Welcome back to Connections with Eric! In this seventh episode, I share how I turned a solo trip to Lisbon into an instant social network by sending 20 simple LinkedIn DMs and hosting a cocktail party with complete strangers the same day I landed.
If you caught episode 6 where I revealed the pre-game strategies that make parties work, this episode is about taking those skills on the road and proving you can build connections anywhere, even in a city you’ve never been to before.
This episode is all about the power of reaching out early, getting real recommendations from locals instead of Google, and why sometimes the best way to discover a new city isn’t with a guidebook, it’s with a wine opener and a portable speaker.
Keep reading below for how I went from zero connections in Lisbon to hosting a party with 10 strangers in an Airbnb within hours of landing.
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The Simple DM Strategy
Five weeks before my trip to Lisbon, I sent 20 simple DMs on LinkedIn:
“What’s your favorite thing to do in Lisbon? ‘m visiting for the first time this June and would love to get some ideas. Thanks.”
Fast forward, I’m standing in an Airbnb in Lisbon with a dozen strangers, drinking Portuguese wine, and somehow hosting a cocktail party in a city I’d never been to before.
Getting Real Recommendations
That was it. Short, polite, no big ask. And the replies? Pure gold. One person suggested driving along the coast to Cascais with a stop for a beer at a beach restaurant called Atmaar. Another recommended a walking path between Garbeo and Cascais lined with cafés and scenic views. Someone else told me to hit up Sintra to explore the castles and soak in the history.
By the end, I had about 15 responses packed with heartfelt recommendations from people who actually live there. Not Google, not TripAdvisor, not ChatGPT. Real people. And that changed the entire vibe of my trip. Because instead of feeling like a tourist with a checklist, I felt like I had a warm welcome before I even landed.
The Crazy Idea
And here’s where things got interesting. I thought, “Why not make this trip even more memorable and throw a cocktail party?” So I did something kind of crazy: I invited everyone who gave me a recommendation to a cocktail party in Lisbon.
I was staying at an Airbnb. I landed on a Thursday around 3:30 PM, went straight to the store, grabbed a few bottles of Portuguese wine, a couple bags of chips, and dusted off my portable speaker with my go-to playlist. The party was set for 6 to 8 PM the same night.
And here’s the kicker: about 10 people showed up. People I’d never met in person, but because we’d messaged back and forth, it didn’t feel like strangers walking into my Airbnb. We’d already swapped stories, shared tips, and now we were hanging out face-to-face with wine in hand.
The Party That Set the Tone
It was fantastic. They swapped stories about Lisbon, traveling, moving abroad. Some of them weren’t even locals originally, they’d moved there from other countries. And instead of starting my trip scrolling through tourist brochures, I kicked it off with laughter, good wine, and warm, genuine connections.
Now, let me pause here, because I know what you might be thinking: “You threw a cocktail party in a random Airbnb with ten strangers off LinkedIn? What are you, insane?” And yeah, maybe a little. But you know what? It worked.
That night set the tone for the whole trip. Instead of awkwardly wandering the city with Google Maps out like a lost dad on vacation, I felt plugged in. Like I had a crew. And honestly, that’s the thing nobody tells you: sometimes the best way to discover a new city isn’t with a guidebook, it’s with a wine opener.
The Lesson
It doesn’t take much to throw a cocktail party. You don’t need a five-star venue, a catering spread, or some grand plan. Sometimes all it takes is a simple DM, a few bottles of wine, and the guts to host.
And suddenly you’re not just visiting a city, you’re part of it.
The power of reaching out early, being genuine in your ask, and creating a reason for people to meet face-to-face can transform any travel experience from lonely tourism into real connection.
Conclusion
Building connections in a foreign city doesn’t require elaborate plans or expensive networking events. It starts with simple outreach, genuine curiosity, and the willingness to create a space for people to gather.
The lesson? Don’t wait for connections to happen. Create them. Whether it’s your hometown or a foreign city, all it takes is reaching out, following through, and showing up with wine and an open door.
But here’s the thing: even when you nail the pre-game and get people to show up, most parties still flop because nobody thinks about how humans actually connect. In episode 8, I break down why most meetups suck and the three simple design tweaks that turn strangers into friends. Episode 8 drops next Wednesday!
For more episodes and stories like this, check out my complete episode guide. And fyi, if you didn’t know, I’m rebuilding my social life after separation through cocktail parties, game nights, and even Timeleft. Want the playbook? Get it by clicking here.