Secrets of Overpackers
March 20, 2012 by Scott Applebee · Leave a Comment
Generally in our blog, we recommend packing light and being very efficient in what you travel with — to reduce fees 
when you fly and cut down on clutter in the hotel room or wherever you’re staying. Many travelers share our views, either out of thrift or preference, judging from the shortage of available overhead-bin space.
But not everyone shares our opinion. Travel is a highly personal thing, and for some people, having clothing options and the comforts of home is an absolute must.
A reporter from the Sacramento Bee recently interviewed “overpackers” from all over the country about why they do what they do…and how to successfully overpack, if there is such a thing.
One traveler insisted she needed at least eight pairs of shoes for almost any trip; another packed 10 towels just for drying her hair. One man needs a separate suitcase just for his scuba gear when he travels to the Caribbean. Another learned a hard lesson when he was hit with a $90 overweight-baggage fee for his bag being 6 pounds too heavy.
If you’re prone to packing a lot, there’s a chance you’re also a heavy packer. No one wants to be one of those people redistributing and repacking items at the counter — avoid those huge overweight-bag charges entirely by weighing before you head to the airport. You could always bear-hug your suitcase and step on your scale, but you can also use a luggage scale from Austin House to weigh your luggage before you ever leave for the airport.
The article also mentioned carry-on size and weight restrictions and cautioned that carry-on space remains at a premium (but that gate checking is a surprising plus for travelers on very small aircraft).
We have one solid recommendation to add: Even if you are an overpacker, don’t overstuff your bag. Leave room for souvenirs or purchases. Or, if there’s absolutely no room left in your bag when you’ve finished packing, stick a low-profile duffel bag or tote in a suitcase pocket so you can still bring home those spur-of-the-moment purchases.
The article’s bottom line — and our line of thinking, too: Pack what makes you happy, but be cautious about your bags becoming overweight.
Related articles
- Tips for People with Baggage (leggotunglei808.wordpress.com)
- Choosing Luggage: Hard-Side Versus Soft-Side (travelproluggageblog.com)
- Unpacking (bingtobaklava.wordpress.com)
4-Wheel Spinners Versus 2-Wheel Rolling Luggage: How Do I Choose?
March 8, 2012 by Scott Applebee · Leave a Comment
There are a lot of options when you’re shopping for a new suitcase. Size, shape, color, material — they’re all important
considerations to make. But once you’ve stripped away aesthetics, once you’ve decided how large and how durable, you’re left with the question of how effectively that luggage moves you from Point A to Point B.
Maxlite 2 20" Expandable Rollaboard, a 2-wheeled bag.
That, of course, is where we come in. Bob Plath, founder of Travelpro, was the original creator of Rollaboard® luggage, which revolutionized the way we travel. If you’ve ever pulled a suitcase behind you on two wheels, you have Bob to thank for that.
And today, you’ve even got options beyond “to roll or not to roll.” Now you can get two-wheel rolling luggage or four-wheel spinner luggage, and there are some definite advantages to each type. Let’s take a look:
Two-wheeled suitcases
Speed is the name of the game here. In a two-wheel design, the wheels tend to be larger than the wheels on 4-wheel models, so they roll forward better thanks to the sheer physics of their size. Definitely a better option when you need to get from point A to point B quickly, pulling the luggage across large expanses.
When it comes to overhead bins, two-wheel bags generally are a better fit. The wheels tend to be recessed and are nearly flush with the profile of the luggage case. In addition, since they don’t protrude as much as 4-wheel models, the wheels are less susceptible to damage by baggage handlers and general wear and tear.
Airline fight crews and frequent travelers tend to use two-wheel carry-on bags.
Four-wheeled suitcases
“Spinner” suitcases are all about agility. A four-wheel design gives you 360 degrees of motion, which make them great for zig-zagging through turnstiles and long lines at check-in and security.
This wide range of movement means you’re not pulling only one way — you can even push them, — which can decrease the pressure you’re putting on your arms, shoulders and back.
You won’t get the speed or precision of a two-wheeled suitcase with a spinner bag, but the freedom of motion is unmatched, so from the taxi to the door, through security and all the way to your seat on the plane, you’ll be able to maneuver around whatever obstacles you encounter along the way.
In the end, the luggage best suited to you will be a matter of how you like to travel and sheer personal preference, but it’s always good to understand your options before you make a decision — your bag will be your constant travel companion for quite some time.
