In short
Do something together instead of trying to start a conversation from nothing. Join an activity, an event or a group plan where talking is easy, look for people who are in the same city on the same dates, and move from chat to meeting in a public place. Pingo shows travelers who overlap with your trip and local events you can join, so you start with something in common.
| Approach | Why it works | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Join an event or meetup | There's a plan, so you only need to show up | First nights in a new city |
| Find travelers on your dates | You already share a city and a time window | Planning days together |
| Take a class or tour | A shared task gives you things to talk about | Shy travelers |
| Stay somewhere social | Common areas make small talk normal | Longer stays |
| Host something small | People like joining a clear, low-key plan | Confident solo travelers |
Pick activities, not small talk
The awkward part of meeting people isn't the people, it's the empty space. A walking tour, a cooking class or a dinner meetup fills that space: you have something to look at, do or eat, and conversation follows on its own.
1Look for people on your dates
Someone who is in Barcelona the same three days as you is far easier to meet than someone who left yesterday. Overlapping dates turn "we should hang out sometime" into "want to go tomorrow?".
When you add a trip in Pingo, it shows travelers visiting the same city on overlapping dates, with the interests you share, so you can see who's actually around before you message.
2Join an event on your first night
The first evening sets the tone. A group dinner, a pub quiz or a sunset walk is low-pressure: you can stay for an hour or the whole night. If you find one you like, ask who's going to something similar tomorrow.
In Pingo, joining an event opens its group chat, so you can say hi to the group before you arrive.
3Send a specific first message
"Hey" goes nowhere. Mention something real: the event you're both joining, the neighborhood you're staying in, a place on your list. Suggest one concrete plan with a time, and make it easy to say no.
- "I'm at the tapas meetup on Friday too. Want to walk over together?"
- "You're into museums too. I'm doing the Prado on Thursday morning if you want to join."
4Meet safely
Chat first, meet in a public place, and tell someone you trust where you're going. Leave any situation that makes you uncomfortable. On Pingo you can report or block anyone from their profile, nearby discovery shows approximate distances rather than your live location, and you choose whether you appear nearby at all.
5Keep the momentum
If the first meeting goes well, suggest the next thing before you leave. One good afternoon often turns into a small group for the rest of the trip.
You don't need to be outgoing
Most solo travelers want company at least some of the time. Choose activities over icebreakers, people on your dates over random encounters, and public places over private ones, and meeting people stops feeling like a performance.
