When I moved to New Zealand six year ago, hot off the plane from Washington, D.C., I wasn鈥檛 quite sure what I鈥檇 gotten myself into. Jet-lagged and confused, I was struck by the enormous wall of tourism brochures as I checked into my hotel, a seemingly endless array of听sports and Lord of the Rings鈥�themed attractions.

If one country dominates adventure tourism, it鈥檚 New Zealand, the tiny pacific wilderness at the bottom of the world. A sparsely populated destination full of volcanoes, glaciers, rainforests, alpine deserts, and rare birds that can鈥檛 fly, the country鈥檚 got it all. What do you expect from the place that invented bungee jumping and听calls itself the birthplace Sir Edmund Hillary?

It didn鈥檛 take long for me to learn that the national pastime is 鈥渄oing bombs鈥濃€攋umping off things. Here are my picks for eight of the best adventures you can have in New Zealand.

Get Down and Dirty on a 鈥淩ight Proper Tramp鈥�

Here鈥檚 a听tip for you to fit in like a local in New Zealand: instead of hiking,听we say tramping,听which, if I鈥檓 being honest here, is much more fitting of a听word. I feel like hiking implies nicely groomed trails, rest stops, and serviced huts. New Zealand tramping is often more hardcore.听In fact, I鈥檓 fairly sure the philosophy here to climb mountains is:听Why build a trail when you can just go straight up?听

Most backcountry tramping听involves climbing mountains using tree roots as a ladder or shimmying across precarious three-wire bridges (or just plain old river crossings) and wading through mud up to your chest. Personally, I think that makes things all the more exciting, but听check in with the听 for updates and the听 to plan听accordingly. Rescuing ill-prepared tourists in the mountains is starting to get old in our local news.

Test Your Nerves While Blackwater Rafting in a Glowworm Cave

The glowworm caves are one of New Zealand鈥檚 most unique features. As if huge, ancient subterranean caverns weren鈥檛 enough,听many of them are covered in twinkling blue glowworms that shine like stars above you. They are, in fact, bright shiny maggots attracting their dinner with dangling poo, but from a distance, they鈥檙e听beautiful. The best glowworm adventure you can find is in Waitomo, on the North Island, on . You鈥檒l zip into a thick wetsuit before heading deep into the caves to听slide,听swim, float, rappel, zip line, and jump听along in an underground听canyoning adventure beneath a ceiling of blue stars with an inner tube.听

Hit Some Untouched Powder and Go Heli-Skiing in Wanaka

New Zealand鈥檚 winter is shorter and occurs at the opposite time of year than the Northern Hemisphere, running from mid-June to mid-September, give or take, and our ski culture is as tough and wild as you might expect from a place where rope tows reign supreme on the club fields (basically tiny ski areas). But perhaps the ultimate snow adventure听is to go heli-skiing in our endless backcountry. With terrain for intermediate riders and experts, last year I joined with my friends, led by 听and guided by Lydia Bradey, the first woman to ascend Mount Everest without oxygen (she鈥檚 made six听summits of the peak since). While it took a run to get the听hang of powder riding, after that it was an absolute dream ripping through waist-deep freshies and flying around the mountains overlooking my home area of Lake Wanaka.

Throw Yourself Off Something Big in Queenstown

The world鈥檚 first commercial bungee jump was invented near Queenstown, at the Kawarau River, by AJ Hackett, and the adventure capital of the world doesn鈥檛 disappoint. Thrills come easy in this stunning alpine town, you just have to pick your poison. Whether it鈥檚 a 439-foot plunge off the fearsome Nevis bungee jump听or getting kicked This is Sparta! style from听the frightening , adrenaline is always on offer in Queenstown. If you鈥檙e gonna do something crazy, this is the place to do it. Just be smart about it and tell your parents听after, not before.听

Take in the Epic Volcanic Landscape

Part of the infamous Pacific Ring of Fire, New Zealand is colloquially known as the Shaky Isles for a good reason. Earthquakes abound here, as the ground quite literally shifts and moves beneath our feet. This means there are plenty of geothermal hot spots that beckon visitors to visit. Rotorua, on the North Island, is the epicenter of many geothermal wonders, and you鈥檙e听acutely aware of this as soon as you arrive in the city. The sulfuric smell lingers, and steam rises听over parts听of the town. Nearby Tongariro National Park offers the most popular day hike, the Tongariro Crossing, a 19.4-mile alpine trek听that weaves its way among a volcanic landscape, including past Mount Doom from The Lord of the Rings.

