Does traveling to new and exotic places excite and elate you? Then you must know about social travel sites and how they have been transforming the way people travel and connect with others while on a trip. The concept of using social media in relation to traveling is not new but it’s the millennials that boosted this trend. Millennials love to travel to new and exotic locations but they also have high demands and are not an easy demographic to attract by travel companies.

Most millennials want a customized travel experience that not only suits their personality but also matches their budget. Millennials also love to travel solo and are not shy of forming acquaintances and friendships while on vacation. These are the reasons which precisely led to the birth of social travel websites and apps and now they have become so popular that they are a must-have for most of the regular travelers. 

What are Social Travel Websites and their Importance?

Before we talk about social travel websites, let’s get our basics clear and learn about the new traveling trend; social travel. People are not simply traveling anymore. The focus these days is on ‘social travel’. Social traveling is all about exploring the place you are visiting and not just the clichéd tour people usually take. It involves meeting like-minded travelers, staying at the places of locals, connecting with new people and forming beautiful acquaintances, and traveling the place in a more real and authentic way. A social travel website is one that can help you do all the above things and more.

It can transform a rather mediocre trip into an amazing vacation. A good travel website not only makes your vacation easier and more organized, but it also helps you meet new people and fellow travelers and create lasting memories and relationships. From finding a travel buddy, sharing important tips, providing recommendations, and finding a local to help you explore the place better, there is nothing a great social travel website can’t do. If you are still wondering why social travel websites and apps are important and why you should use them the next time you plan to go on a trip, read on.

Importance of Social Travel Websites or Apps

• Help you connect with new people – The truth is that social traveling is not for everyone. You have to be confident and outgoing if you want to make your social travel experiences a fruitful one. This can prove to be tough for introverts and shy people who have trouble talking to strangers but still want to give this trend a try. And this is where social travel websites come in the picture. Many social travel websites help you chat and connect with like-minded travelers with whom you can either take a trip or meet them at the proposed travel destination. Not only that, but these websites can also help you connect with locals. By befriending locals you not only learn deeply about their traditions and customs but also get real recommendations on which places to visit and which places to avoid as they are not worth your time and just hype.

• Help make your travel experience better – Social travel websites are not just here to connect you with other travelers. Utilize these websites well and they can make your travel experience so much easier and hassle-free. You can use these websites to share experiences and pictures of your trip, ask for suggestions from other fellow travelers, discover unexplored hidden gems, find local guides, look for detailed maps to recommended places and create travel itineraries for you using your flight and other travel confirmations which you can access instantly. 

• Convenient and easy to use – Most of the social travel websites and apps in the market these days are easy to use. They come with simple navigation and user-friendly interface that makes using them so easily. These websites are also mobile-optimized so you can access them easily on your smartphone. Some of these websites are also geo location-empowered and come with the GPS feature to help you look easily for any destination. 

• Help you find a travel buddy – We have already talked about this but this one need a special mention again. If you are a solo traveler, you understand how liberating travel can be. But the truth is it also gets lonely sometimes. You sometimes need someone to share your experience with or enjoy a drink or just have fun with. This can be done with the help of a travel buddy. Social travel apps connect you with hundreds of people around you who you can connect and interact with and then decide whether you want to go on a trip with them. The process of finding a trip buddy has never been easier. 

Top Social Travel Apps to Find Locals to Trip Together

If you are a solo traveler who is in search of locals who can show you around and with whom you can have a great and memorable time, the following social travel apps will help you with the same:

• Xoxo Tours – Xoxo Tours is a leading social travel app designed exclusively for the needs of travelers who want to connect with other like-minded travelers and locals around the world. The app is easy to navigate where you can chat, interact with the locals or other solo travelers and try to know them better before you decide to meet them, and travel together as travel partners.

