You attended TravCon in September and had the best time with new friends. Maybe you went to mixers with agencies or a show on the strip. The bond between travelers can be immediate with a shared sense of understanding of what the traveler’s life is like. Travelers make friends easily at TravCon and those friends can be there for you over a phone call or message when you are on the road. 

Networking and socialization among travelers is a core pillar of TravCon. We love that travelers consider TravCon a “family reunion” and that you come back every year to see your friends who have turned into family. However, TravCon is a once-a-year event and we know that it can get lonely out there on the road, especially as a solo traveler. Here are some of our tips on how to meet people while traveling. 

MeetUp.com

This is a website/app and by far one of the best ways to connect with other people while traveling. MeetUp is a collection of in-person groups and clubs in your area. You can search for groups and find just about anything, from hiking to photography to brunch groups. MeetUp has a little bit of something for everybody. Some of the groups are free to join and others have a small fee. 

As a traveler, I’ve met some of the best people over MeetUp. I am a hiker and primarily use it to find hiking groups to hike with, and it has been wonderful to connect me with local hikers who know the trails and have helped me explore my assignments. 

Bumble BFF

Bumble was started as a dating app, but you don’t have to be single to use it! The app has a Bumble BFF feature, where you can swipe to find friends! I have talked to a lot of travelers who have met other travel nurses or travel allied health peeps over Bumble BFF and it seems to be a great service. 

When I was working in Fresno, I was swiping through it and saw a lot of travel nurses. At the time, I was too nervous to swipe and connect, but I wish I would have put myself out there more and reached out to new people. There is still time on my next assignment! 

Look For Traveler Meet-Ups In Your Area

Social media is a great place to find traveler meet-ups in your area. Agencies may hold sponsored meet-ups, or travelers may coordinate their own. Follow your favorite agencies to see if they are hosting any traveler meet-ups. TravCon also sponsors some traveler meet-ups. Follow our website and social media for location announcements. 

If you are in any social media groups, you can ask the group if there are travelers in your area and organize your own meet-up. To get the ball started, you can post a picture of your new assignment and ask if anybody is in the area and wants to meet up. It’s a great conversation starter to meet travelers in your area.