Meeting up with other lone travellers...
May 19, 2015, 11:53 am
#16
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,580
Why? If someone is sitting by themselves and not doing anything in particular, what's awkward about saying "hey, where are you from?" If they want to be left alone, it will quickly become obvious.
May 19, 2015, 11:54 am
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Chessington World of Adventures
Programs: BA SILVER!! (After 7 years of trying...)
Posts: 205
May 19, 2015, 11:59 am
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Chessington World of Adventures
Programs: BA SILVER!! (After 7 years of trying...)
Posts: 205
How does that prevent you from staying in a hostel? You seem to have a pretty large misconception over what a hostel is.
It can be exactly what you are describing - a place a 36 year old man travelling for business can stay (in their own room if they want) and meet other travellers who'd like a beer and a chat.
It can be exactly what you are describing - a place a 36 year old man travelling for business can stay (in their own room if they want) and meet other travellers who'd like a beer and a chat.
We have pretty strict corporate travel policies about where it is and isn't safe to stay (especially in places like India), and this is why I end up in posh, somewhat soulless hotels, where the atmosphere isn't exactly that friendly. I'm 99% sure that I'd invalidate my work's travel insurance policy by going to crash with a local or going to a hostel...
Plus, I quite like posh hotels, especially the one I was at on Saturday!
May 19, 2015, 12:00 pm
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Chessington World of Adventures
Programs: BA SILVER!! (After 7 years of trying...)
Posts: 205
I should try to be less... British.
May 19, 2015, 12:01 pm
#20
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,191
Meeting up with other lone travellers...
How are they I am in Mumbai almost every 4 weeks or so
I stay in south Mumbai at the inter contenential
Every time
Granted I don't often get to relax in the evenings
But I can see what you are saying
Since my trips to Mumbai are usually no more then 2 days it's tough and I am too tired to going out
The nice thing they have is a roof top bar whichever provides a great view of marine drive
I stay in south Mumbai at the inter contenential
Every time
Granted I don't often get to relax in the evenings
But I can see what you are saying
Since my trips to Mumbai are usually no more then 2 days it's tough and I am too tired to going out
The nice thing they have is a roof top bar whichever provides a great view of marine drive
May 19, 2015, 12:07 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Chessington World of Adventures
Programs: BA SILVER!! (After 7 years of trying...)
Posts: 205
Joking aside, I know exactly what you mean. I'm in that situation often; on those occasions where there's no friend, relative, or business partner to have dinner or drinks with, it would sometimes be interesting to met someone in the same situation (not always). But it would be very awkward to strike up a conversation with someone just for the hell of it on the off chance that they're 'lonely' as well.
.
.
If you can think of nothing worse than having some over-friendly guy from London who looks a little bit like Mr. Bean coming and taking over your evening, and you want some "you time", then you just don't go on the app- simple!
May 19, 2015, 12:24 pm
#22
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 2,379
Ok, apologies for my dismissal of hostels without really stopping to consider properly...
We have pretty strict corporate travel policies about where it is and isn't safe to stay (especially in places like India), and this is why I end up in posh, somewhat soulless hotels, where the atmosphere isn't exactly that friendly. I'm 99% sure that I'd invalidate my work's travel insurance policy by going to crash with a local or going to a hostel...
Plus, I quite like posh hotels, especially the one I was at on Saturday!
We have pretty strict corporate travel policies about where it is and isn't safe to stay (especially in places like India), and this is why I end up in posh, somewhat soulless hotels, where the atmosphere isn't exactly that friendly. I'm 99% sure that I'd invalidate my work's travel insurance policy by going to crash with a local or going to a hostel...
Plus, I quite like posh hotels, especially the one I was at on Saturday!
If you like the posh hotels then great, but don't be surprised that the type of people often attracted to posh, soulless hotels are posh, soulless people!
May 19, 2015, 12:58 pm
#23
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: EK - Silver; Accor - Silver; O6 - Gold; BAEC - Silver; Flying Blue; SPG; Krisflyer
Posts: 506
I'm certainly not accusing you of lying, but I find it incredibly hard to believe that your work's insurance policy is invalidated if you stay in a hostel! How exactly does that work - the insurer provides a list of hotels you're allowed to stay in?
If you like the posh hotels then great, but don't be surprised that the type of people often attracted to posh, soulless hotels are posh, soulless people!
If you like the posh hotels then great, but don't be surprised that the type of people often attracted to posh, soulless hotels are posh, soulless people!
Back to topic. I fully agree such apps would be great for frequent travelers who don't want to drink/eat alone. But as other posters have stated, it's just to easy to be hijack for "Other" purpose.
May 20, 2015, 1:19 am
#25
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 3
I still find it odd, but am more accepting now.
I'd second the use of couchsurfing, they tend to have weekly get togethers in various places.
Edit: Also a Londonder
May 20, 2015, 1:47 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,224
Now, a commentary on the weather would be absolutely fine.
May 20, 2015, 2:25 am
#27
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Monaco
Posts: 317
May 20, 2015, 2:45 am
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bangkok or San Francisco
Programs: United 1k, Marriott Lifetime PE, Former DL Gold, Former SQ Solitaire, HH Gold
Posts: 11,886
Ha, I did wonder the same thing. Perhaps I just lack the confidence to go over to the other side of a bar in a strange hotel and approach someone sitting by themselves and say "Hello, can I come and sit and talk to you, I'm booooored!"
Perhaps I'm making a huge assumption when I imagine that most people sitting on their own eating or drinking at a table away from everyone else, reading a book, probably don't want some random Brit coming and annoying them!
Perhaps I'm making a huge assumption when I imagine that most people sitting on their own eating or drinking at a table away from everyone else, reading a book, probably don't want some random Brit coming and annoying them!
I've stayed at quite a few hostels. Not suitable for business travel. Great if you're out to see the country side and meet new people. Or if you're cash strapped.
May 20, 2015, 9:12 am
#29
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 2,379
What?
I've stayed in several hundred and many of them are perfectly suitable for business travellers. Judging them all on "quite a few" stays is equivalent to judging hotels in general based on your Holiday Inn experiences!
I've stayed in several hundred and many of them are perfectly suitable for business travellers. Judging them all on "quite a few" stays is equivalent to judging hotels in general based on your Holiday Inn experiences!
May 20, 2015, 2:02 pm
#30
Moderator, Amtrak & Spirit Airlines
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: EWR :rolleyes:
Programs: AC 50K, AS MVP, AA Plat Pro, DL Plat, UA Silver, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 9,625
Maybe it's just me but at least here where I live in the Northeast of the US where its all about not making eye contact, and keeping your head down I think that a bar is the last place around where I can turn up alone, and have a conversation with someone I haven't met. I have started conversations with all types of people all over the world in the past couple years, and I think that we both enjoyed putting our phones down and chatting with each other instead of scrolling through a twitter timeline.