This is a real friendship story about two Gofrendly members who went from a single, slightly nervous message to a shared trip to Italy in just a few months. Here’s how it happened, in their own words.
Matilda & Noelle’s Story
I had just moved to a new city where I didn’t know anyone when I came across Gofrendly during one of my online searches. I was looking for close friends to spend time with, and I was eager to meet people who shared my interests.
I still remember my first Gofrendly meetup — I was nervous! We met for a drink, and it actually went really well. We hung out a couple more times, but it just didn’t click for either of us. It took a few months, but that’s when I met Noelle. She’d only joined the app the day before, and I happened to be her very first meetup. Our connection was instant.
The Italy Trip
About three months into our friendship, we decided — somewhat spontaneously — to travel together. It was Noelle’s idea to go to Italy, since she usually vacations there every year, and she invited me along. Before we left, we talked openly about our habits and where we might clash. The hardest part of traveling with a newer friend is not knowing each other’s quirks yet, so our best tip is simple: talk through your concerns and plan the trip together ahead of time. Then let yourself enjoy the fact that everything is new and exciting. If you’re planning something similar, how to meet travel friends has more tips for traveling with someone you haven’t known very long.
We’ve shared so many great moments since, and we’re already planning our next trip — Amsterdam. One of my favorite memories is from our first night in Italy, when we found a cozy bar and just talked for hours. It got real — we both opened up — and after that, I felt completely at ease with Noelle.
Finding a Real Friend
I’m so grateful I met her — without Gofrendly, it might never have happened. It sounds like a cliché, but I really do believe in giving new friendships a chance, because you might just find your person. It’s also such a good way to meet people you can build real memories with. My advice: don’t wait too long to suggest meeting up. A simple coffee or a casual burger is plenty — it doesn’t need to be a big production. Then keep meeting up regularly, so the friendship actually has room to grow. It’s not the only real friendship story that started this way — Josephine and Bella’s journey looked a lot like this too.
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What Matilda & Noelle’s Friendship Can Teach You
- Give it more than one try. Matilda’s first couple of Gofrendly meetups didn’t click — it took meeting Noelle for things to feel instant. One quiet first meetup doesn’t mean the app doesn’t work.
- Say yes to the spontaneous invite. Their Italy trip happened because Noelle asked and Matilda said yes, just three months into the friendship.
- Talk about the small stuff before the big stuff. A quick, honest conversation about habits and expectations before their trip kept things easy once they got there.
Matilda’s story is a good reminder of something the numbers back up, too.
87%of Americans now have fewer than ten close friends — up from two-thirds in 1990. Matilda’s real friendship story almost didn’t happen — her first couple of meetups went nowhere before Noelle came along. Sometimes closing that gap just takes trying once more than feels comfortable.
Source: Survey Center on American Life, American Perspectives Survey (2021)
“It took a few months, but when I met Noelle, our connection was instant.”
— Matilda
Common Questions About This Real Friendship Story
How long did it take Matilda and Noelle to become close friends?
Just a few months. Matilda had a couple of Gofrendly meetups that didn’t lead anywhere first — Noelle was the one who clicked, right from their first meeting.
Do you need to know someone well before traveling together?
Not necessarily — but Matilda and Noelle talked openly about their habits and expectations before their trip, a simple conversation that made traveling together feel easy even though the friendship was still fairly new.
What’s the best way to start a friendship on Gofrendly?
Matilda’s advice: be proactive. Suggest a simple coffee or casual meetup soon after connecting, then keep meeting regularly so the friendship has room to grow — that’s usually how a real friendship story begins on Gofrendly.
Can I share my own Gofrendly friendship story?
We’d love to hear it. Share your friendship story through our form.