Travelpro to Introduce Record Number of New Products at the 2012 Travel Goods Show [PRESS RELEASE]
March 1, 2012 by Scott Applebee · Leave a Comment
Travelpro, the original inventor of Rollaboard luggage and a leader in innovative, high-quality luggage design, is celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the invention of Rollaboard luggage by introducing a record number of new products at the 2012 Travel Goods Association (TGA) Show. Travelpro will debut three new luggage collections: Crew 9, Runway and Maxlite 2. Under its Atlantic brand, the Unite and Vogue family luggage collections will be on display. Travelpro will also introduce a wide array of adventure luggage and travel bags under the iconic National Geographic and National Geographic Explorer brands. New backpacks and a duffel bag under the Ecko Unltd. brand name will also be featured, along with new revamped line of Austin House travel accessories.
Travelpro’s featured luggage line at the 2012 TGA Show will be the new Crew line used by traveling professionals and frequent fliers worldwide. Derived from many years of designing luggage for pilots and flight crews, the Crew 9 Collection is truly a “super” line with a wide array of Rollaboards, Checkpoint Friendly Business Cases, Spinners and Hardside Spinners. The line features a patentpending wobble less extension handle system that will be the strongest in the industry. The Spinners on Crew will include Travelpro’s new patent-pending Contour handle grip, designed specifically to improve ergonomic comfort when pushing four-wheel luggage.
Travelpro will introduce multiple lines of luggage and accessories to the U.S. market under the National Geographic and National Geographic Explorer brand names. A broad array of adventure luggage, duffel bags, backpacks, messenger bags, camera bags and travel accessories will be a major focus at the show. National Geographic’s net proceeds support vital exploration, conservation, research, and education programs. National Geographic, a leading non-profit organization, is one of the most highly recognized and respected brands in the world.
“We are honored to introduce travel goods that reflect the National Geographic Society’s rich heritage of exploration and travel,” said Scott Applebee, Vice President of Marketing at Travelpro.
The new Travelpro Runway collection is a stylish 4-wheel Spinner line geared for women business and leisure travelers. Affordably priced, this collection comes standard with Travelpro’s Contour handle grip for ergonomic comfort when moving through busy airports.
Travelpro is also proud to showcase the next generation of its highly successful Maxlite line; the Maxlite 2 collection includes a wide array of innovative features that ease the hassles of travel. The 4-wheel Spinner system provides a smooth glide with 360 degree maneuverability, making it easy to navigate through airport check-in lines and terminals. The patent pending Contour Grip improves ergonomic comfort and movement control.
Under its Atlantic Luggage brand, Travelpro is introducing two new collections, Atlantic Unite and Atlantic Vogue. Designed with the leisure and family traveler in mind, Atlantic Unite is the ultimate in family friendly luggage. It includes a new easy connect feature that allows the user to easily roll two bags at the same time by connecting them together back-to-back. The striking, fashion-forward Atlantic Vogue collection is a flexible alternative to hardside luggage. The eye-catching product line will be displayed in deep purple, fuscia, lemon-lime green, charcoal and vivid blue colorways.
Austin House, one of the industry leaders in travel accessories, will display a revamped line for 2012 including many new innovative products that make traveling easier. Also, the new 2012 Ecko Untld backpacks, duffle bags and luggage will be prominently on display at the show, featuring seven exciting new backpacks and a rolling duffel. These bags come in fun vibrant colors and patterns; include plenty of pockets and storage space for all your necessities. Most backpacks include protective padded sleeves for laptop computers and tablets.
About Austin House
Austin House started in 1974 to make travel as safe, comfortable and hassle-free as possible. Today, the strength of Austin House is its vast selection of travel essentials and clever ideas, including safety locks, travel clocks, luggage straps, luggage tags, passport and document holders, personal security, comfort and care items, leather goods, adapters and converters and electronics accessories. A onestop shop for travel accessories, Austin House is the essential resource for the serious traveler. Please visit the Austin House website for a full list of the latest products and retail locations.
About Atlantic Brand Luggage
Since 1919, the Atlantic brand has been synonymous with affordable, value-added and lightweight luggage. As a market leader in the lightweight luggage segment, including neatly designed uprights and spinners to trendy and smart garment bags and totes, all Atlantic branded luggage is of superior quality and durability. Whether for business or pleasure, travel is easier with Atlantic luggage, now part of the Travelpro family of brands. Please visit AtlanticLuggage.com for a full list of the latest products and retail locations.