• Showaround – Showaround is a great app to meet locals all over the world. This website will help you experience the true beauty of a place and explore hidden gems through an insider’s or local’s perspective. Usually, when you travel to an unknown place, all the information you get is through the internet or other resources. And more often than not, maybe the best part of the city generally gets skipped. Here you need help from a local to show you around or to provide you the information which makes your trip memorable and complete. The Showaround app is a great way to see places and do things that you wouldn’t while traveling solo. The website also connects you with travel guides whom you can hire if you want a more planned trip to the city you are visiting.

• Backpackr – Focused majorly on the needs of solo travelers though not created exclusively for them, the Backpackr app can help you connect with the locals of the place you are touring easily. The major attraction of this app is a feature known as the common room which is a forum where people can post reviews of the best attractions in town. This app is currently available in more than 100 countries and has a partnership with over 1000 restaurants, tour operators, and hotels that also offer lucrative deals and discounts on this app for the members.

• Flip The Trip – Flip The Trip is another app which you can use to connect with the locals. It is currently available in more than 4500 cities and has more than 40000 registered members. Not only will this app help you find a travel buddy to take a trip with but also connect you with locals who you can meet over drinks or a cup of coffee. You have the option to chat and interact with them on the app before finally deciding to meet them in person.

• Couchsurfing – Couchsurfing is a great app to use if you are a budget traveler. We all know that hotel charges on any trip form a major part of the expenses. But not anymore. By using the app, you will be able to find kind strangers all over the world that allow you to stay at their places for free. This is a great way to experience in a real way any culture while saving money and having fun. The app is nicely made and is easy to use and also comes with a review section where travelers can share their experiences with the hosts and also give feedback and suggestions. This app is currently available in more than 200000 cities and has over 14 million registered members.

• Nearify – While this is mainly an event discovery platform that notifies you of cool events happening around you, you can also use it to meet locals around you. This app sends you a reminder of events happening around you daily and the list is based according to your customized preference. Unlike Meetup, Nearify wouldn’t connect you with people as the main focus is on events. However, if you are friendly and an extrovert, you can turn up at the event and can always chat with locals there and try to befriend them. 

• Meetup – Meetup is another great app to use for meeting locals around you. There are a large number of groups on this app which you can join according to your interests. It focuses mainly on connecting people who have similar hobbies and passions. It doesn’t matter whether you are a budding photographer or a coffee connoisseur, there is somewhere a Meetup group for you in almost every city in the world. If you are not sure which Meetup group to join, you can start with the generic ones that are based on your demographic such as 25-something travelers of New Delhi. It’s not hard to find a Meetup group that matches your interests. After joining the group you can RSVP to events happening around you and also communicate with other members of the group. This app is good for meeting people near you who you don’t really want to date but just chat and have some relaxed and fun time with.

• Tinder – Yes, we know that Tinder is not a social travel app but a dating app. But it can also help you connect with some of the coolest and most interesting locals who have similar interests as yours. It is present in a large number of countries and you can easily use this app to look for new people to interact with. Just make sure to state clearly to the person you are marching with that you are not looking for a date or hookup but just a friend to show around the city and you are good to go.

• Eatwith – If you are a solo traveler, you possibly understand the pain of dining alone. While traveling alone can be fun, the dining solo is not. It can be uncomfortable and awkward, especially when you love food. That’s when you need to use the Eatwith app. This app is available in more than 200 countries and allows you to dine with locals at your trip destination. All you have to do is select the meal of your choice and the host and book the date. Your host will then be waiting for you with a delicious meal and an amazing and authentic local experience that you’d remember for years to come. This is a great way to connect food with travel, two of the things that people highly enjoy.

• Solo Traveller – Solo Traveller is one of the most popular apps for solo travelers. It not only helps connect you with other solo travelers like you but also can be used to find locals near you. If you are a woman solo traveler who is concerned about her safety, you can use the single female traveler feature to connect exclusively with women locals in the area. You can find locals by using the filters where you can choose your preferred age, gender, and hobbies.

If you are a solo traveler who wishes to find locals near you with whom you can chat and meet, the above apps are a good start. These apps are the top picks and can help transform your mundane and simple vacation into an amazing life-changing memorable experience.