If, like us, you’ve seen “People We Meet on Vacation” — Netflix’s latest romcom trending on social media, then you know there’s something magical about the people we cross paths with when we step outside of our routines.
A vacation changes us. It softens our edges, opens our curiosity, and nudges us out of our comfort zones. It’s a great way to discover yourself, which is why traveling solo has been dubbed as “soul searching,” and in this fast-paced area where connections are often fleeting or through a screen, people are constantly craving for organic encounters and lasting relationships.
If you want to become the kind of “vacation you” who meets new people, makes memories, and brings a little bit of serendipity into your trips, here’s how.
Book Hostels or Local Guesthouses
Staying somewhere social instead of isolated hotels instantly increases your chances of meeting fellow travelers or locals. Hostels and guesthouses, or places designed to be shared spaces, make connections feel effortless rather than forced. These stays often have long communal tables, shared common rooms, open kitchens, and even rooftop lounges where you can easily start conversations over coffee, maps, or a simple, “Where are you headed next?”
Cities like Hong Kong have several social hostels in prime districts like Tsim Sha Tsui or Sheung Wan, where plenty of tourists and locals meet up for night markets, shopping sprees, or late-night dim-sum runs.
Located in the Tokwawan neighborhood isThe Mahjong — Hong Kong’s first boutique hostel. This property is conveniently located close to a number of bus and subway stations, and is close to both city districts like Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok, and coastal towns. The hostel has a large social lounge where you can meet new people, as well as custom-built bunk beds that are comfortable and secure, with personal light and electric sockets, keycard security lockers, and privacy screens. Room prices start from HK$270 per night. You can learn more about the property here.
Join Walking Tours
Instead of driving around from one point to the next, why not try going on foot? Walking and small group tours take the pressure off connections. You don’t have to perform, initiate, or impress as you’re simply there listening, observing, and occasionally turning to the person beside you to whisper a comment or share a laugh.
Singapore’s walking tours feel well-suited for making new connections because the city reveals itself in layers. A heritage walk through Chinatown or Little India invites conversations about food, cultural rituals, and family as you visit various temples and shophouses. In Tiong Bahru, art and architecture tours are great for creative learning, so you’ll find more people here who linger and ask questions, and who are more likely to grab coffee afterwards to talk more about the places you’ve visited.
Good conversations are often the easiest over good food, so go on food crawls across some of Singapore’s most popular Hawker centers, where small talk can turn into something warmer. These can easily be booked via travel sites like Klook.
If you want something more cinematic, there are also sunset or night walking tours along Marina Bay or the Singapore River, which creates that magical rom-com scene: golden city lights against beautiful architecture, and conversations that drift from travel plans to real life.
Choose Slow Travel
Slow travel is more than just a trend, but one of the biggest shifts in how people are exploring the world this year. Rather than hopping from landmark to landmark like a checklist or going through a packed itinerary, slow travel invites you to live within a place for days or weeks at a time, pacing yourself with the city and living like a local.
The magic of slow travel isn’t just that you see more, it’s that you feel more. It gives you the chance to return to the same local café three mornings in a row, where the barista begins to greet you by name, or to swap stories with a fellow traveler already on their third week in town. These connections are born out of rhythm, not itinerary.
Malaysia is best explored at a slower pace. Rush between cities and you’ll miss its many layers. Swap guidebooks for a bicycle ride throughPenang’s George Town, where colorful shophouses, hidden street art, and easy small talk with stall owners turn everyday moments into memories. In Kuala Lumpur’s Kampung Baru, linger over teh tarik(hot milk tea beverage) and keep returning to the same kopitiams to try something new each time. You’ll soon find that shared meals make you a familiar face, and that food is often all it takes to turn strangers into friends.
Take a Class
Enrolling in a class or workshop is not only a great way to learn something new, but one of the easiest ways to meet people naturally. After all, you already have a shared goal, curiosity, and the skill to bond over.
In Bangkok, tryThai cooking classes where you can learn to make iconic dishes like Pad Thai or Green Curry alongside other travelers and locals. It’s a fun learning experience where you can laugh over a too-spicy sauce and swap tips on where to find the best street food in the city.
If you want something a little different, you can select from a number of Thai craft workshops, such as fruit carving or batik painting. These hands-on experiences are instant conversation starters, and by the end of it, you won’t only walk away with a new skill and a souvenir, but also shared memories and perhaps a friend or two.
Download ‘Connecting’ Apps
Making connections on your trip doesn’t have to be left to chance. Sometimes, all we need is a little push to know where the events are taking place and which trending spots people are often hanging out. If you’re ready to make that connection, there are mobile apps and online platforms that make meeting locals and fellow travelers easy — no matter where you are in the world.
Meetup is perfect for joining local events, interest groups, and hobby meetups. From language exchanges in Bangkok and book clubs in Manila to hiking groups in Malaysia, Meetup lets you tap into the community and helps you become part of it. You can join here.
You can also try Skout, a location-based social networking platform that focuses on social discovery beyond romantic connections. The app has a Passport feature, which can help you get in touch with people traveling in over 100 countries worldwide and specializes in instant connections with locals and fellow travelers. They even have a playful “Shake to Chat” function that connects users in a spontaneous way as the app pairs you with a person who shakes their phone at the same time as you. The app is available for iOS and Android.
Other apps to keep on your radar include:
- Travello – A social network app built for travelers to share experiences, find travel buddies, and join interest groups. Download on the Apple Store and Google Play.
- Withlocal Tours & Travel – an app that into you to locals in the city you’re in. Better than any guidebook, this app connects you with someone who can take you on unique tours and food experiences — letting you explore like a local. Download on the Apple Store and Google Play.
