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\ud83d\udcf8:@botanicohostel<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n There are so many ways to meet new travel buddies. I\u2019ve included a list of resources at the end of this article, such as specific Facebook groups, websites and apps. But sometimes, amazing travel companions can be found when you\u2019re already out there. One of my favourite memories is playing cards with three Dutch girls I met in my hostel<\/a> in the Chilean desert. We shared a fireside Easter feast of chicken, chips, red wine and chocolate under the starry skies with two adopted puppies – so random, but so much fun! There are also tonnes of group travel tours available, where you’re guaranteed to make mates from the moment you get there. Roamies<\/a> combines all the fun of hostels with amazing adventure travel itineraries. You’ll travel with a fun-loving group of perfect strangers, and become the best of friends by the time you leave.<\/p>\n Travelling with a stranger is always a bit of a gamble. Sometimes you can make lifelong friends, and sometimes they may just get on your nerves. But the beauty of travel lies in the unpredictable, and if your new roommate does your head in, it will at least make for a good story in the long run.<\/p>\n So, what about people who have done it before? How did it go?<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf8:@sampahostel<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \u200bCindy blogs about books and travel at BookOfCinz.com<\/a>. She met someone on Tourlina<\/a>, a free app that is geared towards female solo travellers.<\/p>\n \u201cIn December of last year I couldn\u2019t find someone to travel with me to Colombia, so I uploaded my trip details. The app asks you questions to match you with another traveller, such as: What age group do you want to travel with? Are you more of an outdoors person? Do you require time alone?<\/p>\n It turned out that both of us loved hiking and getting up early in the mornings, so we got to do just that.\u201d<\/p>\n Pros<\/b><\/p>\n Cons<\/b><\/p>\n \u200bCindy\u2019s tip<\/b><\/p>\n I would strongly advise people to connect with the person you will be travelling with. For me, we had video calls, chatted on Whatsapp and we added each other on social media. This helped us get to know each other a lot more.<\/p>\n Tom Bourlet from Spaghetti Traveller<\/a> travelled with strangers he met in Peru.<\/p>\n \u201cWe met in our hostel in Lima<\/u><\/a> and had a few drinks, which led to many more drinks! The next morning over breakfast, I asked them what they were up to that day and they mentioned they were going to Huacachina, an oasis in the middle of the desert. We had gotten on so well the night before, so I asked if I could join them and 2 months later I was still with them, eating steak in Argentina!\u201d<\/p>\n Pros<\/b><\/p>\n Cons<\/b><\/p>\n Tom\u2019s tip<\/b><\/p>\n Make sure your travelling relationship is mutually beneficial. You don\u2019t want someone constantly using your items, relying on your phone for Uber or expecting you to take on most of the work when it comes to tasks. You should both be slightly reliant on yourselves and slightly reliant on each other – both parties have to give equally.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf8:@kendra._graham<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Alex met someone while looking for specific visa information on The Thorn Tree<\/a>, Lonely Planet\u2019s much loved travel forum.<\/p>\n \u201cI was travelling to Iraqi Kurdistan, and it was quite difficult to find the right visa information online, so when I read a message from a Swedish guy on the forum asking the same questions, we started messaging each other and decided to travel together.<\/p>\n We took an amazing road trip, stumbling upon festivals, great day hikes and monuments along the way. One day we even ended up at the Iraq\/Iran border, where we had tea and sang with a local shepherd high up in the mountains. It\u2019s been one of my favourite trips so far.\u201d<\/p>\n Pros<\/b><\/p>\n Cons<\/b><\/p>\n Alex\u2019s tip<\/b><\/p>\n Be open to learning from them and prepare to be pushed out of your comfort zone, especially if you\u2019re a solo traveller.<\/p>\n Samantha<\/a> decided to travel with a whole bunch of strangers and joined a group tour in Japan.<\/p>\n \u201cI have to say I absolutely loved my experience in Japan. It was something I will never ever forget and I wasn’t nervous one bit – the adrenaline took over. It’s a great way of becoming more independent and understanding the surrounding culture.<\/p>\n The people on my tour were from all around the world (America, Ireland, Australia, Canada, South Africa, UK) and some of us instantly clicked, so we were constantly together. We spent time in karaoke bars, on walking tours and even climbed a mountain!\u201d<\/p>\n Pros<\/b><\/p>\n Cons<\/b><\/p>\n Samantha\u2019s tip<\/b><\/p>\n Allow yourself some breathing space from time to time.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf8:@threeelegs<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Backpacker Effy<\/a> used the Girls LOVE Travel Facebook group<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a great place to get travel inspiration and knowledge from women from different parts of the world. I finally decided to take the plunge last year when I was in Bali and meet with someone from the group who was also travelling.