be afraid to start conversations
On my trip to China, I missed out on so many opportunities due to being too nervous to start conversations and ask to join little outings. When you’re staying in dorms, it is much easier! You make friends so easily with the people you are bunking with, suggest going out and exploring together!
Know some conversation starters
A lot of travellers often start out with the same kinda questions, its easy small talk. Ask things like “where are you from?”, “how long have you been travelling?”, “what do you do back home?”, “what’s your favourite destination so far?”, etc.
You’ll get better at it
The first few times may be really daunting, and that’s okay. But the more you practice, and the more out of your comfort zone you go, the better and more confident you will be about making friends abroad. I went from being so nervous about talking to people in my dorm to screaming karaoke with them in a few days, you’ll get there.
Use Facebook groups
I’m in quite a few different travel groups on Facebook, and I always see posts like “Hey, I’m in [x location], anyone fancy a coffee?”. Some of my favourite groups include GirlsLOVETravel, Let There Be Travel, Travelettes, and Girls vs Globe.
Hang out in the communal area(s) in hostels
Communal areas are awesome. Moon Fools Hostel in Bohol held a drink & chat every night at 6pm, Outpost in El Nido had a free drink at sunset, and many hostels organise communal activities and nights out. Also, if you hang around in the communal area between 6 and 7pm, there’s bound to be a few hungry people. Mention that you’re going to get some grub, and invite them!
Be approachable
The most important thing to make friends whilst travelling is to be approachable! Don’t sit on your phone and ignore people, be open and look for eye contact. Make effort. Start conversations. Suggest plans.
Do you have any tips for making friends whilst travelling? Share them in the comments!
Finnoy Travel
Great Post ! I have read your other posts which are really informative for any traveler. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful informative information on the blog.