I’m a fan of traveling to new countries and exploring new cultures. Having a remote job makes it easy to follow my passion for traveling to different parts of the world. However, my friends have traditional desk jobs that don’t allow them to travel freely. Hence, I often travel solo.
While I don’t mind traveling solo, I get bored. So, I decided to look for ways to find new friends when I travel. What better way to make new friends than using the technology on my Android phone? I searched the Google Play Store for apps that would help me discover new people.
Among several options, I found the best apps that help me make friends using different parameters. If you want to find new friends when traveling, here are the apps you should use.
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Meetup: Social Events & Groups
Discover social events and groups
The Meetup app lets users meet new people by allowing them to register for meetups, events, or social gatherings happening across the city. If you’re a tourist in a new city, log in to the app, sign up for an event that interests you, and talk to new people. You can meet other tourists and locals who have similar interests.
The primary advantage of using Meetup is meeting new people with similar interests, so you can do similar activities with them while on the trip. For example, let’s say you attend a meetup related to kayaking. You can meet like-minded individuals who enjoy the activity, allowing you to participate in more adventurous activities with them.
As per the platform, there are 60 million users of Meetup worldwide, so you’re sure to find new friends when traveling to a popular destination. When not traveling, you can start a group in the city you are in. This way, you can help other travelers make new friends by hosting events.
5
Couchsurfing Travel App
Stay with locals
Couchsurfing helps you find new people to stay with in the city you’re visiting. Think of it as Airbnb, but for solo travelers.
Hosts can list their houses and the number of available rooms on the app. Travelers can read more about the owner and decide whether they want to stay with them during the trip. This way, you can befriend the host while meeting others staying at the same place, in different rooms.
The app displays events taking place at the locations you’re visiting. You can see the number of participants headed to each event and decide whether you want to join them. While the app is beneficial for making friends when traveling, you can host others visiting your city.
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Travello Travel From Home
Get rewarded for traveling
Here’s another app that primarily helps you discover nearby events. However, the concept is different. Travello is a social media app for travelers to post pictures to gain likes and followers.
When you post or someone engages with your posts, you get reward credits that can be redeemed to participate in activities via the app. Whether it’s surfing, wine tasting, or skydiving, there are several activities to choose from depending on the country you visit.
Apart from events, users can form groups to meet new people and conduct customized events. For instance, you can form a group of photography enthusiasts and curate a photo walk experience that anyone with a camera can attend. This way, you can meet like-minded people and explore new spots together.
Another nice feature is the ability to post your future travel plans, so that you can match your itinerary with other travelers.
3
Going Solo: Travel Friends
Meet other solo travelers
A few standout features of the Going Solo app help those traveling alone to a new city, either for vacation or relocating for a job.
For starters, there’s a Nearby mode where you can see other solo travelers in the same vicinity. The app suggests a list of events and gatherings based on your location. Then, the Trips feature lets you view solo trips planned by other travelers. If something interests you, you can contact the traveler and ask to join them. This is a great way to find a travel partner and plan a trip with them.
Finally, there’s a matching feature similar to what’s found on dating apps. You enter your interests and your next travel destination. The algorithm uses this information to match you with other travelers with similar plans. You can pick a travel partner from the options if your vibe matches theirs.
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Eatwith – Food experiences
Find people with the same food preferences
Eatwith helps you make new friends based on food preferences. When traveling to a new country, you may want to try the local cuisine at popular spots. However, it’s more fun to do it with friends since you can order multiple dishes to try. Eatwith facilitates exactly this.
When the app detects your location, it suggests nearby locations with ongoing dinner parties or tasting sessions. You can pick what interests you and attend it to meet new people while enjoying new cuisines.
Additionally, Eatwith lets hosts organize cooking classes and food tours where you can learn to make local delicacies or walk through the city to visit iconic eateries. If you’re a foodie like me, this is a must-have on your phone.
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Bumble Dating App: Meet & Date
Useful for more than just dating
Most people may be aware of Bumble as an app used to find love. However, the BFF mode on Bumble can be used to find new friends, especially when traveling to a new country.
If you don’t wish to participate in events or attend large gatherings, and only want to meet select people, I recommend using Bumble over all the other apps mentioned above. It’s useful for people who are slightly socially awkward and find it hard to have conversations with many people.
Bumble lets you filter users based on common interests and passions. You can choose to hang out with people of a specific age group, which isn’t always possible when you meet people randomly at events. You can also switch to Bumble’s dating mode if you are looking for a partner when traveling.
Make new friends on every trip
Thanks to these apps, I no longer commute or visit popular attractions by myself when I’m on a trip. I can make friends with other tourists, making the experience better and helping me build my social skills.
You can use some of these apps to meet locals who want to make friends, and they can show you around the city, giving you a better understanding of the local culture.
If you need help with your travel plans, check out Google Flights. You’ll find cheap prices for plane trips and find inspiration for what to do while on vacation.
