The classic travel-buddy plan — find a stranger online months ahead and commit to a whole trip together — is risky and usually unnecessary. The better approach: find people who'll be in the same place at the same time, meet for one activity, and let the buddy part happen naturally.
1. match on destination and dates
On Nomadtable, add your upcoming trip and you'll see other travelers who'll be in that city on overlapping dates, plus a group chat with them. Plan a first-night dinner before you even land. It's the biggest app built for this (2M+ users), and it's free.
2. join one activity first
Don't commit to a week together over chat. Join a dinner or day trip together. If you click, extend: "I'm heading to the coast Thursday — want to come?"
3. other places to look
- Reddit — r/solotravel and destination subreddits have meetup threads.
- Women-only communities — Travel Ladies and NomadHer.
- Hostels and group tours — the old-school way still works.
4. vet before you share a trip
- Meet in person first, in public.
- Look for verified profiles and reviews from past activities.
- Keep your own money, documents, and exit plan.
- Separate rooms until you know each other.
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