Why I Make Plans with Strangers On Trips

Travel can get us out of our comfort zone, teach us about ourselves, and allow us to learn new cultures. I want to broaden my horizons and meet new people and that's why I make plans with strangers and make friends while on vacation.

Okay, so they aren't entirely strangers, but they are people I've never met before. When I plan trips, I want to go where locals go. I want them recommendations for their favorite places. I use Facebook groups and pages I'm a part of to reach out to people in destinations I'm headed to and I'll ask them to give me their must-do restaurants, because I love eating great food. 

An awesome coffee shop we met a new friend at in Vancouver

This gives you a great opening to ask them more questions about why they like the places they picked and if they're close to anything else you want to do. It's this point that I ask if they'd like to come out and have coffee or dinner with us, because they obviously have good taste and we get a chance to spend time with others in a relaxed environment. 

You already have something to talk to them about, because you're on their territory - eating at their favorite establishment in their city. I've made real life friends this way. In fact, I met a new friend in Vancouver, BC, and then was able to meet up with her again in Vegas and also here in Portland. We give each other recommendations for our respective cities or ask the other to go check out places we've heard about to see if it's cool and worth time on our next trip. She also tells people that we are fun and worth meeting up with when she sees me post for other destination requests. 

Our dinner was as good as this photo is bad :)

Maybe you don't use Facebook, but you can use Instagram or Threads to find new friends that will happily give you there reccs and want to meet up with people to show off their city. While it doesn't always work out, it's still a wonderful way to learn about restaurants, coffee shops, and even attractions for your trip, plus it saves you time scouring the internet for strangers to tell you what they liked and didn't, which may or many not align with your own likes/dislikes. 

People are always eager to tell you about what they love and why, but they can also give you ideas based on what they know about you, or can ask you questions to better help you. Yes, I love a good sit-down restaurant, but tell me about your favorite food truck or independently-owned coffee shop. Tell me what you order all the time, because it's so good. 

Send me to the best hole-in-the-wall bar, boutique shop, or attraction that flies under the radar. I want it all. And while our schedules may not line up while I'm in town, I'm absolutely going to tell you how much I loved it after I've been there and thank you profusely for it. I also may just ask you to make reservations, too, because I made reservations for the wrong day that one time and felt like an idiot, but we went somewhere nearby that they also enjoyed and I think it was better and less stuffy. 

So, yeah. Meet strangers and go to their favorite places with them, if you can. It gives you a local's insight into your destination and helps you make friends, too. 

Have you ever done this?