You guys might have heard of Bumble, the popular dating app which operates similarly to Tinder, except that the girls make the first move. And so you might be wondering why I’m writing about it on a travel blog. You see, thanks to the app’s “BFF” function, it’s now become a secret weapon for connecting with other travelers.
I’m not sure how it happened, but my travel schedule for this year is already packed. I’m in Swedish Lapland at the moment visiting my friend Rachel, and in about a week I’ll be headed to Morocco with my friend Danielle! Dan and I also are planning on going somewhere for two weeks – or two places for a week each – though we haven’t decided on where yet. Let me know if you have any suggestions – we’re thinking somewhere beachy and warm, or maybe Northern Norway, or possibly even Japan!
But for most of my other trips this year I’ll be solo.
And guys, I am so excited. Of course I love traveling with my friends, but there’s also something really special about being on my own. I’ve had some of my best travel experiences solo, and have also actually met some of my closest friends while traveling solo.
The thing is, I was always backpacking solo, staying at hostels or Couchsurfing. So now that I’m no longer a backpacker I almost feel like a newbie traveler and am all but how am I going to make friends??
I know, calm down. But my sudden spout of anxiety did make me do a little research, and after asking Google I found out: there’s an app for that now! Of course there is.
Bumble is really easy to set up and it connects to your Facebook account (don’t worry, they won’t be posting anything on Facebook) so it automatically uses your profile photos and basic info from there – or you can change it if you want something else. And then you just have to write a little bio – most people keep it super simple just listing a few interests or a quote.
And then you can easily find people nearby to meet up with! If you and your potential new BFF both swipe right on each other’s profile then you’ll both have 24 hours to message each other.
Now, I’ve only just started using the Bumble BFF, but I’ve already noticed that most girls mention something about travel in their profile, because Millennials (and yeah, Netflix is another recurring interest obviously). So it’s kind of perfect if you’re:
- looking for a travel partner for your next adventure
- on an adventure and wanting to meet up with locals
- recently home from traveling and wanting to meet some likeminded people in the area to help with those post-travel blues
But I also totally think this app is perfect for expats, or really anyone who has moved to a new place.
Making friends as an adult seems to get harder and harder (or… is it just me?) so it’s really helpful to have a tool like this for connecting with people. Yeah, it might feel weird at first using an app to find friends, but then again, didn’t we used to say that about online dating? If there’s one thing blogging has taught me it’s that the Internet is an amazing place to connect with people.
Plus, sending a match a message saying you’re new in town is the perfect conversation starter – and maybe even best friendship starter? At least it takes a bit of the awkward out of messaging a stranger and immediately gives you something to talk about.
You can download Bumble free on both Android and iPhone, so there’s no reason to at least try it out and see who’s in your area. Like actually though – I want to hear how it goes!
And yes, you can totally use Bumble BFF if you’re a guy too.
Download: Android | iPhone
Milou says
This is cute, I should try that sometime on my solo travels!
Silvia says
It’s like weirdly addicting looking through all the potential bffs haha.
Arielle says
That’s a good idea. I sometimes meet up with people via Couchsurfing even when I’m staying in a hostel but 90% of Couchsurfing is creepy dudes, so it might be nice to be able to screen people.
Silvia says
Seriously, I’m so bummed about how creepy Couchsurfing has become! I think this is a really good alternative.
Fenne says
I’m careful with this kind of apps but now I moved to a new country it might be a help, who knows 🙂
Silvia says
Worth trying out at least!
Agra Overnight Tour says
So good post and well explain about these apps.
Camila says
That is so funny! Sounds like a great app! Living abroad I’ve found that I love to meet up with lovely ladies and have new adventures and eat at new places, it’s just so much better!
Caitlin says
I never would have thought of using an app for friends. I’m in the process of trying to move to a new city where the only person I know is my boyfriend. I will definitely have to look into this once I move to see if I can meet some new people. And also for my next solo trip! Thanks for sharing!
Shoaib Khan says
Superb Blog!
Neel Sharma says
Thank you very much for sharing here!
1. Update Your Profile – Make sure to include your travel interests, destinations, and love of exploring in your Bumble BFF profile. This will help other female travelers find you.
2. Ask Questions – When you come across a potential travel buddy, ask them questions related to their travel experiences and interests. This will give you a better idea of whether or not they’d make a good travel companion.
3. Join Local Groups – Look for local travel groups in your area and join them. You’ll be able to meet other female travelers who share your same interests.
4. Set Up Meet-Ups – Once you’ve connected with other female travelers, set up meet-ups to get to know each other better. A coffee date or a night out can be a great way to get to know someone and see if they’d make a good travel companion.
5. Follow Travel Hashtags – Use hashtags like #femaletravelers and #travelbuddies to find other female travelers who are looking for the same things you are.
6. Be Open and Honest – Be open and honest about your travel goals and expectations. This will help you find the best travel buddy for you.