Airplane Mode Podcast | Chloe Mitchell on Group Travel and the Magic of Shared Memories
Making friends as an adult is hard—but travel makes it easier. Chloe Mitchell shares how group trips spark instant bonds and unforgettable memories, from Kenya safaris to gondola rides in Venice.
Making friends as an adult? Kinda feels like trying to join a group chat you weren’t invited to. But Chloe Mitchell—a content creator, solo travel queen, and all-around ray of sunshine—says it doesn’t have to be that way. In Episode 3 of Airplane Mode, she spills the tea on why travel groups are lowkey friendship factories and how Venice (yes, the actual city) gave her one of her closest travel bonds ever.
“You bond fast when you’re stuck in a van with no Wi-Fi.”
One of Chloe’s fave stories? A safari in Kenya, where she spent 8–10 hours a day riding through the wild with six women—most of whom she’d just met. “All the tea comes out,” she laughs. “The gossip, the trauma, the life story. You don’t have service, so you just talk.”
And it wasn’t just a Kenya thing. Chloe believes travel speeds up connection in a way regular life just doesn’t. “You don’t have to hold your cards close,” she says. “When you’re in a new place with people you might never see again, you just show up as you, and that makes everything feel more real.”
Why travel makes adult friendship easier (and way more fun)
Making friends post-college can feel like a full-time job, but Chloe gets it—and says travel is the ultimate shortcut.
“There’s something about group trips,” she shares. “You haven’t known these people that long, but the connections? Sometimes they’re stronger than friendships you’ve had for years.”
Why? Because you’re seeing each other in all your glory and all your chaos. Jet lag, language barriers, weird sunscreen meltdowns. It’s giving “team bonding,” minus the office.
There’s always that one friend
Ah, Venice. The floating city, the land of pasta and prosecco, the backdrop to Chloe’s iconic “first friend off the plane” story.
“We had just landed when I met Natalie,” she remembers. “She was also solo, and just got it. She calmed everyone down, shared tips, and instantly made me feel welcome.”
From there, they wandered through canals, shared selfies on mossy steps (more on that in a sec), and built a friendship that outlasted the trip. Because Venice isn’t just romantic—it’s kinda magical when it comes to bringing strangers together.
Also, side note: Chloe almost slid into a canal trying to get the pic. “I was perched on this step and it was all algae,” she laughs. “One second I’m serving face, the next I’m slipping in. My friends literally had to grab me.”
Group travel = built-in besties
Whether you’re traveling solo or with a group, Chloe’s advice is simple: embrace it.
“You have to let go of your ego sometimes,” she says. “Like when you ask a stranger on the bus for a tampon. That’s real life—and that’s how friendships start.”
No matter your background or relationship status, travel groups—especially ones built for women and solo travelers—create safe, open spaces to connect. You show up, you laugh, you cry, you maybe fall into a canal (hopefully not), and suddenly, you’ve found your people.
Shared memories are the best souvenirs
As Chloe reminds us, travel isn’t just about where you go—it’s about who you go there with. The friendships, the deep convos, the inside jokes... those are the things you carry with you.
“When you’re on a trip in a new space with new people, some of which you may never see again, there’s no need to hold the cards close to your chest. You just get to talk and be you and show up authentically.”
So next time you’re wondering how to meet new people, skip the awkward apps or forced small talk. Book the trip. Show up as yourself. And let the friendships find you.
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