Have a look online for solo travel groups, or check out if there are any hostels nearby where you are staying.

Solo travelling is super popular these days so there will absolutely be a bunch of other solo travellers in exactly the same position as you that you can meet up and party with. Hostels are a great bet as they usually have parties, bar crawls and other nightlife activities going on you can tag along with. A lot of them are pretty chill and will let you come in and drink in their bar even if you're not staying there.

Find a group, hit the clubs and go for it.

How do I go alone without it looking weird?

It's fine.

Easiest way is to go early and chat to (and tip!) the staff early.

. I feel if i'm in a foreign country around people i'll never see again, I can reinvent myself as a cool guy.

if it's that easy why not do it here?

Depends where you go. If I go to Thailand I just head straight to the red light district and fuck the hottest piece I can find. If they're all ugly I hit the bars and usually end up with some married chick or ladyboy.

So I fly solo a lot. Here's how I do it:

Rule 1: Be a magnificent bastard.

You need to dress, act, and think like you're the god damn show. Be outgoing, be engaging, and be unafraid to smash into groups.

Rule 2: No apologies.

You might step on some toes, so the fuck what? If some dude gives you grease, just laugh it off and walk away. You're not here for them, you're here for you and nothing's gonna fuck up your night. You don't want to be fumbling around trying to make amends with strangers. Fuck them, you've got bourbon to drink and shit to do.

Rule 3: you're better than them.

You're here to have fun, be fun, and make fun. If people want to be petty and try to step on that, laugh it off because they're beneath you.

Rule 4: No judgments.

Your job is to be cool. Refrain from critiquing others because that's a fast way to make people defensive. You need to be the new fun guy that makes people happy. You may not like these people, but you're not trying to be their friend - you're a temporary face in the crowd. Be a good one.

Rule 5: No mooching.

Pay your own way, even if someone offers.

Rule 6: Prepare for a night alone.

The reality is that if you don't have a circle, it's going to be hard. If you accept that you're not going to be successful, you've come to grips with the worst outcome (barring a bar fight). When I go out, I know that I might end up alone in my hotel room. If I don't, it's a nice surprise.

Rule 7: Always have a backup.

Doublelist, depending on your city, is an amazing fallback. Lay your nets out early in the day and occasionally check your email. If all else fails, there's always some girl who just needs to get railed.