\u201d<\/p>\n Pros<\/b><\/p>\n Cons<\/b><\/p>\n Effy\u2019s tip<\/b><\/p>\n Just stay open to meeting new people. Despite none of us having met before it felt like we\u2019d known each other for a lifetime. That was six months ago and I still talk to the girls now!<\/p>\n \u201cI met my soon-to-be best friend, Bryana, while we were on a plane to Thailand. We both had plans to travel solo to the same countries, so when Bryana asked if I wanted to travel with her, I jumped at the chance!<\/p>\n We took a 4-hour bus to Chiang Mai and then a 2-3 hour bus through the mountains to Pai, and we just clicked. We talked about our families, our hometowns (we lived in the same state, only one hour from each other), our love of travel, our list of conquered countries, and our dreams and plans for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n Pros<\/b><\/p>\n Cons<\/b><\/p>\n Katy\u2019s tip<\/b><\/p>\n Don’t expect everything to magically work together. Get comfortable with hearing “no” and don’t take things personally.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf8:@thelosthostels<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Diva met a fellow kayaker on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had been Insta friends for a few years, and at the time I was a Judge\u2019s assistant at the World Freestyle Kayaking Championships, so I got behind the scenes access. I knew he was coming to Asheville, so I offered him a lift from Atlanta. We ended up taking a road trip to the Rocky Mountains National Park and did a spot of rafting at Tallulah Gorge.\u201d<\/p>\n Pros<\/b><\/p>\n Cons<\/b><\/p>\n Diva\u2019s tip<\/b><\/p>\n It\u2019s important to have open communication, and then you don\u2019t have to compromise so much.<\/p>\n Carmen used the find a travel buddy tool<\/a> from Thelma & Louise.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m 73, single, love to travel, and hate to pay a single supplement. I booked a couple of trips to Morocco and Belize and met my travel partner on the first night. I was paired up with people who were much younger than me, and I learned as much from these two women as I did from being on the trip. They were both interesting, kind and inquisitive – just a joy to be with.\u201d<\/p>\n Pros<\/b><\/p>\n Cons<\/b><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf8:@fernwehbackpackers<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n As you\u2019ll see from all of these stories, travelling with strangers can create completely different experiences. If you\u2019re planning to travel with a stranger, it\u2019s best to get to know them on social media first, be open minded and anticipate that it might not always be smooth sailing. While it might seem like hard work, putting yourself out there can create some unforgettable moments that will make you stronger in the end!<\/p>\n Here are a few great resources to find your new travel buddy.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n Are you thinking about travelling with a stranger? Have you done it before and have some extra tips? Get chatting in the comments below.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udf1f Best places to travel solo as a female<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf1f 10 best places to travel alone<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf1f Easy ways to meet people while travelling alone<\/a><\/p>\nHow to find strangers to travel with<\/h2>\n
The pros and cons of travelling with strangers<\/h2>\n
Pros of travelling with a stranger<\/h3>\n
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Cons of travelling with a stranger<\/b><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nCindy\u2019s story<\/h2>\n
Cindy\u2019s pros and cons of travelling with a stranger<\/h3>\n
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Tom\u2019s story<\/h2>\n
Tom\u2019s pros and cons of travelling with a stranger<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nAlex\u2019s story<\/h2>\n
Alex\u2019s pros and cons of travelling with a stranger<\/h3>\n
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Samantha\u2019s story<\/h2>\n
Samantha\u2019s pros and cons of travelling with strangers<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nEffy\u2019s story<\/h2>\n
Effy\u2019s pros and cons of travelling with strangers<\/h3>\n
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Katy\u2019s story<\/h2>\n
Katy\u2019s pros and cons of travelling with strangers<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nHiking Diva\u2019s story<\/h2>\n
Diva\u2019s pros and cons of travelling with strangers<\/h3>\n
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Carmen\u2019s story<\/h2>\n
Carmen\u2019s pros and cons of travelling with strangers<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nApps and websites to help you travel with strangers<\/h2>\n
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Download the Hostelworld app now to connect with fellow travellers!<\/h3>\n
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<\/a>\u00a0Keep reading:<\/h2>\nAbout the author:<\/h2>\n