Is it easier to make new friends when traveling solo?
My opinion? .... Yes!!! This is 100% the case.
In my experience, when you are not in a safety net of familiar faces, you are more open to meeting new people... and you probably should if you are sick of talking to yourself ;)
Solo travel really is the perfect time to make friends because you have the time and usually your fellow travellers do too.
But my favourite factor in solo travel is there is no-one to hold you back from spontaneous adventures or even a complete change in your route. When I was travelling in Fes, Morocco, I only intended on staying 2 nights, but I met some awesome people and loved my hostel and the city so much, I ended up staying an extra 2 nights. If someone was travelling with me, I might not have had the freedom to do this.
I have returned to countries and been to places I never would have considered because of some connections I made during my solo travels. The thing to remember with solo travel is you are never really alone. Another solo traveller is at your next hostel just as eager to befriend you!
I encourage anyone who wants to meet new people and learn more about other cultures and countries to consider solo travel. It really isn't as scary and difficult as some may say. And there are so many people doing it! My hostel hopping throughout Spain and Morocco in July proved this. I would say 70% of the travellers I met were doing it alone or had made a friend along the way who they ended up joining forces with. Of the 70%, I'd estimate half of them to be female.
I met some people with their friends from home and in general they were less open to spontaneous adventures and group activities. I suppose it was the safety net syndrome. But sometimes solo travel just isn't for everyone!
At least for these friends in their groups, they had someone to kill the time with at airports and a shoulder to cry on if something went wrong on their trip. You are probably less likely to get homesick if there is a familiar face around you! Another plus of travelling with friends from home is that they know you well (no small talk necessary) and will look out for you when you are partying and more importantly, post partying... A hangover is always better shared!
Fear not if you have a flight booked and all of a sudden your friends are unable to join you- go solo! Extend your global network! You never know who you might meet and where it could take you. One of my international friends took me out of a plane! Quite literally... we went skydiving a couple of weeks ago (and IT WAS AWESOME!).
My opinion? .... Yes!!! This is 100% the case.
In my experience, when you are not in a safety net of familiar faces, you are more open to meeting new people... and you probably should if you are sick of talking to yourself ;)
Solo travel really is the perfect time to make friends because you have the time and usually your fellow travellers do too.
But my favourite factor in solo travel is there is no-one to hold you back from spontaneous adventures or even a complete change in your route. When I was travelling in Fes, Morocco, I only intended on staying 2 nights, but I met some awesome people and loved my hostel and the city so much, I ended up staying an extra 2 nights. If someone was travelling with me, I might not have had the freedom to do this.
My solo travelling friend, Jessie.
I have returned to countries and been to places I never would have considered because of some connections I made during my solo travels. The thing to remember with solo travel is you are never really alone. Another solo traveller is at your next hostel just as eager to befriend you!
I encourage anyone who wants to meet new people and learn more about other cultures and countries to consider solo travel. It really isn't as scary and difficult as some may say. And there are so many people doing it! My hostel hopping throughout Spain and Morocco in July proved this. I would say 70% of the travellers I met were doing it alone or had made a friend along the way who they ended up joining forces with. Of the 70%, I'd estimate half of them to be female.
I met some people with their friends from home and in general they were less open to spontaneous adventures and group activities. I suppose it was the safety net syndrome. But sometimes solo travel just isn't for everyone!
At least for these friends in their groups, they had someone to kill the time with at airports and a shoulder to cry on if something went wrong on their trip. You are probably less likely to get homesick if there is a familiar face around you! Another plus of travelling with friends from home is that they know you well (no small talk necessary) and will look out for you when you are partying and more importantly, post partying... A hangover is always better shared!
Fear not if you have a flight booked and all of a sudden your friends are unable to join you- go solo! Extend your global network! You never know who you might meet and where it could take you. One of my international friends took me out of a plane! Quite literally... we went skydiving a couple of weeks ago (and IT WAS AWESOME!).
My skydiving getup.
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