Meeting locals at Triptrotting's first event at the Moritz Beer Factory in Barcelona, Spain.

Last week your Gomio Team took it upon ourselves to make a trek out to Factory Moritz brewery, where Triptrotting.com’s first TripUp event in Barcelona, Spain was being held. Here we hoped to give you the insider’s scoop on such events and further perfect our expertise in the field of social travel. Alright, alright, maybe it actually just sounded like a fun way to meet some other locals… but regardless if it was work or play, here’s our first-hand experience using Triptrotting.com to travel the social way!

Factory Moritz, the TripUp location where travelers and locals met for mingling, beer-tasting, and a brewery tour.

While I had already known that Moritz was a Spanish beer, little had I known that it was specifically brewed in my very city of residence, Barcelona.  And if it weren’t for this TripUp event, neither would I have known about the mere existence of Factory Moritz, the first brewery in Barcelona that first operated in 1856, and has since been renovated and reopened as two restaurants, a microbrewery, museum, venue for cultural events, shop, and hip meeting place for locals.

When my boss first asked if I’d be interested in attending the free TripUp event, which offered the opportunity to socialize over a Moritz beer-tasting and factory tour, like any rational, social traveler and avid beer-lover, I was scrambling to register.  I didn’t even have to create a profile with the option to simply sign up via Facebook for instant access to register for the event: the perfect option for my Friday not-feeling-like-putting-much-thought-into-anything laziness.  Oh yeah.

Bringing Travelers and Locals Together

The turn out was a positive surprise.  The sprawling dining table was filled, and we even had to pull up extra chairs to accommodate everyone. Is this really their first event?  I wondered. For it was a remarkable confirmation to see, right off the bat, how many travelers and locals were interested and eager to connect.

Cheers to new friends!

It started with a table of like-minded strangers, multiple Moritz pitchers (thanks to the free beer vouchers Triptrotting provided us!) and a passion for creating bridges where travelers and locals could meet and explore different cultures over similar interests.  And it ended with warm sentiments and a memorable night in a corner of the city that I wouldn’t have previously paid any mind to.  My Canadian friend found a little comfort from home happening upon a clan of fellow Canadians.  And we all learned a little more about each other, as well as about an emblem and interesting piece of Barcelona’s history.

Triptrotting offers travelers the opportunity to make connections through local activities, and avoid the tourist trap in favor of developing into a true, local traveler.

Expand your Travel Network
 Triptrotting.com, in combination with Gomio’s GoDashBoard, is a dynamic duo for the ultimate social travel experience.  After you book your hostel, see who else will be there with your GoDashBoard tool.  Find backpackers based on similar interests and invite them to join you on some local Triptrotting activities in the surrounding area.  Not only is this an easy way to break the ice, but you then have the opportunity to share a unique experience expanding your travel network with locals while participating in authentic and overlooked aspects of a city’s culture.

Man do I love work-related field trips!