Whether you’re tired of the backpacker scene and endless hostel parties or just want to get more out of your trip and experience something new, it’s time to go local.
Hanging out with locals gives you the opportunity to truly experience a country and discover a new way of life. Not only will your host give you insight into cultural customs, actual local prices, tips to travel cheap, national politics, daily life and essential slang, but they might also even treat you to lunch, which can be great for the budget.
Unfortunately, many budget backpackers think that meeting locals is hard. Admittedly, a language barrier, the beaten backpacker path and the confines of backpacker only hostels really don’t help. But if you put yourself out there, stay open to forming new relations, and say ‘yes’ more, you’re going to make local friends.
Below are 5 strategies that will give you the best chance of making local friends while traveling abroad.
Hanging out with bouncers at a Guatemalan strip club. Some of the nicest guys I’ve met
1) Take A Course & Learn The Language
A lack of communication is perhaps the biggest barrier to meeting locals. Therefore it’s essential that you try and learn at least the basics. Check out this guide for language learning tips, “The Secret To Learning Languages.”
Depending on the country, you can usually find a 1 or 2 week language course for relatively cheap. It’ll teach you the basics and also introduce you to a group of likeminded language learners. Plus your teacher might just invite you and the class to a local party or even a festival like the one below.
As part of the Japanese course I was asked to join the annual summer parade. As part of the tradition we drank heavily, about 6 pints, that morning.
2) Hangout At Universities
If learning languages isn’t your thing, that’s not a problem. Most local kids around the world speak some level of English and this is especially true around Universities.
Recently, while looking for a hostel in San Salvador, I wandered into a large lecture hall at the National University of El Salvador. When the lecture concluded, I ended up talking to and getting lunch with a few students from class. One of them even offered me a couch to sleep on.
University of El Salvador
3) Sleep On A Local’s Couch
CouchSurfing.org is a brilliant concept that allows you to connect with a local host whose willing to offer you their couch for free. You can literally find thousands couches in almost every country in the world. It’s a great way to get to know a local and sleep for free. Plus, some hosts will even show you around their city and treat you to a meal or two.
Given a couch to sleep on by an Ethiopian family after failed hitchhiking attempts
4) Eat With Locals
WithLocals.com and EatWith.com are two awesome resources that connects you with a local dinner table. There’s no better introduction to local culture then by spending a dinner with a local family. For cheap home cooked meals in Asia, check out With Locals. From hip and classy local dining experiences from New York to Amsterdam, definitely have a look at Eat With.
Like Couch Surfing but for food.
5) Hitchhike
Hitchhiking is my preferred method of meeting locals. You don’t just get a free ride out of it but also the chance to converse with local people. Since most people who pick up hitchhikers have hitchhiked themselves, they’re often open minded, friendly, and have stories to share. For info on hitchhiking, check out “A Guide To Hitchhiking.”
Got picked up by some cool locals in an RV in Nicaragua.
Conclusion
Meeting locals is only as difficult as you want it to be. If you believe you’ll never make local friends and decide to just hang out with other backpackers, then it’s true, you never will make local friends. But if you swallow that bit of fear induced pride, venture out on your own, and attempt to talk to anyone about anything, you will make friends.
In my experience, learning some of the language can be one of the best ways to connect with locals. It makes it easier to break the social barrier and explain yourself.
Yea, definitely, even if you only learn a little bit, it really helps. It shows people you’re willing to make an effort and learn about their culture.
I love this post – I’ve found Couchsurfing and eating at local restaurants (and just talking to people there!) the best way to meet locals while travelling but I’ll definitely give withlocals.com a try now – i’ve never heard of it but it sounds great. Thanks!
Hey Victoria, thanks! Yea, it’s a really great concept. I’m going to give it a go as well next time I’m in Asia.
These are great tips for meeting locals in a foreign country! Me, I tend to go out of my way to start conversations with locals whenever I’m in bars and coffee shops. I also make friends with locals I come across with, like drivers, vendors, etc. :-) It all boils down to getting out of your comfort zone, but being respectful of their cultures at the same time.
Hey Marcello, thanks man. I’m the same way, it always beats sitting alone. I’m a bit addicted to it even. You said it, it just takes a hello. .
I heard of withlocals from a another site recently … I’ll have to give it a try very soon!
O nice, yea, it seems really interesting. Next time I’m in Asia I’m going to give it a go.
The idea of taking a language course while abroad is very appealing one. Thank you!
Hey Tara, I’ve actually never done it. But have a lot of friends who have. Next time I’m in Guatemala I think I will though.
Some great advice man! Always try to go out of my way to mingle with locals. It has opened up so many experiences in the past.
Cheers!
Hey Ruann, cheers! Always a good time hanging out with local kids.
Holy crap, 6 pints in the morning?! Hahaha You’ve got some great tips here Leif, ever since I started hitchhiking a few years ago I’ve never regretted the decision. It is truly a fear-induced factor that holds people back but once they step outside that comfort zone, people begin to get introduced to a whole different world (and a great one at that)!
Hey Ron, that was nuts. I can’t believe I didn’t puke that morning. They were Japanese firefighters in the country side. Yea, hitchhiking is great. I’m considering doing a hitchhike across the US soon.
Great tips here, thanks for sharing :) I definitely want to be mingling with the locals when I start my travels later this year!
Hey Catherine, thanks. Good luck on your travels!
Great tips!
Going to the less touristy towns or even walking back into neighborhoods and eating local in major cities can be good.
I even did some illegal labor on Crete (out of necessity-low funds) but had some colorful times.
Hey, cheers! Hanging out in a small off the path town is probably the best way. It really forces you to meet locals. Volunteering or working definitely builds some local friendships. Working in Crete sounds cool!
I think meeting locals is not hard, but I think it’s more about my attitude. I’m finding it hard to trust them or often feel unsafe. Trying to be more open-minded ;-)
I hear you. After being asked to buy stuff or follow people to a “great hotel” they know it’s easy to start believing that their only after your money. But that’s really not most people. Like notoriouskelly was saying, you can meet real people in the less touristy towns easier.
Hey Leif, great post. This is so true, especially if you’re traveling solo…it feels awesome to hang out with locals. Another great way is if you are on a bus. To be honest, I can’t even tell you how many people I’ve met on buses and trains…it’s a lot. If you’re going to be sitting next to someone or waiting in line next to someone for a bus, you may as well strike up some conversation…you never know where it can lead you.
Hey Marc, cheers! Solo is the way to go if you want to meet locals. That’s true, you gotta talk to everyone, even people sitting next to you on your flight, you never know. Just recently met a flight attendant in plain cloths, it was great to pick her brain and find out what it was like being a flight attendant for norwegian air. Going to do an interview with her soon.