About National Geographic
National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 400 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; trips; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 10,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.
About Travelpro
For over two decades, Travelpro International has prided itself on design innovation and durability in crafting the highest quality luggage for travelers worldwide. Since transforming the ease of modern day travel with The Original Rollaboard wheeled luggage, Travelpro has been the brand of choice for flight crews and frequent travelers worldwide. Travelpro is dedicated to building a lifelong relationship with its customers by consistently understanding and exceeding their needs. The company offers a variety of innovative, high-quality luggage collections and computer briefs; each aimed at a specific user lifestyle and rigorously tested. Travelpro was the winner of the 2009 and 2010 Leading Edge Award from Executive Travel Magazine for “The Best Carry-on Case.” Please visit the Travelpro for a complete list of the latest products and retail locations. You can also follow us on Facebook and find us on Twitter at @TravelproIntl.
Travel Trends & Trips for 2012
February 28, 2012 by Scott Applebee · 1 Comment
Looking for some ideas to fuel your travel plans for 2012? It never hurts to find out what other people are thinking. . . With that in mind, TripAdvisor.com recently did a survey of more than 2,500 travelers, and they came up with some interesting findings and trends for the year ahead:
Image via Wikipedia
Finding the Funds Keeps Getting Easier
Despite the perpetually down economy, it seems travel spending is going up — but people are being smarter about the money they spend. The Internet has made it easier to seek out fantastic deals that offer more bang for the buck when traveling. (Check out our post on 11 websites to help save you money when you travel!)
Sticking Close to Home
Though it’s great to get away to somewhere foreign, many people still love exploring their home country. The top three U.S. travel destinations for 2012 are New York City, San Francisco and Las Vegas — all of which offer fantastic cultural opportunities and international flavor without leaving the country.
NYC: Top of the Rock is a popular tourist destination these days, far surpassing the Empire State Building — in part because you can actually see the iconic skyscraper from Rockefeller’s rooftop observatory. Broadway shows and tours of the West Village and Lower East Side were also cited as favorites.
San Francisco: Tours of Alcatraz, the views of the Golden Gate Bridge and riding the cable cars up and down the city’s majestic hills were named the best things to do in San Francisco.
Las Vegas: The gambling and big productions were an obvious draw for TripAdvisor survey respondents, but travelers also love trips out to Red Rock Canyon for a glimpse of the world outside Sin City.
Bed & Breakfasts — No Place Like (Almost) Home
Vacation rentals are rising in popularity, in part because people are traveling with families and looking to save a little money on accommodating everyone. These larger places are better-equipped to handle large groups, with many of the comforts of home including a kitchen and common spaces where families can congregate. (If you have small children, you’ll also be doing fellow travelers a favor by keeping their noise a little more isolated…)
For travelers headed to small cities, inns and bed-and-breakfasts are offering a unique alternative to chain hotels. Often located in off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods, they can give travelers a glimpse of a new part of the city, which can be the key to all kinds of new restaurants, bars and other things to do.
Related articles
- Hot Places to Go in 2012 (foxnews.com)
- 11 Websites for Travel Savings in 2012 (travelproluggageblog.com)
- Falling In Love With San Francisco (ronmedlin.com)
Airlines Must Include Taxes and Fees in Ads
February 21, 2012 by Scott Applebee · Leave a Comment
Anyone who’s booked air travel recently knows the prices are all over the map. And if you’ve ever been lured to an airline’s website by a slick promotion touting insanely low fares, only to find that the fare actually isn’t that low after you’ve already envisioned yourself on that faraway beach while the snow falls outside your window…
You aren’t alone.
Right now, most airlines require that potential customers go at least halfway into the booking process to see the full cost of their flight. Most advertised fares are shown with a tiny asterisk near the fare that connects to a paragraph of fine print with all the taxes and fees the airlines neglected to mention early on.
Image via Wikipedia
Well, comparison shoppers of the world, rejoice! That asterisk is going down.
The government has passed new legislation that requires airlines to add all mandatory taxes and fees to their advertised fares, starting in January 2012.
A New York Times story from late December highlights Spirit Airlines’ recent $9 fare campaign It turns out Spirit was actually fined for that campaign, but not before many would-be travelers were disappointed to find out they’d been pulled in by a too-good-to-be-true ploy to drive traffic to their site and book flights that were actually no cheaper than any others once all the government fees, baggage, and seat-selection costs had been tacked on.