Go Whitewater Rafting on the Remote Landsborough River

With plenty of mountain rivers in New Zealand, there鈥檚 no shortage of places to go whitewater rafting. But hands down, my pick for best adventure in this country is rafting the Landsborough River. Hidden away in the听heart of the Southern Alps between Wanaka and the west coast, it鈥檚 an area so far off the grid that the only access is on听multi-day tramps through some very dense and unforgiving landscapes or via听helicopter. A bucket-list item for many intrepid kiwis, flies you up into the mountains, where you begin a three-day journey rafting back out on the Landsborough River. You won鈥檛 see another soul, but you will get a real glimpse of what New Zealand used to look like before humans arrived (and trashed it), and more than once you鈥檒l probably be hit with a notion that you鈥檙e in Jurassic Park.

Voyage Through the Roaring Forties听to the New Zealand听Subantarctic Islands

Most people know about the country鈥檚 three main islands鈥攖he North Island, South Island, and Stewart Island鈥攁ll of which are relatively easy to access if you don鈥檛 mind flying for approximately one听million hours to get here from anywhere besides Australia. But very few people know or are aware of the incredible group of subantarctic islands located听between the main islands and Antarctica. Unpopulated but absolutely teeming with wildlife, you have to traverse the roughest seas in the world, the Southern Ocean, on an ship with if you wish to step foot on these lands, but let me tell you, every day you spend with your face in the toilet will be worth it as soon as you walk among听thousands of penguins or beneath enormous albatross.

Fly Up to Fox Glacier听for an Icy 国产吃瓜黑料

There are only two places in the world where glaciers drop down all the way to temperate rainforests instead of thriving only on remote mountain peaks, and New Zealand is one of them. Fox Glacier is eight miles long,听a veritable river of blue ice听winding听its way down from the back of Aoraki, New Zealand鈥檚 highest peak, toward听the Tasman Sea. Stunning to behold, normally glaciers like this are only accessible to elite and experienced climbers, but on Fox Glacier, there鈥檚 a booming business in :听you quickly fly up to the glacier, where you鈥檙e then guided through ice caves, down crevasses,听and more.听

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I鈥檝e traveled the world, usually without a partner. And I鈥檝e found that this style of travel, more than any other, fosters an appreciation for place and community. Here are a few tips I鈥檝e learned over the years to make the most of going it alone.听听

Stay Social

Locals and fellow travelers can be invaluable founts of knowledge. One of the best ways to connect with them is through single-friendly, social accommodation. Check out homestays for a true residential experience (and try to pick up听some of the local language so that you can engage with your host). Hostels and guesthouses, where you鈥檒l mingle with other like-minded travelers, are also great options and can be easier to coordinate.

If you鈥檙e out in a caf茅, or maybe waiting for a bus, avoid fixing your gaze on your phone or book, as you may miss out on important interactions that could make your trip a whole lot more interesting.

Be Prepared

When you travel solo, you need to become self-reliant, so get yourself organized well in advance with money, visas, and vaccinations, as well as travel insurance for any unfortunate eventualities. And book at least one or two nights鈥� accommodation for when you arrive at your destination, so you can land firmly on your solo-traveling feet.

Stay Safe

Get clued up about your destination with advice from other solo female travelers on听 or other forums, as well as female-specific safety tips on听. Dressing appropriately to respect听local customs is important in some countries to avoid offending anyone or drawing attention to yourself, so check your guidebook for details.

Leave a copy of your itinerary and travel documents with a friend or family member, and register your trip with the听 if you鈥檙e in the U.S.,听 in Australia, or the equivalent in your own country. Arrange to check in with a family member or friend on a regular basis, so that one person back home is always aware of your location.

