While for some people this might not even be an issue, for others this is one of the biggest fears, when it comes to travelling alone: that they might eventually stay alone. Not everyone is an extroverted party animal, that is immediately the center of attention and talks to anyone with ease.
So, if you are more on the quiet, introverted side, but still want to meet new people, this might be for you.
Look for people who seem to be alone too
You just checked in at a new hostel, stored your stuff and took a shower. Then it is time to have a look in the common areas. While some people are obviously with their friends or even lovers, others might hang out on their own. Chances are that they are as well lonely backpackers looking for company, so try to approach them.
If you can find no one all alone, try to talk to the biggest group you see instead of smaller ones. Even though that might seem more intimidating and difficult at first, odds are they all just met half an hour ago and are still very open to include anyone who comes along.
How to start the conversation
For shy people this first step always requires a bit of courage, but keep in mind that the other person might just feel like you and would actually be thankful, if someone walked up and talked to them.
A simple “Hi, how you’re doing? What’s your name?” is usually already enough to get a conversation started. And then you are both in a very similar situation travelling, so there are actually many things to talk about. You can ask about where they’re from, where they’ve already been and where they are still planning to go. By then you might already have found some common ground and exchange travel advice or even decide to do that hike or go to that museum together.
Every now and then you might encounter a person, that really wants to stay alone and not interact, but don’t let that discourage you. The majority of backpackers are very friendly and open-minded people, so just try with someone else.
If you are really struggling to approach new people or you are trying to get the attention of a bigger group, you can also just ask about something you don’t know or where a certain thing in the hostel kitchen is. This way people notice you and might then themselves ask the usual small talk questions.
Travel friends are friends for the moment
When you are travelling people are usually coming and going. With some you might have fun for one night, with others you hang out for a week and with some you might even decide to travel together for a while.
But what is almost certain is that at some point you will have to say fare well and everyone goes their way, wherever that is. So, you should be careful to not get too attached to people, because to be frank a lot of them you will never see again.
However, at the same time, if you really get along well with someone and feel that there is a deeper connection, don’t hesitate to stay in touch and meet again in another part of the world.