All this boils down to one thing: Airlines now have to be more transparent about the real cost of a plane ticket. All mandatory extra costs will need to be included in any advertising, which will make it easier on consumers to compare prices.
A few airlines have filed appeals, saying the law violates commercial free speech, but until then, this legislation is going to save savvy fare shoppers a lot of time, and perhaps some money, too.
Related articles
- Bill would upend new airfare advertising rule (cnn.com)
- Spirit Airlines Fights New Consumer Pricing Protections (moneyland.time.com)
- Spirit Airlines lashes out against new airfare rule (cnn.com)
- Airline fee rules herald return of honest price tags (redtape.msnbc.msn.com)
National Geographic and Holiday Group / Travelpro Sign Licensing Agreement to Develop New Lines of Luggage [PRESS RELEASE]
February 17, 2012 by Scott Applebee · 1 Comment
WASHINGTON—National Geographic, one of the world’s largest scientific and educational organizations, has selected Montreal-based Holiday Group Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary Travelpro International Inc. in the United States as its primary luggage and travel accessories licensee under its National Geographic and National Geographic Explorer brands for North America.
Under this multiyear agreement, National Geographic and Holiday/Travelpro will team to launch a comprehensive line of travel gear in U.S. and Canadian retail stores in fall 2012.
“For more than a century, NG explorers and photographers have traveled the world to capture stunning images and collect compelling stories,” said Krista Newberry, National Geographic’s senior vice president of licensing, North America. “As a leading pioneer and innovator in the travel category, Holiday Group has the particular experience and ability to create products inspired by National Geographic’s adventurous spirit.”
“The Holiday Group is thrilled to partner with the National Geographic Society,” said Raymond Durocher, president of the Holiday Group. “Drawing upon our expertise in luggage design and production, we are proud to offer exceptional travel gear that reflects the Society’s rich heritage of exploration as well as its standard for superior functionality and design.”
National Geographic’s net proceeds from the sale of these products support vital exploration, conservation, research and education programs.
About National Geographic
The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 400 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; trips; interactive media; and merchandise.
National Geographic has funded more than 10,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.
About Holiday Group Inc. (Canada)
Ever since it began in 1951, the company has been driven by innovation. Its mission is simple and authentic: to simplify people’s lives by offering products that organize and protect their personal belongings and, in turn, their interests and passions. Holiday Group and Travelpro are committed to making life easier, whether it be for a business trip, a family vacation, or simply to get to school or the gym.
A true industry pioneer, Holiday Group celebrated 60 years of operation in 2011. Holiday Group (Canada) is the proud distributor of an important brand portfolio that includes Travelpro, Atlantic, Swiss Gear, Roots, Ecko, Foxy Jeans, David Jones, Nextech, Nygard, Wenger, Austin House, H Due O and Knirps. Travelpro International (United States of America) distributes the Travelpro, Atlantic, Austin House and Ecko brands. For more information, visit holiday.ca and travelpro.com.
About Travelpro International Inc. (U.S.A.)
For twenty-five years, Travelpro International has prided itself on design innovation and durability in crafting the highest quality luggage for travelers worldwide. Since transforming the ease of modern day travel with The Original Rollaboard® wheeled luggage, Travelpro® has been the brand of choice for flight crews and frequent travelers worldwide. Travelpro is dedicated to building a lifelong relationship with its customers by consistently understanding and exceeding their needs. The company offers a variety of innovative, high-quality luggage collections and computer briefs; each aimed at a specific user lifestyle and rigorously tested.
Travelpro was the winner of the 2009 and 2010 Leading Edge Award from Executive Travel Magazine for “The Best Carryon Case.” Travelpro is celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the invention of the Rollaboard® throughout 2012.
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Related articles
- National Geographic Live!: Trapping Tigers (greatcatsoftheworld.wordpress.com)
- Travelpro Announces its Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Invention of the Rollaboard (travelproluggageblog.com)
Five Reasons to Have Trip Insurance
February 14, 2012 by Scott Applebee · Leave a Comment
A blog post by HCC Medical Insurance Services brought up some interesting points on why companies should invest in corporate travel insurance. But even if you’re just on your own — maybe especially if you’re on your own — getting travel insurance for yourself might not be such a bad idea.
Here are five reasons to consider travel insurance:
Medical Emergency
If you fall ill or have another kind of medical emergency shortly before your trip — whether your anniversary dinner gave you food poisoning or your kid broke a leg at soccer practice — the last thing you’re going to want to do is get on a plane, if that’s even possible.
