How to make friends while traveling abroad?

Comment se faire des amis en voyage à l'étranger

While many people go on an accompanied trip (couple, family or friends), others go alone. Not necessarily out of desire, but rather because that’s how it is. Expatriation or transfer for work, friends and relatives not available, or simply a question of money, there are a thousand and one reasons why you should go on a trip alone. However, traveling solo is not synonymous with total solitude! It is possible to meet people while traveling and make friends abroad.

To make your life easier, to make you want to go on a trip even if you are all alone, I have prepared for you a list of tips, places and activities that will allow you to quickly make new friends while traveling !

7 tips and advice for new friendships while traveling

Below, my 7 tips for traveling while building new friendly relationships abroad.

1 – Go where the locals go!

Don’t be afraid to go out to eat or drink alone, and try to stay away from the tourist area and go local. This may mean you’re slightly away from the city center, but you’ll also find a new community. If you’re lucky, you’ll come across a real hidden gem of an attraction, which will bring you many benefits during the trip.

Additionally, restaurants and cafes are generally nice places where people can meet and chat. In this environment, conversations can be easily started, so do not hesitate to communicate, just like asking a person, what can be recommended in the menu as a city tourist, And ask for advice, or if you want find out if they can help you translate some content into the local language, it’s that simple.

2 – Join a course or training

Signing up for a class or activity that interests you is a great way to meet like-minded people and share your common interests with them. Training classes to learn new skills are very useful for making friends, and it’s an easy way to have a conversation with people because it involves a common theme. Many visitors point out that cooking classes are very helpful in the area as you will inevitably want to marry someone, which will quickly break the barrier.

3 – Associations and volunteering

Volunteering at a local charity, shelter, library or garden is a great way to give back and meet wonderful people. It’s also a great way to learn about local culture and customs, as well as giving you a real sense of the spirit of the community you’re visiting.

4 – Use suitable mobile applications

Some say that making new friends in a new city is never easy, and it takes a lot of energy, a little planning, and a lot of courage. Therefore, you can first find a good way to easily communicate with like-minded people. Fortunately, there are many mobile apps that can help you achieve this goal. Meetup is a very popular app that can be used in thousands of cities. It should help you find local friends and they have people with common interests. . Do a Google search to find other apps that can make friends, any app that can help you meet people in your area.

5 – Use social networks

Before you move to a new city, research your social media to see if anyone close to you, or even someone who knows you very well, has already taken this step and reached out. These contacts are very useful and can advise and support you. The app is also one of the easiest ways to meet new people. You can also use many things depending on your interests. Joining a foreign social media group is a good way to meet people who have also moved from abroad.

6 – Stick with the locals

Whether you plan to stay short term or vice versa, one of the best ways to meet and make friends with local people is to live with them. Even in the first few days or weeks, finding a room in a shared house or renting a house from a local can be a great opportunity to make friends.

With so many resources online, you can also easily search and find a place that matches your choice in a new destination. Heaven forbid contacting the homeowner before moving will help you avoid any accidents or problems. When you arrive in the new city, you will not only have a residence, but also direct friends who will help you settle in and get comfortable.

7 – Participate in local cultural events

Another good way to meet people in the new city and have fun at the same time is to watch the city’s cultural calendar and then participate in activities that appeal to you. In fact, the city’s official website certainly provides a list of all projects. Cultural activities of the month or even months. Specifically, look for outdoor activities, such as concerts, music festivals, or art festivals. Remember that festivals are great for meeting new people and making friends in unfamiliar places, as festivals usually involve group activities.