So you’ve finally decided to stop talking about going to that trip of your life and actually take off. By yourself if need be. But suddenly doubt starts to seep in. Though solo travel has its charm,to find a travel buddy would make thing so much easier, wouldn’t it?Luckily, there are many options open for you. Let’s take a look at some of them, such as:
- Convincing someone from your friend circle
- Trying social media
- Taking advantage of travelling apps and sites
- Going solo and making friends along the way
- Giving organised tours a chance
Your immediate friends are the first possibility
A good companion can make a trip, a bad companion can break it. Before looking for travel buddies online, your safest bet is convincing some friends that you know and trust to accompany you. This may not be always easy – typically, work, responsibilities, lack of time or money and unwillingness to undergo all the hassle associated with travelling will discourage many people from going.Especially if you won’t let them know in advance so that they won’t have time to mull it over. However, if you have everything planned to the last detail and offer your friends a complete package so that they won’t have to bother with too much planning, you’ll probably entice more of them go with you, or at least recommend you someone who will.
It’s easy to find a travel buddy via social media
Networking via Facebook or other social media is extremely easy if you’re up to it. You can find thousands of travelling-themed groups and pages that enable you to connect with people who might be on the same wavelength and travelling to the same destination as you. Even if you find no luck there, it is still a treasury of travelling tips and suggestions specific for the place you aim to go to.
Travelling apps and sites are there to help you
Don’t hesitate to register on some of the many travelling sites or apps that are there to help you match with others. Posting some basic facts about you is usually required of you there and you will be probably run through some verification process aimed to prevent setting up fake profiles. Once you’re in, you will be typically able to set up your own trip, fill in the details and openly invite others to join. The other, simpler option, is simply joining someone else’s trip if your destinations and expectations align. Many of these apps and sites also help you to connect with locals at the place you’re going to, which is a useful bonus.
Don’t be afraid to go alone and make friends along the way
Even though this prospect may at first seem scary to some, there are bountiful possibilities along the way to meet people who share your mindset and are willing to join you on your travels. The simplest way to meet lots of travellers is to stay in hostels. If you overcome the initial trepidation, introduce yourself and engage in conversation with others, you may find yourself having a companion or more in no time! Some hostels organise activities such as local walking tours or pub crawls that offer a perfect option to socialise with others.
Guided and organised tours offer many meetup possibilities
Though not everyone’s cup of tea, guided tours are a perfect option for those looking for simple and comfortable ways to travel. Just joining a one-day guided tour opens up many possibilities to meet amazing, travel hungry people with whom you can forge friendships and team up for the future. Many tour companies are partnering solo travellers with each other and this might be just what you need! If you “click”, perhaps the partnership will continue long after the tour is over and you may soon embark on an adventure together.
These are just some of the ways to find a suitable partner for your travels. There are, however, many more – perhaps you have your own method. Share it with us! Or are you an avowed solo traveller? What advantages are there to travelling by yourself? Let us know in the comments!