If you get sick on the way to your destination or while you’re there, some travel insurance even provides medical coverage when you’re away. Be sure to look into this if it’s something you’re interested in!
Personal Tragedy
Definitely pick up some travel insurance if you have a family member who’s ill, or even a pet that’s not doing so good… But tragedy is never really timed well, so it’s a good idea more often than not to have insurance in place. This way, if you have to cancel a trip for any reason, your trip is covered, and won’t be a total loss.
Weather
Satellite view of a hurricane. Image via Wikipedia
Remember that bizarre cloud of volcanic ash that settled over Europe back in 2010? Or the freak snowstorm that pummeled the Pacific Northwest earlier this year? Climate change is wreaking all kinds of havoc on our meteorological systems, and having good travel insurance is one way of making sure you won’t be left in the cold because of any crazy weather.
Political Unrest
Travelers who had business of some sort in the Middle East last year may have had their travel plans upset by a little thing called the Arab Spring. Even something as simple as a mass-transit strike in Paris can derail (pardon the pun) the activities of an entire city and really mess up your travel plans. Travel insurance provides security for travelers headed to politically volatile locations, too.
Work-Related Changes
Suppose your project falls through, or gets cut short — or is extended. (Or, heaven forbid, you lose your job before your trip!) Travel insurance provides much-needed flexibility for business travelers with unpredictable situations.
Bottom line: If you can afford to splurge a few extra dollars for that bit of security on your plane ticket and other accommodations, it’s worth it. All it takes is one situation where you need it but don’t have it to realize how valuable it can be.
Adventure Travel Packing List
February 9, 2012 by Scott Applebee · 1 Comment
Our friend and travel writer, Mark Eveleigh, has started a great blog about his adventure travels around the world. He
recently published an interesting blog post of his definitive list of important things to take on a trip.
You probably know you can’t just throw a few items into a suitcase and head out on the road; these trips call for a lot of advance preparation. Though it’s nowhere near comprehensive, here’s a look at some of the things you might want to bring along:
Mark Eveleigh sporting his TPro Rolling Duffel.
First, you’ll need a backpack, day bag, duffel bag or roll-top bags — depending on the type of travel you’re planning, and things to keep the contents of those bags safe and dry. The T-Pro® Bold luggage collection from Travelpro has a variety duffel bags, backpacks and uprights that are ideal for adventure traveler.
You’ll also want to bring along a knife (like a Swiss Army or Leatherman tool) and some waterproof sun block. You’ll also need a sleeping bag, and a mosquito net if you’ll be traveling somewhere with big bugs. Bring a flashlight and headlamp with standard-size batteries — in fact, bring a couple for spares. Of course, if you’re flying, you’ll need to put the knife in a checked bag.
Don’t forget your must-have toiletries, insect repellent and a towel.
Where clothes are concerned, pack with common sense. You’ll need good boots or cross-country shoes, a pair of comfier shoes to bum around in after a day of walking, mosquito-safe clothes like long-sleeved, button-down shirts and socks you can tuck your pants into. You’ll want a good hat and maybe some bandanas, and swim trunks if you’ll be near water.
Pack a hidden pouch or wallet, or somewhere you can put an emergency stash of cash.
Now, for some tech tools. (Yes, even if you’re roughing it.) First, the essentials: a cell phone with international data plan or SIM card, travel power adapter and a GPS unit. Pack your camera, plus extra memory cards and spare batteries.
Some optional tools include Spot Messenger (www.findmespot.com), a device that can record your position and post it online or to your e-mail contacts, and a portable hard drive to transfer your photos to when you download them.
Silica gel — the kind you find in nearly every shoe box — can also be a good idea to keep moisture away from your precious electronics. Save the packs you get when you make purchases, and keep them handy for these trips.
And don’t forget about your dining essentials: a bowl, plate, utensils and cup, plus a reusable water-bottle for your travel days (and water purification tablets if you’ll be somewhere with an unreliable water supply).
You might also consider packing vitamin supplements to keep you feeling balanced, and a small kit of hot sauce and some herbs and spices to keep your meals a little more interesting.
And in any of your adventure travels, never leave home without a first-aid kit! You may be able to start a fire in a cave or parachute off a mountain, but you’re nothing without some ointment and an Ace bandage in case of emergency.
