How to Make Friends in Days in a City Where You Know No One
A solo visitor posted that she was in town, then went to a book club and met members for dinner and a market lunch.
Laura Payette arrived in Barcelona knowing no one in town. During the week, she attended a book club gathering, went out to dinner, and out to lunch at a market, all with women from the group she had not known beforehand.
Her method was simple. She had joined the Barcelona chapter of Girls Gone International, a women's international group, and posted to say she was visiting.
After she posted, she joined a book club discussion one night, met one member for dinner another night, and met another member for lunch at a market one afternoon. Payette wrote that she "just so happened to have read the book" they were discussing about two and a half years earlier, so she could join the discussion.
To try it, find the chapter for the city you will visit, join online, and post that you are in town. Say yes to the weeknight dinner or daytime market lunch.
Payette met several women that week, none of whom she had met before. Start with one short post and let members suggest plans.
Questions people ask
How far in advance should I join and post?
Join online before you travel so you can see the rhythm of posts and events. A note a few days to a week before arrival, with your exact dates and neighborhood, gives members time to respond without letting the thread go stale.
What should I say in the post?
Keep it short and specific. Give your dates, where you are staying in general terms, and what you enjoy, like books, food, or markets. Then ask what is already happening while you are there.
How do I meet people from an online group safely?
Meet in public places, keep your own transport, and tell someone where you will be. Daytime markets and group meetups like book clubs are good first meetings, and it is fine to leave if plans change.