How do you meet people abroad? I go to the skatepark, start shooting the shit with folks, buy some beers and then they eventually take me out to the bar or to their moms house for more drinking, I have no idea how I would meet folks if it weren't for skateparks.

>>2837006
>start shooting the shit with folks, buy some beers and then they eventually take me out to the bar or to their moms house for more drinking.
Sorry I'm not a Chad.

>>2837006
>How do you meet people abroad?
depends on who you want to meet

group tours are really easy to meet people
but it's gonna be other travelers and the tours themselves are very hit or miss from the actual enjoyment

if you're in your 30s or older and travel without a budget
luxury boutique hotel bars are a really great way
the only 2 long term travel friends I've met in recent years were over cocktails in a small lodge in botswana and in a small hotel in Stockholm

other than that
>hostels if you you're young, read the reviews and specifically search for social ones
>local bars on busy nights (events work best, like halloween just now, as groups are a bit more "loose")
>social events like meetups (though will more likely be expats)
>or if you're into art, go to vernissages!

technically, if you're social and charismatic enough, you can meet people literally anywhere

Should I even bother buying a shinkansen ticket online? Anons on here say they go to the station and still can buy tickets day of, then they spend an hour or so dicking around the station (which is fine).

>>2837100
This doesnt work outside the skatepark community. Actually one time a dude from a hostel invited me to his house when I went to his city

What's a good first time solo travel destination within Europe for January? I'm thinking either Germany or Norway.

>>2837301
Norway is expensive, and brutal in winter.
Germany was my first solo trip and I'd say it's a great place to start. It has literally everything that a traveler could want, history, nature, nightlife, good food, good transportation, good English if you need it, and not too expensive. You can basically get a taste and feel for everything there.

>>2837301
>January
>Norway
Oslo gets like 6h of Daylight with on avg <2h of sunshine per day in January
the further north you go the worse it's gonna get

save Norway for another season
and solo traveling Norway is ROUGH anyway, mostly (old) couples and families, barely any young travelers let alone solo / groups

Germany is really great as first solo travel destination

other easy options in the region would be Netherlands, Belgium, Poland or eastern European capitals
Spain or Croatia are great for party / nightlife but only in Summer