How do you usually meet people while backpacking?
 

Hey tpunks, I've noticed quite a few questions over the last few months about how to meet people, and we all have our own particular way of doing it.

So... how do you usually meet other backpackers/locals while travelling?

Well, usually for me it starts when I enter my dorm. If there are people around I just say hi. That usually leads to asking all the annoying questions, but it breaks the ice. Then when im around the hostel I hang out in the common area. Just smile and say hi to people.

I agree about saying Hi to everyone in a dorm room, I mean if your going to be sleeping 10ft from these people you should at least introduce yourself. Other than that I have yet to find a hostel that didn't have some rugby fans in it.:D

I haven't travelled alone much, but whenever I use a hostel kitchen I always cook way too much food (I'm used to being able to save the leftovers at home!) so I'll often offer food to anyone nearby and that usually means they then eat with us and have a chat...
or if I've been in a city and know my way around a bit, and I hear people wondering where to go or how to get somewhere, I'll help them or offer to take them out. similarly if I've just arrived in a city and don't know what to do, I'll look for someone in the same predicament!

I just go to the bar and butt into people's converstations... :lol:

Well really it just means getting a drink and you'll end up near some people chatting. Especially at night once it gets busy it's basically a group atmosphere and you either wait for someone to say something to you or chime in if they have a friendly sort of vibe.

For the majority, I'd say I meet individual people who are reading on their own or doing something like that.

I usually try to avoid introducing myself to a pre-established group but instead 'starting' a new group, unless the pre-established group is very friendly, which I guess is half the time.

It's funny how hostel groups work... its like tiny tribes will form for a few days, then disperse, then new ones will form.

But for the majority of people I end up hanging out with... it seems just like I start talking/hanging out with them out of random occurance.

It's interesting how that works out. If you stick around for a while, you end up forming several of these groups and it's weird to see groups of friends come and go. I know in a hostel in Berlin, I met a guy in the elevator because these girls were being weird and we just laughed about it when they got off. I ended up chilling with him and his friends until they moved on. After they left, I had to start all over again, but it can be a fun experience. I usually just try to talk to small groups or other solo backpackers and go from there.

yeah, unless travelling with friends its more than likely you will be closer to your dorm mates than anyone else in the hostel. I usually just find a random group of backpackers and sit down next to them and slowly join in their conversation. This one time I was sitting down in Berlin and this British guy and American guy got me to settle their dispute of which is bigger-a pint or a litre? :p

Definitely alcohol. Social lubrication saves the day every time.