As an introvert, I don’t enjoy hostels, avoid most social gatherings and rarely feel like myself in a large group. Yet I’ve built beautiful friendships in several corners of the world based on shared interests and meaningful interactions. Here are some amazing platforms that’ve led me to soulful connections across the globe: 👉 eatwith - A platform where local chefs open up their dining rooms to travellers. My first brush with EatWith happened years ago in NY City, where we landed up in the home of a Jewish family for a traditional (veganized) Sabbath dinner! 👉 @airbnb - I’ve used it over the years to find experiential accommodations everywhere - remote fincas in Central America, off-the-grid spots in Sri Lanka, and most recently, a sweet local’s home in the Arctic! 👉 @meetup - As a digital nomad, while spending a month or two in a region, interest-based meetups have led me to connect with like-minded people. In Cape Town, for instance, we ended up connecting with local hiking groups to explore trails that little was written about or that were incredibly expensive to do independently. 👉 Instagram hashtags / Facebook groups - Location + interest-based Instagram hashtags and Facebook groups have led me to connect with inspiring zero waste practitioners in South Africa, Syrian and Afghan refugees in the Netherlands, solo travellers across India, and inspiring vegans in Iran. A great way to seek local friendships as an introvert! 👉 @happycow - I’ve sworn by the app ever since I turned vegan in 2015 - for it maps out vegan (and vegetarian) food options wherever you are. From a vegan B&B on the Swiss countryside to vegan-friendly izakayas in Japan, HappyCow is the reason I’ve thrived on the road as a vegan traveller. 👉 @airbnbexperiences - As someone who mostly dislikes generic tours, I love Airbnb experiences curated by locals who know the best of where they live. Through it, I’ve walked the backlanes of Havana with photography students, learnt macrobiotic cooking with a sweet Japanese family, and swum in waterfalls (thankfully) unknown to Instagram 😉 How do you meet locals while travelling? Have you tried any of the above platforms?