Pack Light

This has never come naturally to me, but I do admit it makes sense, so I鈥檝e refined my techniques over the years. To lighten your load, don鈥檛 pack heavy items, wear layers and convertible clothes, and leave one-time听outfits at home. You鈥檒l enjoy听the benefits when your luggage doesn鈥檛 weigh as much and听you鈥檙e jumping on and off airport buses or climbing stairs in accommodation where there鈥檚 no elevator (in Europe especially, where elevators are hard to come by). I also pack a comfy change of clothes for long-haul flights and wear my heaviest shoes on the plane to save baggage weight.

Don鈥檛 Overschedule

Conducting a bit of advance research on stuff you鈥檇 like to do and see at your destination will mean you won鈥檛 miss out on the important bits. However, don鈥檛 book out every minute of every day. You want to allow room for spontaneous outings, plus you won鈥檛 exhaust yourself by trying to do everything.

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As a lifelong solo traveler and a writer who has made it my mission to inspire as many people as possible to听, I鈥檓 constantly bombarded with questions, anxieties, and doubts from would-be adventurers worried about going it alone. What if they get lost, sick, stranded, or worse?听It certainly doesn鈥檛 help when major news outlets like The New York Times focus on the bad side of travel with articles titled 鈥溾€� That only gives fodder to our mothers to justify their 鈥渨hy can鈥檛 you just stay at home and be safe鈥� sermons. As if staying home is any safer than travel, right?听While it鈥檚 natural to be nervous before your first solo trip鈥攁nd things can indeed听go wrong鈥攖hat shouldn鈥檛 stop anyone from booking their dream vacation. In my experience, traveling by yourself is not only a lot safer than you might think, but it鈥檚 also incredibly rewarding. I鈥檝e also found that the best way to combat the fear is with knowledge. With that in mind, I racked my brain and came up with a list of six things everyone should know before they head abroad alone.

Ignore Everyone Who Doesn鈥檛 Give Real Advice

People love to plant seeds of doubt in your mind when you say you鈥檙e going on a solo adventure. Though that鈥檚 frustrating, I find it almost always comes from people who don鈥檛 travel at all. For example, before I visited Turkey a couple of years ago, everyone told me it was dangerous and that I was an idiot for going there alone, especially as a woman. But when I pressed and asked what their experience in the country was like, lo and behold, none of them had actually been there. So take any advice you receive with a grain of salt, and instead听do your own research and talk to travelers who鈥檝e actually been to the places you want to go. Instagram and the internet are brimming with people like me who love oversharing our adventures.

Be As Prepared As Possible (But Be Flexible, Too)

Speaking of advice, one of the most common tips you鈥檒l come across is to be open-minded and flexible when you travel. While you can prepare to the moon and back, you鈥檙e still going to get smacked in the face with surprises and mistakes. That鈥檚 part of what makes international travel so fun and life changing. That said, there鈥檚 a big difference between going with the flow and rolling into a city like Paris when you鈥檙e on a tight budget without a place to stay, only to find that every hostel is full (like I did on my first solo trip).

Doing a bit of research and prep work goes a long way. Make a list of the places you鈥檙e planning on visiting,听look into the risks those places might present and ways to mitigate them, and check for tips specific to the areas you鈥檙e planning on visiting. Nowadays, at a minimum, I have my flights booked in advance听and my first night鈥檚 accommodation booked, so that when I arrive, I am guaranteed to have somewhere to stay. Then I usually have an outline of what I want to do during听my trip and play the rest by ear. After all, some of the best suggestions or ideas won鈥檛 come up until you鈥檙e on the ground. I would听never have visited , in southern Italy, one of the coolest places I鈥檝e ever been, if I hadn鈥檛 met a couple of grandmas on an island in Greece who raved about it.

Share Your Plan with Others

Another blinding flash of the obvious, I know, but no matter where you鈥檙e traveling, it鈥檚 a good idea to share your plans, even if they鈥檙e tentative, with someone, and check in regularly. This is especially true if you will be out of communication for an extended period of time. I often go out hiking alone for days without service, and I always make sure to give an ETA to friends who can alert the authorities if I don鈥檛 show up when I鈥檓 supposed to. And even though I take an average of 100 flights per year, my mom still has all my flight numbers and tracks them, and I check in with her when I land. I also pass along my hotel details to my family so they know a basic outline of where I鈥檒l be and when I’ll be there.

