Finding meet-ups and friends while travelling solo

Finding meet-ups and friends while travelling solo

Author: Fluent in 3 Months July 24, 2025 Duration: 12:52

In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share how I find meetups and make meaningful friendships while traveling solo. Back when I started my nomadic journey over 22 years ago, it was surprisingly easy—I relied on just a few websites like Couchsurfing and Meetup, and that was enough to connect with interesting people wherever I went. Nowadays, things are more complicated. Oversaturation and generic events make it harder to find truly like-minded people. I still go to general meetups, but I focus on connecting with a few individuals and asking them about local resources—like WhatsApp groups, niche websites, or interest-based communities that aren’t easily found online.

My current strategy involves using meetups as a gateway to discover more private or targeted groups. For example, in Bali I found a great language exchange through a platform called Nomio—something I wouldn’t have discovered without asking around. I also lean on tools like AI for deeper research when Google and Facebook Events don’t cut it. Recently in Denver, AI helped me find an ASL meetup I’d never have found otherwise. There’s no one-size-fits-all tool anymore, but if you show up, ask questions, and stay open, you’ll uncover great communities and build genuine friendships wherever you are.


If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with Benny at languagehacking.com/chat.

And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here!

Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:
Instagram: @irishpolyglot
Thread: @irishpolyglot
TikTok: @irishpolyglot


There’s a certain magic that happens when you step off a plane and try to order a meal in a language you’re still fumbling through, or when a simple conversation with a stranger on a train opens up an entirely new perspective. Language & Travel Hacking, from the team behind Fluent in 3 Months, lives in those messy, authentic, and profoundly rewarding moments. Host Benny Lewis, a nomadic polyglot and best-selling author, doesn’t just theorize from a studio; he records from the road, sharing raw, real-time experiences and the practical strategies that actually work when you’re navigating a foreign market or building confidence in a new tongue. Each episode feels like a candid chat with a well-traveled friend who’s made all the mistakes so you don’t have to. You’ll hear the sounds of street markets and train stations in the background as Benny breaks down the psychology of language learning, offers actionable tips for picking up phrases quickly, and discusses how travel itself can be the ultimate classroom. This podcast is built on the idea that fluency and cultural connection aren’t distant goals reserved for the gifted, but accessible skills you can hack through smart, intentional practice. It’s for anyone who believes that the deepest way to explore a place is through its language, and that every journey is an opportunity to reshape how you see the world-and yourself. Tune in for honest stories and tangible advice that will change how you approach your next adventure, whether it’s across the globe or right in your own neighborhood.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 271

Language & Travel Hacking
Podcast Episodes
#92 Tom O’Neill on Language Learning for Introverts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:20
Fluent in 3 Months Challenge participant and coach, Tom, joins Shannon and Benny to talk about his building confidence and courage as an introverted language learner as a part of the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge.This epi…
#91 Manish on Juggling Multiple Languages [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:56
Long-time participant in the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge, Manish, joins Shannon and Benny to talk about his experience learning a wide variety of languages through many different methods.This episode features Manish, wh…
Ask Benny: St Patrick's Day / Seachtain na Gaeilge Special [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:54
This week’s Ask Benny is a celebration of the Irish language. Benny talks about some of his favourite websites for learning Irish, including dictionaries, media sites, and other useful resources. This special episode is…
#90 St. Patrick’s Day Special: Sadelle’s Irish Journey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:55
In this week’s special St. Patrick’s Day episode, Community Coach for the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge, Sadelle Wiltshire, talks with Elizabeth and Benny about learning Irish and joining the Challenge at an upper-beginne…
#89 Elena Guillén on Going from Dabbler to Consistent Learner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:06
Language dabbler and native Spanish speaker, Elena Guillén, speaks with Benny and Shannon about learning Hindi during the pandemic, as a part of the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge.This episode features Elena, who found the…
Ask Benny: How Do You Gather the Courage to Speak? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:05
In this episode Benny gives a pep-talk to help you find motivation and courage to start a conversation in your target language. It can be so tempting to avoid speaking, whether it's because you're shy, embarrassed, or sc…
#88 Cara Leopold on Fast-Talking Native Speakers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:19
Listening expert, Cara Leopold, talks with Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy about how she helps people improve their ability to understand fast-talking native speakers.For the majority of people, listening is the first la…
#87 John Fotheringham on “Anywhere Immersion” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:31
Language Mastery creator and author, John Fotheringham, joins Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy to discuss “anywhere immersion”, learning difficult languages, and finding the fun in language learning.John has a wealth of e…
Ask Benny: How Can I Find Content in a Less Common Language? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:54
In this week's "Ask Benny" episode, Benny addresses the problem of finding content in a less commonly spoken (or learned) language, and shares how he "trains" online algorithms to find the content he wants. He also revea…