Vacations Blog

Beth Whitman

By Beth Whitman
Excerpted from Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo

One of the most interesting and exciting parts of travel is encountering new people from around the world. Whether you meet other travelers also visiting your destination or you befriend locals once you arrive, these new friends are sure to make your travels memorable. While it doesn’t take a lot of energy to meet others, sometimes it does take a conscious effort.

Everyone you come into contact with on the road is a potential new friend. As you travel solo, hotel staff will see that you are on your own and be friendlier, the barista or wait staff from the coffee shop will welcome the chance to chat with a newcomer, and a compliment to the chef may get you invited into the kitchen. If you’re staying in one spot for a few days and you’re seen making nice with the locals, this could very well save you from being hassled by any neighborhood thugs.

Betty Ann, who traveled to 70 countries in her nine years as a tour guide, learned quickly how to connect with people. “Talk to your cab driver or the guest-services person at the hotel to learn about their favorite restaurant, or ask your guide where he or she would go. If you ask, “Where’s your favorite spot?’ many people will open up because you want to get to know about their life rather than just going where the guidebooks suggest.”

If you’re staying in one location for more than a few days, you can often make local friends if you frequent the same place for coffee or meals. You’ll have a better chance of being remembered if you are warm, friendly, and ask questions. While teaching English in Saigon for two months, I stopped by a small café each day for a mang cau shake. Not only did I love the sweetness of this fresh fruit drink, but I made fast friends with the two gals who ran the shop (and I put on a few pounds, as well).

Beth Whitman is offering a tour to Bhutan with opportunities to meet the locals

If you’re traveling to a non-English-speaking country, it’s easier than you think to meet locals. With the exception of the most remote areas, someone will speak English. And if you can’t find someone who can understand you, take the opportunity to crack open your phrasebook, and practice the local language. Start with your hotel clerk, waitress or taxi driver, all of whom may provide you with insight into their culture if you just start asking questions.

Volunteering can be a splendid way to meet other people and occupy your time if you’ll be spending more than a few days in one location. Offer to help out in a hospital, orphanage, or school once you arrive. If you have a special skill, such as in medicine, teaching or cooking, present your services to an appropriate facility. To save money and meet lots of people, you may even be able to “volunteer” at your hotel or guest house, or at the neighborhood café in exchange for room and board or free meals.