Embrace Your Gut Feelings

I鈥檓 not talking about that听rumble in your听stomach after eating a questionable street kebab in Bangkok, though if you鈥檝e read my piece on the听darker side of solo travel, you鈥檒l know to listen to those feelings, too. I鈥檓 talking about the听feeling that says, Hmm, this situation seems a bit weird听or This person is giving off odd vibes.听That sensation听should guide your solo travels. Do not ignore it. Embrace it, and get the hell away from whatever is causing it. The more travel you do, the better you鈥檒l get at reading new, unfamiliar situations, but until you鈥檝e fine-tuned your spider-sense, if something feels weird,听it probably is. So fuck politeness, and don鈥檛 try and make it work. Just move along and get somewhere safe.

Take Risks

That said, don鈥檛 be afraid to take risks. Some of the best experiences I鈥檝e ever had as a solo traveler came about by听saying yes to adventures and opportunities that I might not have done otherwise. So if the situation feels right, don鈥檛 be afraid to go out to dinner with people you鈥檝e just met听or spontaneously join a hike somewhere cool with fellow backpackers. Just tell someone what you鈥檙e doing first, OK?

It鈥檒l Be One of the Best Life Lessons

Here鈥檚 what the in this age of intense media scrutiny, true-crime podcasts, and an unhealthy love for the macabre: solo travel is one of the most rewarding and special experiences you can have in your lifetime. I don鈥檛 know if I鈥檝e ever met anyone who regretted it. Traveling alone opens your mind, broadens your horizons, and teaches you things about yourself you never knew, like how to be strong, confident, and competent without someone else to lean on. Just do it. Book the ticket and take the ride. You won鈥檛 regret it, I promise.

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It鈥檚 practically a daily occurrence to have someone ask me where I love to travel to the most, so I knew it was only a matter of time until my editor did the same. What a question. How can a mother choose her favorite child? That being said, while I might not be able to pick听one particular destination, I can easily select eight spots around the world that I love to pieces and would go back to in a heartbeat.

We all have our travel niches. Some travel in search of their next dose of adrenaline, others want to visit locations steeped in history. As a perpetual traveler who loves food, has a passion for nature, and is mildly obsessed with wildlife, my adventures tend to center around places听with unique local cuisine, crazy landscapes, and interesting animals (with bonus points if those animals can fly and even more if they can鈥檛 ). With that criteria in mind, it鈥檚 easy to see why I find the following destinations so bucket worthy.

1. The West Coast, New Zealand

As an America expat in New Zealand, I鈥檝e been just about everywhere in this听country, but the South Island鈥檚 wild west coast keeps calling me back again and again. The nation鈥檚 least-populated region, the west coast has crazy views, big mountains, stormy coastlines, and an abundance of birds like the , the second-rarest penguin on earth, which can occasionally be seen waddling around these isolated beaches at sunset. While the food situation is less than ideal due to the region鈥檚 remote听location, the coast makes up for it with charm and beauty, especially around the rugged beaches near . For a uniquely kiwi experience, stay in one of the coast鈥檚 many baches,听small, rustic cabins and huts found on the country鈥檚 coast. My absolute favorite is (from $250), which is hidden among the flax bushes overlooking a secret surf beach听near Woodpecker Bay. The off-the-grid cabin comes complete with a wood-fired hot tub and is one of the best spots to hide away and relax on the islands.

2. Asturias, Spain

There鈥檚 no doubt that Spain鈥檚 best-kept secret is , and here I am blabbing to the world about how awesome this rugged听region听is. About as far off the beaten tourist path as you can get, Asturias runs along the country鈥檚 northern coast and is filled with pleasant seaside villages complete with cute fishing boats, colorful house shutters, and even more colorful locals, who are always willing to show off their cider-pouring skills (trust me, it鈥檚 an art here). The area鈥檚 main hub is the picturesque town of Oviedo, located some 15 miles south of the Bay of Biscay. Inland Asturias is flanked by a stunning mountain range, the 8,000-foot Picos de Europa. It was the very heart of Christian Spain a millennium ago, but today it鈥檚 an incredible wilderness area few outside of the country听even know exists. Don鈥檛 miss out on hiking up to the Covadonga Lakes or walking along the , a tough six-and-a-half-mile trail in Picos de Europa National Park, for some of the best views of the mountains.

