How to Meet People While Traveling

While some people enjoy experiencing the fun of travel most by themselves or with a family member or friend, others find meeting people along the way to be one of the major benefits of traveling. Especially if you are traveling alone or embarking on an extended trip, meeting people can be an important skill to develop. Luckily, there are many convenient ways for travelers to meet each other and also to interact with local people. While many of these relationships will be fleeting, others could be the beginning of years of friendship!

1 Learn the local language. If you will be traveling internationally, few things go so far towards meeting local people while traveling as learning their language. Of course, the more fluent you are, the more people you will be able to talk to, and the greater range of subjects you will be able to discuss. However, many people around the world do speak English, but will still feel more accommodating if you have made the effort to learn at least a few phrases of their language.

2 Participate in local programs. Compared to regular tourism or backpacking, many organized programs provide a greater opportunity for meeting local people while traveling. Some examples of these programs include joining volunteer organizations, doing study abroad courses, or arranging for a home stay with a local family.

3 Use your connections. If you know someone who knows someone where you will be going, see if they would be interested in meeting up. Don't put pressure on them for accommodation or other services, but suggest something like taking them out for coffee so they can give you some tips about the area. You may hit it off, or they may be able to introduce you to some other people.

4 Sign up for a group tour. These vary a great deal in scope. You could choose an entire package trip that would have you traveling overland or by sea with the same group of people the entire time, or you could do something as simple as an afternoon walking tour. Many of these trips vary greatly in terms of target audience, but chances are if you pick one that interests you, you will meet other people who share your interests.

5 Hang out in traveler haunts. These places generally have a deservedly mixed reputation, but especially if you're on an extended trip they can be a comfortable break from foreign experiences. Plus, most travelers love meeting other travelers, and there are few better ways to do this. Try staying in hostels or visiting clubs, restaurants or cafes that cater to expatriates.

How to Book Train Travel From Sweden To Finland

Traveling from Sweden to Finland offers a challenge to those who want to travel by rail in that there is no direct route; however, if you are an adventurous person with time on your hands, you are in for an amazing journey around the Gulf of Bothnia with views of Scandinavia near the Arctic Circle.

Take Time to Plan Your Itinerary from Sweden to Finland

1 Prepare for a long journey by train. There are no trains that travel directly from Sweden to Finland because of a difference in the size of the rails between the two countries. Service in Sweden from Stockholm to Boden takes approximately 14 hours.

2 Plan to get on a bus. You will need to transfer by bus from Boden through the border town of Tornio to Kemi in Finland. The train trip from Kemi to Helsinki is approximately 7 hours.

3 Consider stopovers and day trips. The trip from Sweden to Finland is long and it may be difficult to find trains that allow you to travel without long delays. Break up the trip into smaller segments to avoid waiting for connecting trains.

Take Overnight Trains Between Sweden and Finland

1 Travel at night to save money on accommodations. Pay extra to book a sleeper car on a night train and cover your hotel and travel expenses at the same time.

2 Know the options available on overnight trains before booking tickets. Swedish trains traveling from Stockholm to Boden offer choices of six bed, three bed, and single bed compartments. Some trains, like the Finnish trains from Olou to Tampere, offer only triple and double sleeping accommodations.

Learn About Discounts on Train Travel in Sweden and Finland

1 Determine whether you need a rail pass. Passes offer a lot of flexibility and are a good alternative to single use tickets. There are passes specifically for travel within multiple European countries, within Scandinavia, and for travel exclusively in Finland.

2 Be conscious of existing discounts. Most train services offer student and senior discounts as well as discounts for groups traveling together. Booking tickets in advance also saves money on fares.

How to Get Free Bus Travel

Everyone likes an occasional freebie. For someone who uses public transportation on a regular basis, finding ways to take the bus for free can have a real impact on the wallet. It takes some digging to find such opportunities, but there are several ways you can travel free by travel if you're in the right situation.

1 Check when your employer offers free bus tickets as a benefit. Colleges and universities sometimes provide free bus travel to new employees and other businesses have followed suit.

2 Call your local city hall and ask about free bus travel for commuters or shoppers to the downtown area. For example, Denver has a service called FREE MallRide that helps people save money and keeps the city from having to build more parking garages.

3 Contact the American Bus Association for press releases or consumer notices about special deals on bus passes. Web sites of the top bus companies, including Greyhound, Megabus and Trailways, also issue bulletins about promotions.

4 Ask a travel agent about the possibility of free bus travel at your destination if you're a student or a senior and planning a trip overseas.

5 Sign on with a temporary agency. Strange as it sounds, some smaller cities hire people to ride the bus on holidays to keep their numbers up.

How to Get a Travel Visa for India

If you plan to travel to India, you have to obtain a valid visa before you enter. There are several different types of visas available to foreigners, so it's important that you choose the appropriate one for your trip. Visas are differentiated by the purpose of your travel and the length of your stay.

1 Determine what type of visa is appropriate for your trip. You can get tourist visas that are valid for 6 months, 1 year, 5 years or 10 years. Business and student visas are also available for 1 year.

2 Visit the Indian Embassy or one of the Indian Consulates located in Chicago, San Francisco, New York or Houston to apply for your visa in person. This usually can be done in the same day. Alternatively, you can apply through the mail, but it takes longer.

3 Provide your trip information, passport number, photographs, visa fee and completed application for your visa. Check that you sent everything you need if you are applying through the mail, or your visa could be delayed.

4 Wait for your visa to arrive. If you sent your application materials through the mail, it could take several weeks for your visa to be sent back to you. Plan to apply early enough to allow for mailing delays.

5 Show your visa along with your passport and disembarkation card when you arrive in India. Check that your passport has been stamped correctly before you leave immigration so there are no problems during your stay.

6 Get registered at a foreigner's registration office in one of India's main cities within 14 days if you are traveling on a visa that's valid for more than 180 days.