Five Top Tips For Making Backpacker Friends
Due to the transient nature of budget travel, meeting new people and maintaining relationships out on the road is problematic. As you hop from hostel to hostel, you'll often experience feelings of loneliness and solitude. Get out there and make more travelling friends by using some of these top tips.
Stay In Hostels
Hostels are the hubs that are central to all the backpacker action. The cheap and inexpensive rooms attract likeminded people who will only be too happy to join you in your sightseeing explorations of new landscapes. Consider staying in a dorm or hanging out in hostel common areas to maximise the opportunity of meeting new faces. Pull up a chair, put on a smile and get chatting. That's the only way to start!
Hit The Bars
It goes without saying; alcohol is a great social lubricant. Head to the popular tourist bars and cafes in town and you'll be sure to find a few friendly people willing to have a drink and a chat. Don't get too drunk however as many a traveller has taken this approach only to plan a trip early the next morning returning back at a hostel too inebriated to pack in time!
Check The Fun Ratings
As previously mentioned, staying in hostels and guesthouses are a great way to meet new people. Be careful though as some can be just as dull and boring as regular hotels. Make sure then that you check out possible places on hostel review sites and specifically check their "fun" rating. You'll probably be able to see whether they offer special backpacker [http://www.gapdaemon.com/] nights like trips out to local amenities too!
Book On To Organised Tours
If your hostel or guesthouse offers organised tours to local points of interest why not book a place? They'll often be a lot of travellers thinking and doing the same and what better way to get chatting than while travelling around seeing the local sights? There'll be common grounds for conversation and you'll have plenty of time to chat with a group of people without having to worry about closing times, moving on or the chance of them making a swift exit!
Share
Got some interesting hints and tips to share? Picked up some interesting looking food from a local market? Offering to share what you have, both in the physical and mental terms, is often a great way to break the ice with people and begin a conversation. A typical backpacker [http://www.gapdaemon.com/] would probably offer a local beer or two, but feel free to offer whatever. A hint or tip on how to get to a place or what to see is just as good. It's the sharing that counts!
Stay In Hostels
Hostels are the hubs that are central to all the backpacker action. The cheap and inexpensive rooms attract likeminded people who will only be too happy to join you in your sightseeing explorations of new landscapes. Consider staying in a dorm or hanging out in hostel common areas to maximise the opportunity of meeting new faces. Pull up a chair, put on a smile and get chatting. That's the only way to start!
Hit The Bars
It goes without saying; alcohol is a great social lubricant. Head to the popular tourist bars and cafes in town and you'll be sure to find a few friendly people willing to have a drink and a chat. Don't get too drunk however as many a traveller has taken this approach only to plan a trip early the next morning returning back at a hostel too inebriated to pack in time!
Check The Fun Ratings
As previously mentioned, staying in hostels and guesthouses are a great way to meet new people. Be careful though as some can be just as dull and boring as regular hotels. Make sure then that you check out possible places on hostel review sites and specifically check their "fun" rating. You'll probably be able to see whether they offer special backpacker [http://www.gapdaemon.com/] nights like trips out to local amenities too!
Book On To Organised Tours
If your hostel or guesthouse offers organised tours to local points of interest why not book a place? They'll often be a lot of travellers thinking and doing the same and what better way to get chatting than while travelling around seeing the local sights? There'll be common grounds for conversation and you'll have plenty of time to chat with a group of people without having to worry about closing times, moving on or the chance of them making a swift exit!
Share
Got some interesting hints and tips to share? Picked up some interesting looking food from a local market? Offering to share what you have, both in the physical and mental terms, is often a great way to break the ice with people and begin a conversation. A typical backpacker [http://www.gapdaemon.com/] would probably offer a local beer or two, but feel free to offer whatever. A hint or tip on how to get to a place or what to see is just as good. It's the sharing that counts!