3. Canggu, Bali

I鈥檝e only recently discovered the incredible vibe that permeates this seaside on Bali鈥檚 southeastern coast. Normally, I shy away from places where my fellow foreigners congregate.听But by happy chance, Canggu called to me,听and I answered. Originally not much more than a bunch of rice paddies, the village now boasts a hip caf茅听and bar scene that can only be described as millennial catnip. Vegan acai听smoothie bowls, anyone? From the amazing vegetarian dishes at to the epic chef-concocted lunches at to watching the sunsets from , there鈥檚 no shortage of amazing and iconic spots to park yourself. Home to entrepreneurs, surfers, and generally happy folk who aren鈥檛 in a hurry, Canggu often sees travelers听visit and never leave. (from $250), a听luxury property that鈥檚 been there听long before the听expats descended, is a must-do splurge for those seeking听a bit of Balinese opulence.

4. South Georgia

I wonder what it says about me that one of my favorite places on earth has no permanent human residents. On , a far-flung subantarctic island 1,300 miles off the east coast of Argentina, elephant seals, albatross, and king penguins rule supreme. You must have a tough stomach, a keen sense of听adventure, and relatively deep pockets to be able to afford a spot on one of the听expedition ships bound for the island,听such as 鈥� purpose-built vessels, which run a few trips to the polar region each austral summer (November to March). Because听South Georgia is even farther than the Antarctic Peninsula, the trips there take longer and start at around $10,000. But your newly emptied bank account and the seasickness that will have your head buried in a bucket along the way will both be worth it as soon as you set foot on land and are surrounded by half a million penguins with no fear of humans and visiting albatross colonies so packed you can鈥檛 see the end of them. The mind-boggling scale of the island鈥檚 wildlife is thanks to intensive predator control and serious biosecurity rules, making it one of the best places on earth to see听polar creatures.

5. Hong Kong

This city has a special appeal, thanks to its fascinating history and culture. It鈥檚 also a great introduction to traveling in China without getting thrown off the deep end in a country of 1.3 billion people. But as far as I鈥檓 concerned, there鈥檚 only one reason to visit: to eat everything. Dumplings, steamed buns known as bao, egg waffles, wontons, egg tarts, noodles, and that weird coffee-tea hybrid called 测耻补苍测补苍驳鈥�Hong Kong has it all, and with so many hole-in-the-wall restaurants, dingy back-alley noodle shops, and modern-fusion haunts to explore,听I鈥檓 never bored. In fact, it鈥檚 home to my favorite restaurant in the world, , which makes (you guessed it)听bao burgers.

6. Margaret River, Australia

Trust me:听skip the easier, eastern tourist traps of Sydney and Melbourne听and head due west to Perth on your next adventure Down Under. Once you鈥檝e arrived in the Western Australia听capital, be sure to visit听Rottnest Island, just off the coast, to take a selfie with the听, an incredibly听cute, incredibly听tiny marsupial native to the area. Then grab a car and hit the road with your mates for the 170-mile drive to Margaret River, a wine-growing region with perfect cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, and sauvignon blanc grapes and a strong foodie scene anchored by the , a ten-day听festival that celebrates this state鈥檚 culinary landscape. Speaking of landscapes, the area around Margaret River is big: big beaches, big views, big skies. Don鈥檛 skimp out on a visit to , or get your inner Instagrammer on at the .

7. Kyrgyzstan

I鈥檇 bet my life that most of you can鈥檛 find it on a map, let alone spell this Central Asian nation鈥檚 name correctly on the first try without looking. But as a melting pot that blends Chinese Muslims with post-Soviet Russians, Uzbeks, and of course the local Kyrgyz people, Kyrgyzstan should be on everyone鈥檚 bucket list. As soon as you land, you鈥檒l be smacked in the face with such a range of chaos and culture that you can鈥檛 help but be swept up in the mayhem. Give yourself time to visit the eagle hunters, ride horses, and stay in yurt camps outside the main city of Bishkek, where nomadic culture still thrives, and be sure to try the cold, spicy noodle dishes for which the country is famous; they can often be had for less than a dollar, though it鈥檚 best not to ask what meat is included. More than 90 percent听of the country is mountainous, so it鈥檚 easy to get way off the grid.

