Advice for Solo Travel

Travelling alone comes with a lot of freedom, flexibility and can also be a very liberating experience because you are in full control of what you see and do at the destination. If you don’t feel like sticking around somewhere it’s easier to move on and if you come across something interesting, you can just stop and explore at your leisure without worrying about holding others back.

Concerns Related to Solo Travel

Travelling alone does not mean you have to be alone the whole duration of your trip. Research shows that you are more inclined to meet people along the way and make friends on your trip if travelling alone than you would if you were travelling with other people. When you are by yourself you can follow your own schedule, plan your own itinerary and focus on your own interests without the need to compromise on the day plans. It also brings liberation in the sense that it allows you to follow your own desires, at your own pace and take the time you want to explore places.

Choice of Destination

Your choice of destination for your first solo trip is important because it is going to be the decider on whether you like solo travel or not. As such you don’t want to find yourself in a position whereby you have chosen a destination that is not so friendly to solo travelers and spoils or alters your idea of solo travel. Choosing a destination can make the difference between an enjoyable trip with a future of many more solo trips to come, or a bad experience with mixed results. It is highly recommended that your first solo trip be to destinations where you know the language or English is spoken, you’ll find it easier to navigate, feel safer, and meet more people. You may also want to do a little bit more research on destinations by looking at places that are Solo Traveler friendly, best budget destinations for Solo Travelers or specific activities like hiking and the outdoors. On the other hand, you can start at a more comfortable pace if you are trying out solo travel for the first time by travelling within your own country first. There is always more to see and places that you’ve never travelled in your home country, this way you will find more specific ideas of where to go on your first solo trip abroad and what is more suited for you.

Planning for Solo Travel

When planning a solo trip do some extensive research but also avoid over-planning your trip. Leave plenty of free time on your itinerary to do extra activities or engage in other new interesting activities that may catch your attention at the destination. Not every single detail about the destination is written online, so it is best to make room for these surprises as you go on with your trip.

Making a budget.

Know how much you are willing to spend on your trip, so that you plan and book your transportation and accommodation which are considered to be the two most expensive aspects of a trip. After this you can also add the extra activities that you want to engage in also include a budget for eating out and buying souvenirs at the destination. Make sure that you have extra money that can be used in the case if of an emergency, this will make things much easier. While drawing up your budget also note that when making bookings it will be more costly to book a single room vs a double room at some establishments.

Bookings

Travelling solo might make you feel more vulnerable in an unfamiliar place as such, before booking a place to stay, do a little research and only stay at a hotel or Airbnb property with multiple positive reviews. These reviews will give you a good idea of what to expect from the host, neighborhood, and give you a sense of safety and security making your trip more enjoyable and comfortable. Also book your accommodation in advance before arriving, as you can also end up spending more than what you budgeted for. Make sure to also book your transportation so that you arrive before sunset or during the daytime as this will make navigation much easier and less intimidating than arriving at night.

Study a map

You can always familiarize yourself with the destination by getting a copy of the map or downloading it on google maps to use offline before arrival, this will give you a sense of distance between places and direction as it can help you navigate your way around.

Pack light

Avoid overpacking by figuring out what you really need for the duration of your trip, you don’t have to overpack and have many items of luggage to carry around. Remember to pack an extra jersey and comfortable shoes just in case the weather unexpectedly changes.

Keep a flexible itinerary

This helps in making changes or adjustments when something interesting come up or friends that you make along the way suggest new experiences that may be too good to miss. Word of mouth is often the best way to learn about a place and you can end up exploring amazing destinations you didn’t factor into your itinerary. Even consider consulting the locals and as they will have a better insight as to places that are worth visiting. You might also meet people you want to travel with so being able to fit your plans together as such it is best to not have a strict and highly structured itinerary that may keep you from having unexpected fun along the way.

Safety Precautions

Avoid placing your camera, travel guide, map or other valuables on the table during your trip, making it obvious that you’re a tourist. Looking like a tourist can make you an easy target and compromise your safety, and of course this does not apply to every destination, some are more safer than others but just as a precaution. Add important numbers to your phone by getting the front desk staff at your accommodation to help you add important local numbers to your phone such as the one for your hotel or other emergency numbers.

Check public holiday and festival dates before your trip

This is something you will need to keep an eye on throughout your trip that’s if you are planning to travel to a new country. Some countries effectively shut down during certain times of year so try and keep that in mind.

Pick tours that are solo friendly

Treks and tours are good ways you can interact with both locals as well as meet other travellers along the way. Find out more information before you book because many treks and tours in particular will have ways of putting groups of people together which a great way to meet other people. This is also a good way to get to places that might be far from your accommodation or completely of the usual routes and much safer that commuting alone.