Life of a solo traveler can be very self rewarding in many ways. In fact, many backpackers choose to travel solo for numerous reasons such as ultimate freedom, inner-discoveries, and a big confidence boost. There are however, some downsides such as loneliness. (Read my blog on Six ways to beat Loneliness as a Digital Nomad, there are some great tidbits in there!)
When times get tough, or even if you just want a new travel bud, or partner in crime… follow these tips on how to strike up a conversation with a stranger and you will have new friends in no time!
Offer to take a picture for someone, or ask them to do it for you!
This is my favorite way to start up conversations with people, and that is why I put it first!
What I usually say is “Hey, would you like me to take that picture for you guys?”, and put the most amount of effort into it as possible. Then, I ask for a photo in that same spot. After that, it is super easy to engage in conversation with that person or those people. I especially love this when there is a group of people, then you have a whole bunch of people to hang with, and options to join some of them on their next travels. This also increases the chances that out of everyone, there will definitely be someone you can really click with, and enjoy some great conversations!
“Where are you from?”
So simple, yet so effective. Once someone tells you, there is a plethora of topics you can talk about, from inquiring information about their Country, to talking about famous landmarks you know about there. When it comes time to you speaking about your own Country, that is probably the EASIEST ice breaker out there-because it is your country, you know everything about it, or so you should at least!
“Where else/How long have you been traveling?”
I love this one because once you ask, you better get your notepad out… you are about to receive a TON of information! If you are interested in traveling to more countries, and want to learn about them from a traveler’s perspective-this is your chance! People love talking about where they have recently traveled to, I call it mountaintop syndrome, where you are so excited about something you want to scream about it from a mountaintop!
“Wow, I love your _____! Where did you get it?”
Compliments go so far with everyone. Please be authentic about it though, if you genuinely like something on someone, say it! Do you remember a majority of the times when someone has complimented you? That positive feeling stays with you for a long time. A bonus to this is, once this person feels the positivity from your compliment, they are more willing to join you for something to do, whether it be going for a bite to eat, or joining forces on a new adventure!
“What are you guys up to? Mind if I join you? That sounds like fun!”
This one does take a bit more courage, but that courage is muchly respected in the solo traveler world. If you see people congregated around the hostel lobby, ask them what they are planning on doing that day. Be aware that this doesn’t work 100% of the time, but pretty close. There are many times this has worked for me, mainly because I feel that the confidence needed to ask is admirable, but also because the more people you have on a tour, the cheaper it can be for everyone!! A win-win for everyone! I just did this last week, I asked this nice guy what he was up to while he was in Marrakech, and he said he was thinking about hiring a driver to go to the exact place I wanted to see. So we joined up and went together the following day!
“Anyone hungry, and want to go find a bite to eat?”
Most people enjoy food culture and food exploring. It is something that brings us utmost joy to savour the culinary dishes of the new land, and to share that experience with someone else! If you see people at your Guest house or hostel sitting around, ask them if they are interested in going to find a cool spot together! Even ask the front desk at the hostel if anyone has inquired recently about a good place to eat, then they can direct you to another solo traveler and you can join forces on a food expedition of your newly sought out environment!
If you noticed the picture above of me at a table with some people, this is in Vietnam, and how I met them is exactly how I just explained! I asked them if they wanted to go for food, and we went for food and then out for drinks afterwards. I am still friends with them to this date, in fact, one of them I just met up with in London and caught up over a bottle of wine!
A simple smile, eye contact, and a nice “hello”
A smile is the universal hello, and you can tell a lot about a person in how they smile back at you. Simply fill your heart with love, look at someone in the eyes, and flash them a toothy authentic smile! Nothing lifts our moods more than a big, authentic smile from another person.
Sometimes some of these tactics may not work. Remember that as we travel, especially as a solo traveler, we are all on our own journey. Maybe in that moment, that person really wanted some solo reflection time, and they do not mean any harm when they deny you of joining together. Send them love, and try again with someone else!
With Love, Health, and Happiness,
The Fit Gypsy
For More Information, Visit: https://qacademy.ca/contact-us/
Image SourceNomadic LifestyleFor those suffering from a serious case of wanderlust, the digital nomad lifestyle can sound like the dream.
Seeing far-flung areas of the world and being immersed for extended periods in a new and exciting culture is the ultimate goal of today’s travel nomad.Backpackers have employed this nomadic lifestyle for years.
But, even so, the travel budget eventually runs out and backpackers are forced to take a local gig, or return back home for a period of time to build up their savings before going on their next adventure.This work, then play, alternating lifestyle creates its own problems.
Remote workers have the privilege to make any setting their office: from cafes in Paris, to hotel receptions in London, the beaches of Thailand, co-working spaces in New York, or the glacial plains of Iceland.Working while traveling buys you enough time to truly immerse yourself in a culture, to hang with the locals and to see and do more than the typical tourist.
It also means that rather than having a set travel budget that can be exhausted over time, digital nomads can set daily or weekly budgets that get replenished with their paychecks.
More recent statistics indicate nearly 70% of workers whose jobs can be done from home are now working remotely all or most of the time.Coworking spaces are popping up around the world to accommodate remote workers without regular offices.
If you’re a digital nomad, it’s always best to seek advice from a financial advisor about the taxes you’re liable to pay.
Cameron James offers the Digital Nomad Platform to help support your plan for your future.
Get advice from Experts about Digital Nomad tax residency.
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