8. Dubai

This city is the听main stopover between the South Pacific and basically everywhere else on the globe, so I鈥檝e听spent a lot of time here听over the years transitioning to and from my various travels.听And though I tend to stay away from big cities, I weirdly love it here. Dubai is unlike anywhere else I鈥檝e ever been, and it knows it. Instead of roughing it in search of unique adventures, as I would elsewhere, when I am in the Sand Pit, as expats call it, I indulge in its unashamed opulence and just plain pamper myself after the 17-hour flight from New Zealand. I book myself into one of the thousands of fancy suites, like those at the , go to the spa, shop, and binge on yummy Middle Eastern treats like kunafah, a cheese pastry soaked in syrup, and the rice dish known as machboos. When you鈥檙e perpetually on the road or in the air, sometimes you just need a holiday doing nothing in a city that never sleeps鈥攁nd Dubai has that in spades.

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When I first started traveling over ten years ago, I went alone. Not because it was trendy or to 鈥渇ind myself,鈥� but rather because I just didn鈥檛 have anyone else to come with me.

Nowadays you only have to scroll through Instagram for a minute before you鈥檙e inundated with perfectly posed selfies in the perfect location at the perfect time of day. These are clearly intended to send the message that solo travel is tidy, glitzy, and flawless. But those carefully crafted images aren鈥檛 real. From sleeping on airport floors with your听arms wrapped around your bags to prevent them from 鈥渨andering off鈥� to being sick without anyone to turn to, traveling alone is messy, hard, and often not the least bit glamorous. And that鈥檚 something so-called influencers don鈥檛 like to talk about. It doesn鈥檛 sell.

But every solo adventurer has to deal with these harsh realities, and knowing what to expect is much better preparation than another perfectly styled Instagram post of a first-class flatbed airplane seat the size of a canoe.

Perhaps the worst part of traveling alone is getting sick. Someone should invent an Uber听Eats for doctor and pharmacy visits abroad, because it doesn鈥檛 get much worse than dragging yourself out of bed with the stomach flu to ride a scooter in search of questionable meds from someone you can鈥檛 communicate with at a dubious Southeast Asian clinic. You only suffer through that once before you build up your own mini pharmacy to cover all manner of illnesses. Plus, nothing builds new friendships like sharing your stash with a hostel buddy in desperate need of Imodium.

Another major cause of solo-travel disasters is simply not having someone to bounce your hairbrained plans off of. We all know that good decisions in our heads sometimes have no basis in reality, and that can result in such type-two fun as winging it and assuming you can sleep in a tiny rural airport two hours outside Paris. Or wandering the outskirts of the city when said airport closes and you鈥檙e stuck with nothing but a big touristy backpack and a handful of drug dealers听for company. The loneliness certainly kicks in then.

While I鈥檓 a proud introvert, that loneliness can hurt. I know what you鈥檙e thinking: duh, Liz, of course solo travel gets lonesome. But I would argue that听isn鈥檛 exactly true. I actually make friends and meet a lot more people traveling alone than I would otherwise. But you have to work for it, and just when I think I have this solo thing nailed down, I am slapped with another reminder of my aloneness, like when my bucket-list dream to dive with sharks required a two-guest minimum. And don鈥檛 even get me started on being like the Maldives. More than once I鈥檝e had to toss rose petals that were artfully arranged in a heart on the bed onto the floor. At least there鈥檚 usually a whole bottle of champagne to keep me company.

For me, the loneliness usually appears when I take myself out to dinner. Surrounded by groups and couples, it鈥檚 such a social setting that you often can鈥檛 help but feel like you stand out. To keep the isolation at bay, I usually bring a book, but I also smile and make eye contact with other听friendly looking patrons. You might be surprised how often people will engage a solo diner in conversation from a nearby table. Another good option is dining at the bar. It鈥檚 a magnet for solo travelers, and at the very least, bartenders are professionally chatty.

That鈥檚 a good example of how loneliness on the road is often a choice. As soon as you put yourself out there鈥攋oining a pub crawl, signing up for a cooking class or a food tour, couch surfing, or staying in a shared Airbnb or hostel鈥攜ou immediately have the chance to connect with new people. Something fundamental is stripped away when you only have yourself to rely on, and I鈥檝e found myself more able to connect with strangers. You just have to be open to it, and being lonely is the best time to force yourself out of your comfort zone, despite how hard it may听seem.

