The Gate

Notes on solo travel, chance encounters, and the people who make the journey better.

Solo Travel

Tips, guides, and stories for solo travellers — from beating loneliness to making the most of layovers and airport downtime.

How to Make Friends While Traveling Alone (Without It Being Weird)

You booked the trip. You're excited. And then, somewhere between packing and boarding, a quieter thought creeps in: am I going to be lonely? If you've ever typed "is solo travel lonely" into Google at 1am before a trip, you're not alone in that either — it's one of the most common worries first-time solo travelers have, right up there with safety and budget. The good news: solo doesn't have to mean isolated. It just means the connection you make is optional instead of assigne

3 min read