Related articles
- Packing Tips (nyulondonspring2012.wordpress.com)
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Get Out of Town Painlessly for Spring Break
February 2, 2012 by Scott Applebee · Leave a Comment
Peter Shankman had a great blog post this past December about “how to get out of town painlessly” over the holidays. We 
were so inspired by it, we borrowed a few of our favorite ideas, and added a few of our own, on how you can get out of town painlessly over Spring Break. Remember, it’s the destination, not the journey, so you want to make this as easy as you can.
Take the first flight out. Early-morning flights have their ups and downs, of course. The benefits: Lines are shorter, you’ll have to wait less almost everywhere — except the coffee kiosk! — and if your flight is delayed for some reason, there’s a better chance you’ll get rebooked painlessly. The obvious downside: Getting up at the crack of dawn.
Don’t check a bag. It’s always a pain to check baggage, but during these times of heavy travel loads, when there are a lot of novice travelers checking a lot of baggage, now is the time to opt out completely. Consider the cost to check a big bag, possibly even an overweight one. Chances are, that’s far more than the cost of packing everything ahead of time then shipping it to your destination — all the way to your destination. If you FedEx your bag the week before you arrive, it’ll be waiting for you at the hotel after you waltz out of the airport, trying to suppress a smug giggle.
Prepare for TSA. We’ve talked about this before, because it’s one of the hardest parts of any trip: 1) Wear slip-on shoes. 2) Put everything from your pockets into your briefcase. 3) Get travel size toiletries and put them all in a 1 quart bag. 4) Use a checkpoint-friendly briefcase. 5) Pick the shortest looking line.
Consider driving instead. Bet you weren’t expecting that. Many frequent business travelers we know will drive if a trip is less than five hours away. Think of it: you have to drive to the airport, which is 30 – 40 minutes away. You have to get there at least 90 minutes early. Then a 60 minute flight, and another 30 minutes to deplane and get to your transportation. You just spent 3.5 hours getting to your destination, and that doesn’t include any delays. For an extra 90 minutes, you can be in your new destination with your own car, which also saves on car rental and cab fares. You missed the Spring Break crowds, and are riding in your own familiar surroundings.
Meeting New People When Living Abroad
January 31, 2012 by Scott Applebee · Leave a Comment
When you’re well established and have been living somewhere for a while, it’s easy to take your social life for granted. 
People develop habits: happy hours, dinner groups, bowling leagues.
But when you’re taken out of that established life and plunked down somewhere new, you realize just how much time and effort it took to build that social life, and how much you need it.
Luckily, meeting new people and making friends isn’t rocket science, even if it seems like it at first. There are plenty of ways to get to know people in a new place, even in a new country and culture.
If you’re working in an office abroad, never underestimate the power of coworkers — especially if they’re also from the United States. Navigating a new area together can be a great team building exercise, and there’s always strength in numbers. You may have a better chance of linking up with a group of locals if you’re out having fun together, and it’ll be easier to break the ice that way.
If some of your coworkers have been there longer than you, ask them to show you around. Chances are they’ve already done a bit of exploring since they arrived, and they’ve already found some favorite places. Something as simple as hitting a local watering hole after work or grabbing a bite over lunch at a local restaurant can be enough to build the foundation for a great friendship.
If you find yourself in more of a solo situation, here are a few other ideas:
Congregate around sports events. Even if you’re not a big soccer, rugby or cricket fan, these and other team sports can be a huge draw for fun-loving locals abroad. Grab a pint and enjoy the game and the camaraderie.
Use the web. Meetup.com offers a lot of international meetup groups for people with all sorts of interests. Visit international.meetup.com and do a search for the area you’ll be living in, or your activity of choice. Other sites, including Yelp, are beginning to build communities abroad, too. There are plenty of ways to meet like-minded locals online.
Hang out with other expatriates. Expats are other foreigners living abroad, either temporarily or permanently, either from your own country or other parts of the world. But be careful not to isolate yourself too much — though it’s easy to surround yourself with people and new friends who have this shared experience of being from another country, expats can be a pretty insular group. Don’t forget to expand your horizons and meet the locals.
Jump into some good, old-fashioned small talk. If you’re feeling lonely, don’t be afraid to strike up a little conversation with someone nearby, whether it’s a hotel staff member, a concierge clerk, people at a nearby table at a restaurant or even someone on your bus or train to work. You might be surprised how friendly people can be when you reach out to them first.
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