Brief Overview
It makes no difference what stage of life you’re in, how old you are, how much money you have, or if you consider yourself successful. Solo travel is an experience everyone should have at least once in their lifetime. One of life’s greatest pleasures is venturing abroad on one’s own. This page provides essential information for anyone planning to travel alone.
This article will teach you how to realise your wanderlust. Assisting you in overcoming your apprehension of venturing out into the world on your own. Independent travel is not nearly as dangerous as your parents might have you believe. If you want to feel more prepared for the trip of a lifetime, read on for some helpful hints.
Feeling Lonely Is Normal
You need to be ready for a wide range of feelings, including loneliness, if you plan to travel alone. Do not let this regular occurrence dampen your trip. Moreover, if you’re feeling lonely on your trip, I encourage you to take on a personal challenge and make the most of the experience. You won’t be sorry you did it.
When you go on a trip alone, you get to know yourself better than any companion ever could. You learn to trust your own judgement and intuition. Plus, you’re doing what you want to do in life. That’s where success and achievement are achieved.
Likewise, learn to appreciate the sound of silence when you’re by yourself. Allow yourself the freedom to be who you are without worrying about pleasing others. These times of self-reflection are transformational. You will walk away from it with a head full of fresh thoughts and illuminating understanding. Keep in mind that even the worst of times will eventually lead you to your desired destination.
Put Yourself Out There and Meet New People
Making friends is the best method for a solitary traveller to have a good time. Hostels, backpacker lodges, organised tours, and Facebook’s myriad “solo traveller” groups are all great options for this type of travel. In a hostel, it’s recommended that you make friends with the folks you share a room with or at the bar.
Keep an eye out for day trips, social events, and excursions organised by the hostel as they can be great opportunities to mingle with other travellers. The best way to make fast friends and lasting connections is to find those your own age or with comparable interests. So, ultimately, the best enduring memories are created.
What I’ve enjoyed most about my solo travels is the people I’ve met along the way. South East Asia, Central America, and Europe are all great places to visit if you’re a solitary traveller.
Having a genuine curiosity in others is crucial since it leads to exciting new experiences and new friends. Remember their name and make an effort to learn about their culture.
Make an effort to add new friends on at least one social media platform so you may browse their profiles for ideas and maintain contact. The world may be large, but fate may bring you together again someday.
Leave some wiggle room in your travel plans.
You never know who you might wind up becoming fast friends with or perhaps romantically interested in on your travels. So, you might want to follow them where they go for a while. Be prepared for extra experiences and for your day’s programme to not be finished as planned if you frequently meet up with different people to plan outings.
By breaking out of your comfort zone and doing something new, you will create unforgettable experiences. This is the very definition of venturing forth on one’s own.
The thrill of the journey is paramount. When I didn’t know what was going to happen, I had some of the most memorable events of my life. Be willing to join strangers in last-minute, impromptu activities. Be willing to accept any kind of invitation and try anything once. I promise you won’t be sorry.
Do Your Research
Studying up on your vacation spot can be the most thrilling or frustrating aspect. You can get ready by reading several resources, such as guidebooks, Vlogs, blogs (this one, haha), and Google. You should look into things like how long it takes to get to each location. You can learn about the climate, culture, religion, wildlife, and potential hazards. Additionally, examine the public transportation schedules of the location you’re investigating. You should also find out whether and when there will be a disruption in the routine service of public transportation and where that will occur.
Right after touching down, it’s important to assess your surroundings. Allow yourself to get lost and walk around the region if you have the time. That is the optimal strategy for becoming familiar with the neighbourhood. You can locate the nearest grocery store, major tourist destinations, and the greatest restaurants and cafes.
Once you arrive, you can enquire with locals or the hotel’s front desk about must-sees and hidden gems in the area. Since they’ve been there for some time, locals should have the most useful information and recommendations.
Try It Out
Start small and build up to the trip of a lifetime, but make sure to do so before leaving on such an endeavour. A simple first step is to go for a walk around your neighbourhood.
Another option is to spend the day wandering the streets of the city on your own. After that, you can test yourself by spending a weekend on your own in a new city. Then take a week off and jet off to an exotic locale!
It’s important to get some experience under your belt before embarking on a major solo trip, and all that practise can help. If you are prepared to travel internationally, you should choose a destination that is widely regarded as secure. You can also visit a place where you already have a working knowledge of the language. Places frequented by tourists and major urban centres tend to have a higher concentration of people who speak English.
Iceland, Thailand, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Australia, Vietnam, Bali, Cambodia, Singapore, USA, New Zealand, Germany, Canada, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Croatia, Costa Rica, Greece, Scotland, Poland, and Estonia are among the greatest places to visit as a first-time visitor. All of these nations are wonderful options to visit because they are inexpensive, gorgeous, and simple to navigate.
Tell People Where You Are
As a lone traveller, you need to check in with loved ones on a regular basis. Let those who care about you know where you are at the moment. Finally, I think it’s a good idea to let a few others know what you’re up to.
Your loved ones can be updated on your whereabouts and stay vicariously through your posts. Before leaving on your next trip, it’s a good idea to let your loved ones know how long you plan to stay in each city or region. In addition, let certain trusted people know where you plan to go next.
