Travelling solo was one of the most important times of my life. Maybe you are wanting to experience a new place without anyone else telling you what to do or maybe you just can’t find anyone to go on your travels with you! Whatever your reasoning for heading out on an adventure alone, you will get so much out of the experience and most likely find it life-changing.
The idea of arriving in a new city or country without knowing anyone can feel pretty overwhelming so ideally, you need to make sure to prepare in advance. There are loads of blog posts out there which focus on how to keep safe when you travel solo, especially for women. This is of course very important and useful however, there is much more to know about solo travel besides keeping safe. There is no need to be afraid of travelling alone, and there are so many misconceptions about what it is really like. Solo travelling pushes you out of your comfort zone, allows you to develop self-confidence, meet new people and experience new places on your own terms.
Here are my top 10 tips for solo travel, so you can get the most out of your time travelling alone!
1. stay in hostels
This is such an important one for meeting like-minded travellers. Most solo travellers will be staying in hostels so it is a great way to meet new people from all over the world. Hostels will often run activities such as movie nights, game nights, karaoke etc. They make it very easy to form new friendships! Hostels also organise group excursions to visit must-see’s in the local area and will book it all for you so it is a great way to explore the top sights of your destination. You will inevitably end up bonding with others in your dorm room, on a day out or at the bar. I tend to use Hostel World – make sure you always read the reviews!
2. Introduce yourself
Just say hi! When you first arrive it might seem intimidating to go up to a stranger, or a big group of them, and just start chatting but it will soon become normal very quickly. It helps if you have some pre-planned conversation starters or ice breakers: ‘Where are you from? Where are you travelling to? What are your favourite places so far?’ Or you could literally just say hi! Don’t hesitate to use asking for advice as a conversation opener – you could ask where the local store is, about the hostel or even for a lighter or something else to borrow just to start up a conversation! Trust me, when you are meeting other travellers, no one will think it’s strange! Everyone there is in the same boat. Plus the more you do it, the easier it gets!
3. STAY Flexible
It is always good to have a rough plan of your trip to make sure you know where you are going and you don’t miss any of the main highlights on offer. However, if you plan too rigidly it can limit you and the freedom of your trip. You might meet a new group of friends and want to follow them, you don’t want to have to say no just because you already have a schedule you set weeks ago! You can book things on the go such as hostels or buses and trains. Just make sure any big things are pre-booked such as flights, or big experiences you don’t want to miss.
4. be open minded
An important lesson of travelling solo is being open minded, and not judging a book by it’s cover! You might make friends with someone you would have never crossed paths with at home. You might find a new hobby or passion in your life because you tried something different. Look up from your phone, smile, be open and friendly to everyone you meet even if you don’t initially think they are your type of person. And embrace every opportunity!
5. Book group trips
If you are really worried about travelling solo you could book your whole trip with a company such as Trutravels. I did this before on my first time going it alone (with Trutravels) and can strongly advocate for it. There will be a mix of solo travellers, friendship groups, and couples who are all along for the adventure together. The pros of this is you know you will definitely not be alone, your itinerary is planned so you don’t miss anything and you can relax and be shown around. However, these tend to be more expensive and limits you to a set itinerary without the freedom of seeing where you end up. If you are someone who is really nervous about travelling alone I would highly recommend booking your whole trip in this way. However, my personal preference, and what I have done more recently, would be to book on a group trip for just the first week or first few days. This way you can ease in to it and maybe even meet others who want to carry on travelling with you. You can also book on to group tours which are just for one day or a couple of nights somewhere which is another great option for solo travellers wanting to experience a country and meet others.
6. do what you want to do
The best part of travelling alone is everything is on your terms – you don’t need to spend your time doing what someone else wants to do. Make the most of it! Don’t follow the crowd as the best bet for meeting people you will really get on with is to do what you are drawn to, not what anyone else says to do. That’s the beauty of solo travel after all! For example, if everyone else in your hostel seems to just want to drink and party but you want to go on a sunrise hike or a scuba dive. You will meet so many people doing these things and have a great time – doing exactly what you want! Also, don’t be afraid to spend time totally alone, you might find that you love it. Finally, challenge yourself – push yourself out of your comfort zone and do something you wouldn’t do at home.
7. Volunteer or work abroad
A great way to travel solo is to volunteer or work abroad. You will be working alongside a group of other people, so will always have others to go on trips with on the weekends and to go for a beer with after work. If you are lucky enough to be able to spend a long time abroad then this is a great option and is an amazing way of immersing yourself in another culture whilst also doing something meaningful with your time. Check out my guide to volunteering abroad.
8. Join facebook groups
There are some great Facebook groups available which connect solo travellers and backpackers. You can search by your location and see posts from people going at the same time. You could arrange to meet for a coffee, go for drinks, make lots of new friends through them or just have the peace of mind that you will know someone else there if you have a problem.
9. Learn the language and chat to locals
Travelling anywhere, but especially when solo, is a lot easier if you have can speak some of the local language. Learn some useful phrases beforehand so you can ask for advice from a friendly local on what to do, where to eat or if you ever need help. Don’t be shy to chat to a local person, they have the best inside knowledge and they will appreciate you trying to speak their language!
10. stay safe
Travelling alone can be very safe if you do your research before, and follow some general principles. There are certain destinations which are considered safer to travel to alone, and therefore choosing one of these for your solo trips is always a good idea. However, I have also travelled to countries which are not considered safe for solo travel and have been fine by having my wits about me and a keeping a few things in mind…
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Stay in hostels that you have researched before and know are secure and safe. Some hostels also have female only dorms.
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Go on group trips. Instead of exploring a city alone, go on tours organised by your hostel or a local company.
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Venture out with others from your hostel. Ask if people in your dorm would like to go check out that museum, or go for a drink!
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Watch your drinks. This is true everywhere but especially true when travelling solo! Never take a drink from a stranger or one that has left your sight.
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Keep an eye on your valuables – get a bum bag! For festivals, parties, busy streets, having a bum bag really helped me out.
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Always have a few people who know where you are.
Hope you enjoyed my top 10 tips for travelling solo! Comment below any questions or your own tips for travelling alone!