That is until you鈥檙e approached by creepy men asking you all kinds of personal questions. While there are a million ways to mitigate risk, you鈥檒l always have that cautionary voice in the back of your head warning you of danger when you find yourself alone in an uncomfortable situation. More than once I鈥檝e had to lie,听saying that my partner is in the bathroom or walking right past my hotel when I was being 鈥渉elped home鈥� by someone I鈥檇 met so he wouldn鈥檛 know where I was staying. And when my gut gives me bad vibes about a person, I don鈥檛 think twice about walking away as fast as I can.

But at the end of the day, while traveling by yourself is full of ups and downs, the peaks are far higher than the valleys, and it鈥檚 an experience that will teach you more than you can imagine. Just听make sure to pack extra Imodium in case shit hits the fan.听

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For many, the idea of traveling the world solo is both thrilling and intimidating. And if you鈥檙e like me, one of the scariest things is making friends and connecting with locals. Talking to a total stranger in a totally new place, perhaps even in a language that isn鈥檛 English? For years, that thought alone made me cringe.

But I am here to tell you that the best and most rewarding part of solo travel is often the friends you make along the way. After all, nothing unites people quite like a shared travel experience.

But how do you go about putting yourself out there? Being an American expat based in Wanaka, New Zealand, a beautiful mountain town and tourist hub in the Southern Alps, I鈥檝e seen both sides of the coin as backpackers, travelers, and seasonal workers often try befriending me. Combine that with a decade of international solo travel under my belt, and I have a few tried-and-true tips for making friends on the road.

Ask Lots of Questions of Everyone You Meet

I鈥檝e found that the more openly curious I am, the more people I meet. Mostly this involves asking a lot of questions. What鈥檚 the worst that could happen? Someone doesn鈥檛 reply and stares at you like you鈥檝e grown a second head? Sure, that can happen, but you鈥檒l often be surprised. I鈥檝e gone sailing in Greece with people I met in a caf茅 after asking them to share their favorite local haunts and admitting I was traveling alone.

Follow the Fun

Whenever I arrive somewhere new, I peruse the posters and signs tacked to the walls of caf茅s, bars, and even telephone poles looking for cool events, gigs, and shows. I ask myself: If I lived here, where would I go? And then I take myself there. It鈥檚 a great way to get away from all the tourist spots tagged on Instagram and into the cool neighborhoods where the locals actually hang out. Not only will you likely make a few friends, but you鈥檒l also get to know the city you flew halfway around the world to explore.

Take Your Time

One of the best ways to make friends with locals is simply to slow down. It鈥檚 hard to truly get to know anyone if you鈥檙e in a new place every night. It took me years to learn this lesson. When I first began traveling, I was like a baby seeing everything for the first time; I wanted it all. Now, instead of running around trying to tick all the spots off my list, I find more value in renting an apartment or house and sticking around in one spot for longer. When you鈥檙e buying your fruit from the same fruit lady and grabbing your morning coffee at the same caf茅, you can鈥檛 help but build connections. I once crashed a friend鈥檚 wedding in Sri Lanka that way after knowing the couple for just four days, but that鈥檚 a story for another time.

Say Yes to Every Opportunity

It may seem obvious, but when I moved to Wanaka and went in search of new friends, my personal philosophy was to say yes to everything, whether it was an adventure in the mountains or simply hanging out by the lake. This approach has enabled me to befriend locals no matter where I am, and it has led me to do things like a downhill mountain biking mission for which I was wildly unprepared. Five years later, I鈥檝e yet to get back on a mountain bike due to sheer trauma, but I now count some of the strangers I met on that ride as my best friends.

Be Chill

Though I reckon I鈥檝e got another 20 years before the born-and-bred New Zealanders here in Wanaka accept me as a true local, I鈥檝e lived here long enough for the tourists to consider me one. And let me tell you, while asking questions is a great way to start a conversation, I find myself engaging more with the travelers who treat me like a human instead of a walking guidebook. Having the same old conversation about how long you鈥檙e in town and what your favorite spots are gets real old real fast.

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