Share your positive information with loved ones, because you never know when things are going to turn worse. There’s no guarantee that anything bad will occur, but it’s smart to be prepared just in case.
Because you will be so preoccupied with having a great time, you may not always remember to do this.
Staying connected while travelling doesn’t have to break the bank; simply get a local SIM card from the location you’re visiting. When you’re done, just toss it and grab a new one.
Set a Savings Plan and Stick to It
Spending less on necessities like clothing, a gym membership, and restaurant meals will help you save for your upcoming trip. Saving money on frivolous purchases is another great way to fund your solo travels and return home with a wealth of memories and stories. Central America, South East Asia, and Eastern Europe are some of the most cost-effective places for a lone traveller to settle down for an extended period of time.
Set aside some cash in a secure location
Always have some extra cash on hand in case of an emergency or unexpected expense when on the road. Your emergency savings should be kept in a secure location, away from your regular cash and belongings. The reason for this is to ensure that if your bag or wallet is lost or stolen, you will still have access to your cash.
Save up for a taxi to the airport or a couple nights’ lodging just in case. A sufficient amount to allow you to rest, eat, and return to your original destination. Again, the chances of this happening are low, but things can and do sometimes go wrong that are outside of your control.
Packing
When travelling, I am the biggest offender of overpacking. The only guideline is to cut anything you want to bring in half, then half again. When you’re travelling, you don’t need much. Bringing less with you on a trip makes it easier to transport your belongings and leaves you with extra spending money for buying fun local swag.
Don’t Over Pack
When first venturing out on their own, many travellers have a tendency to try to pack as much as possible into as little time as possible. The feeling that if you don’t see this destination now, you probably never will is a common one while planning a trip.
It’s preferable to take it easy and enjoy yourself rather than try to cram as much as possible into your time at each location, as you’ll end up forgetting what you saw and won’t feel really present. Don’t forget to factor in some wacky misadventures.
Apps To Get You Started
Hostel World
For those looking for a hostel, Hostelworld is a fantastic online and mobile resource. The site is user-friendly and will help you choose the finest hostel for your requirements. More than 17,000 hostels in 179 countries are featured on the Hostelworld website. You can select among dorms with a view of the ocean, a spooky church, or a historical castle etc.
Booking.com
Booking.com is an excellent website for making accommodation reservations to find good private rooms in hostels and hotels if you fancy a night away in a private room and need a break from shared accomodation. After some time in a shared room, some alone time is always welcome. Alternately, you may splurge for a few of nights and stay somewhere nicer.
Couchsurfing
With Couchsurfing, you can set up a mutually beneficial stay anywhere in the world. If you’re looking to broaden your social circle, save money, or gain a new perspective on a destination, this is a fantastic choice.
The app connects users with locals who are willing to either let them stay at their place temporarily or simply spend some time with them. In return, you can show them around your hometown, feed them some delicious local cuisine, tell them about your travels, or instruct them in a new hobby.
I only used Couchsurfing in Venice, but it came in useful due to the high cost of living there. It was a spur-of-the-moment choice, but one that paid off handsomely. Meeting so many interesting people along the way made my trip unforgettable.
AirBnB
Lodging and holiday rentals can be found in abundance on AirBnB. If you are travelling and meet other travellers who also want to go away for the weekend, this is the perfect solution. It’s no secret that AirBnB features some of the world’s most interesting and desirable holiday rentals.
Workaway
As a volunteer or “Workawayer,” you can use Workaway to set up homestays or cultural exchanges with people in other countries. One must first register before conducting a job search in a certain country. Here’s a chance to connect with people who share your interests and give what you can to those who need it. Babysitting, gardening, house help, general maintenance, and do-it-yourself jobs are just some of the options listed.
Workaway is also an excellent opportunity to develop new skills, gain exposure to cultural norms, and practise one’s native tongue. The wonder of travel is that it allows you to experience a new side of the globe that few people know exists, and some jobs are in places that you would never dream of visiting or have never even heard of.
Uber
Like a taxi service, Uber provides transportation around town. You’ll need to get the app on your phone first, and then you can use it in as many as 85 different countries around the world. Individuals travelling alone can feel at ease using Uber. The one catch is that Uber is often only available in major tourist destinations in more developed nations.
Final Thoughts
Going places alone yourself isn’t as terrifying as it sounds. In the vast majority of other places, you’ll meet good people who’ll become your pals for life. Avoid presuming the worst about others and try to see the good in them. You are far more powerful, capable, independent, and sagacious than anyone else.
Last but not least, you do not have to listen to anyones advice on how to travel. You’ll need to put away a substantial sum of money in order to afford high-end travel and accommodations. You can spend a week travelling from city to city, staying in hostels, or you can spend two days in each place.
Have no regrets if your plans diverge from those of your companions. We’re a diverse group of people, each with our own set of priorities and passions for this journey. The point of taking a trip is to learn about yourself, relax, make the most of the experience, and have fun. Since everyone is unique, there is no universal answer.
Get out there and enjoy you trip!
Save this post (pin it)
Other Solo Travel Related Guides
Be sure to check out our other exciting guides related to Solo travel:
Do you have any tips to share with us and help other readers with solo travel? Let us know in the comments!
Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you.
