5 Reasons Why Camping Can Be the Most Social Way to Travel

1. Hitchhiking If you don’t want to rent a car or bring your own while discovering a new country, you can always try hitchhiking. This way you get to spend hours meeting new people every day. You also know that the people offering you a ride are usually super friendly and open-minded, as they trust strangers enough to share their car with them. 2. Communal Bathrooms (and no, I don’t mean showering with other people, you perverts :P) The lines at these facilities are often long and annoying - except if you pass the time by talking to someone in your queue. Ask them what they have seen, what they are doing, why they are camping, etc. Most people will be happy to chitchat while waiting for their shower slot. 3. Asking for Help Kindly ask fellow campers if they have something you need, such as salt or a lighter, for example. Campers love sharing their stuff, as they understand the struggle of forgetting something or running low on a certain ingredient. So, go ahead, go up to people and ask them for what you need, or whether they could help you with something. The funniest of conversations start when you mention that you forgot to buy the pasta for your sauce. 4. Limited Cooking and Dining Facilities Often there are only a few benches with a table for everyone to prepare their food and dine. You’ll either have to ask fellow campers if they still have space at their table, or wait for the middle of the night, when everyone is sleeping, to have your personal dining space. That’s just weird. Be social and ready to squeeze at a table with strangers. Then start a conversation! It can be about anything, but maybe start out with “What you eating tonight?”. 5. Limited Internet Access Most camping grounds don’t have internet, and if they do, it will cost you a small fee. Don’t give in to the urge of paying that fee – it’s definitely more interesting to keep the WiFi off and face to face conversations going. Put your phone away and try to talk to as many people as you can. You can add them on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and any other social networks, once you’ve actually had a conversation with them in person.

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