Flightster
5 Tips for Meeting Fellow Travelers
- by Matthew
- on August 31st, 2010
- 10 Comments
As travelers we all choose to travel for a number of different reasons: personal growth, general wanderlust or a desire to learn more about the world. We often travel for a deeply personal reason, one that many of our close friends and family members don’t quite understand. Sometimes though, we travel for much simpler reasons that most people can relate to: the goal of seeing new places, experiencing new and exciting things, and meeting new people.
Meeting other travelers is – in my mind – one of the most basic and rewarding aspects of travel. It’s not always easy, especially if you’re new to the idea of backpacking and long-term independent travel.
These 5 tips will help you to meet fellow travelers on the road.
1) Stay in hostel dorms (not private rooms)
Dorms? You mean those scary, smelly rooms with multiple bunk beds and loud snoring roommates? Yes.
Well, not exactly.
Many people new to traveling are absolutely terrified at the prospect of staying in a hostel dorm. These fears aren’t always totally founded (though sometimes they are). I distinctly remember an Amesterdam hostel with a 20 bed dorm room that could have doubled as a military barrack. I’m not sure what was more frightening, the mushroom influenced backpackers that came in late each night, or the mouse traps visible underneath some of the beds.
Most hostels aren’t that terrifying. With a bit of basic research, you can ensure you end up in a hostel with reasonably sized, clean, and comfortable dorm rooms. These are great places to meet other travelers – don’t seclude yourself to a private room if you’re traveling solo, set yourself up to meet new travel mates in a hostel dorm.
2) Put that computer away, turn off that iPod, and stop texting your mates from home
As a blogger and social media junkie, you can imagine I spend a fair bit of time in front of my Macbook and plugged into Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon and the list goes on. I do. Yet while I am very often connected to my computer in one way or another, I still make point to often shut it all off. It’s crucial you find a comfortable balance between staying connected online and off.
You’ll be amazed at how quickly you can develop relationships with other travelers by switching the technology off. Discussions of where you’ve been, what you’ve seen, and where you’re going often lead to new found friendships and travel partners.
You didn’t travel to some far away place to update your Facebook status, you’re in it to meet other travelers who share the passion for travel you do.
3) Take advantage of events sponsored by your hostel
Hostels are in business to make sure you as a traveler or backpacker have the best possible experience in their town or city. Hopefully you’ll have a blast, rave about your experience, and encourage other travelers you meet to stay in the same place.
Take advantage of the many events or activities set up by your hostel. One great example of this is a hostel organized bar crawl. While avoiding excessive amounts of drinking is one of my 7 Tips to Successful Long Term Travel, a hostel bar crawl can be a great way for you to meet other travelers in the same situation as you. Don’t feel you have to spend a fortune (which is often difficult as you’ll surely get drinks deals), but use it as an opportunity to meet fellow travelers and develop new friendships.
4) Reach out to the Twitter travel community
The Twitter travel community is a pretty bloody good resource for any traveler – especially a solo traveler. When you’re planning your trip, you’ll be amazed at the things you can learn from fellow Twitterers who tweet about travel. There is a wealth of information out there in the form of travel blogs, and Twitter is very often these bloggers main source of communication.
Once you start your travels, stay connected with the community. A simple Tweet of, ‘I’m traveling through BKK next week, anyone around?’ will potentially set you up with other travelers in the same situation as you.
5) Challenge yourself by saying ‘Yes’
Travel is an opportunity to live your life outside of your comfort zone. You’ll inevitably face situations you’ve never faced before. These challenges will help grow you as a person, and I suspect you’ll be a stronger and more rounded individual after your trip is over.
Make sure you approach new ideas and situations with an open mind. By saying “Yes” to things you’d typically say “No” to, you’ll be set up to meet new people. A group of backpackers in your hostel want you to go caving? But you’re terrified of tight spaces? And caves? Nevermind. Say yes. You’ll b challenging yourself by facing your fears and you’ll be meeting a new group of people.
Travel is an amazing thing. Something that is ideally shared with someone you love. If that isn’t an option, use these tips to meet fellow travelers while you’re out seeing the world.
How do you meet other travelers? Leave your tips in the comments section below.
Great post!
Matt,
I wish more people would do this when they travel. I almost feel like what you are talking about could be applied to meeting people in general. When you go to an event and people are tweeting in the middle of talking to you it makes you want to take their iphone and throw it against a wall
. Staying in hostels has led to some of the most interesting experiences I’ve ever had as a traveler. While I have been lonely in terms of traveling alone in the past, I think I;m much more out going now.
@Srini Thanks for the comment and feedback. I worry I sometimes am that guy tweeting or on his iPhone, yet do my best to detach myself from my phone when in social situations. It’s an interesting conundrum to be in – staying connected with the people around you, and the people in your social network online.
I travel with my husband, so we usually opt for the private rooms but find that even when sleeping separately it’s very easy to meet people in hostels. The kitchen is always a good area – over breakfast, while making dinner (imagine 10 people trying to share 4 burners), etc. Just asking a simple question about whether anyone has advice or experience with x, y or z usually opens doors to a longer conversation.
But, the best advice is saying yes more often. Once you do that a few times, you’ll see that the tendency to say no really can hold you back not only from meeting people but also a whole slew of experiences outside your comfort zone. That’s when real growth and learning happens.
I can’t blame you for sharing a room with your husband, especially as doubles are often very similar to two dorm beds. You’re right, the kitchen is a fantastic place to meet and get talking with other travelers. I love seeing the different things travelers cook as well.
Good job Matt. Will you be writing this on a regular basis? Where do you think you guys will be heading off to next? Where ever it is – good luck in your travels!!
Thanks! I’ll hopefully be showing up here about once a week – more if they’ll let me!
Where to next? That’s the question of the hour. I might be in Queenstown for a couple months to a year (with a trip home to Iowa in the mix) or I may be heading to Thailand.
I’ll let you know as I make plans!
Great post Matt. Getting the right balance between using social technology and just good ole’ fashioned being social in the flesh is vital I think. I’ll be honest and say that I’ve never shared a dorm with strangers (just friends a few times) but this is making me rethink that now as I plan my next solo trip.
About this i can say that Fools and madmen speak the truth.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, may all your wishes come true!