This post is all about how to meet people abroad while traveling. Are you scared that you will not find friends when going on a gap year or traveling for a longer period of time? Totally understandable if that is the case. At least that was my biggest fear when doing my gap year. But to say so, that is the least challenge you will have! Trust me finding friends is really easy when you are travelling! But in the case for you to feel better, here are some tips, that we collected over time. Not every tip is for doing the same kind of travel but hopefully, it helps you relax a bit before going abroad yourself.
1. Au Pair Organisations
If you are doing an Au Pair abroad, then the au pair organization network is the best way to find friends. Perfect because you are doing the same thing and can talk about the problems where everyone can relate. Most of the organizations even have networking days where you can meet au pairs that live in the same city as you!
2. Bumble Friends
Many people use Bumble with the friend’s function when going abroad, no matter why. So many au pairs I know used that app but also work and travellers and many more. A lot of people use it to find friends in the same area and are also going abroad. This is a common way of meeting people abroad for many travelers!
3. Tinder
I heard from many people that they also use Tinder like others use Bumble to meet each other and then do something together. Also, a great way to meet new people, also in a platonic way. But also every other online dating platform will probably work.
4. Worldpackers
Also, a very famous app for backpacker and travelers is the app called world packers, where you can connect with other backpackers through different activities and jobs. So, more functions in one app.
5. Hostels
The best and easiest method, at least for us, was meeting people in the accommodation you are staying at. Hostels are the easiest to meet people from all around the world. You stay together in one room sometimes and start with an easy chit chat about where you are from and where you are going to travel to etc. After a while, I promise you it will be annoying even to talk to so many people all the time and always need to explain who you are and where to travel, etc.
That indicates how easy it really is to meet new people. It will come easy especially when the hostel organizes events like they usually do like bingo nights or something like that. I know it can be scary at first, but everyone will be so open and nice and will include you and talk to you! No need to worry about, that no one wants to talk because that never really happened, even though you may be shy a lot of others won´t. Also cooking all together in the community kitchen is disgusting sometimes but it is also a great place to chat with people and get to know them more while making your food.
6. Hostelworld Chat
An app I would recommend when you are traveling a lot and also staying in hostels is the app Hostelworld where you can easily book hostels. There includet is also a chat to every hostel stay where everyone is inside that is staying in the hostel as well at the same time. So you can write in the chat if someone wants to do something or when someone writing in it you can just easily respond.
7. Volunteer
You can also volunteer somewhere. There are also a lot of different volunteer opportunities where you won´t be the only one volunteering so you will naturally meet others who are also traveling abroad. You can find volunteer opportunities on world packers or work away as well as on world packers for example or like on work away.
8. Language courses
When going abroad and not knowing the language of the country it can be very helpful to start learning simple phrases. There are a lot of language course options. But of course one of the most famous is the organisation EF. I also did take a language course and there I met one of my best friends now somewhere in South Korea. EF is on the more expensive side for sure but I would recommend it either way because the things that come with the language course are just exceptional and it includes so much. I still think about this time all the time and would like to go back to it every day!
9. Partys
Of course, I also must include partying and clubbing when talking about meeting friends abroad. Especially in southeast Asia and Australia, it is a huge deal to go clubbing a lot and also meet many people there as well. At least for me I never made long-lasting friends from going out really, but a lot of other people did. And if you like going out then this is perfect for you to meet new people even if they are just friends for an evening!
10. Be open! And just talk to people
The most important thing about all the things I said before is that you have to be open to talking to new people and meeting new people. Wanting to get to know them and so on and also of course being friendly. Feel free to just talk to them when seeing someone who seems nice. And don´t be scared of rejection. If they don´t want to talk to you, then you don´t want to be friends with them anyway. It seems scary at first but after doing it a few times you will be a pro at it for sure!
And even if not, many people who travel are very extroverted and will talk to you first. It makes it sometimes just a bit easier if you just do the call and talk to the people you want to talk to first and also minimizes the chance that you don´t have anyone to talk to.
But in any case, you will find friends abroad! Trust me! It is easier than you think it is and will come naturally. It is just so fascinating that you can meet people abroad from so different backgrounds and countries and you still instantly click and become friends. There is nothing better than having friends from all around the world and sharing such precious memories with them, that probably no one else can relate except for them.
I gave you some places and some tools maybe even to make finding friends a bit easier and calm you maybe even a bit before going abroad, but you can find friends everywhere when being abroad just be open and adventurous and they will appear! One of my friends I met on a random bus in Singapore others in hostels and others on some backpacker tours I did and so on!
I hope that you will find great and amazing friends abroad and that you will miss them so much when you get back home because that is the worst part about finding friends abroad. They probably are from different countries or places, and you can´t see them all the time when you are back home… But that will be a problem for later! Have fun meet people abroad!
Live a life to remember and let us know if you also have some tips and tricks on meet people abroad easier, then let us know! Until next Wednesday!
Emma
About the Author:
If Emma were a word, she would be „daydreaming“ - the kind of daydreaming that feels more active than dreamy. No matter where she is, you’ll catch her thinking about the artsy city of Melbourne, wishing to take a walk through Central Park, dreaming of seeing the Northern Lights, and so on. The list is long. What’s adorable and also very impressive is that Emma doesn’t stay lost in the haze of her dreams; it won’t be long before the first opportunity appears, and she’ll be on her way to fulfill them.
Emma
About the Author:
If Emma were a word, she would be „daydreaming“ – the kind of daydreaming that feels more active than dreamy. No matter where she is, you’ll catch her thinking about the artsy city of Melbourne, wishing to take a walk through Central Park, dreaming of seeing the Northern Lights, and so on. The list is long. What’s adorable and also very impressive is that Emma doesn’t stay lost in the haze of her dreams; it won’t be long before the first opportunity appears, and she’ll be on her way to fulfill them.
