At one point, the idea of traveling solo seemed scary and downright lonely. It boggled my mind why anyone would choose to do this purposefully. I now am that solo traveler that gets excited for every opportunity to travel solo, and find it to not only be exhilarating, but also a confidence booster and reveals certain aspects of yourself you may not have known otherwise.
Don’t get me wrong, traveling with a group of friends or with a partner is a lovely experience in itself to share in the moment with another person, but it is an entirely different experience than that of traveling solo.
I intend to share with you my reasons for solo traveling, how to stay safe doing so, and how to get the most exciting trip possible exploring on your own.
Why Solo Travel?
Do you have that bucket list of travel destinations that you just haven’t gotten to yet because its never been the right time to do it? Everyone else is busy when you finally get some free time off work to do something. This is the perfect time to start crossing off those destinations from your list and go on your own!
The more you solo travel the easier it gets because you start to see how fun and successful you can be doing so. If you are at a point in life where you need to get away to think about a big decision or to clear your head, solo travel is a perfect solution by stepping away from a current stressful situation and getting a healthy perspective. Rather than trying to face the problem in the eye of the storm.
One stipulation to solo travel is that you are ALONE. As a person who loves communicating and being around others, that sounds extremely unappealing. That absolutely does not need to be the case with solo travel though (unless you want it to be), as this is a great time to make friends with new people along the way.
There is so much freedom to solo travel. Whatever you feel like doing at any point in time you just do it!
Ways to make your solo trip fun and exciting:
Have a purpose for your trip. Solo trips are all about you. Find out what it is you love most when it comes to traveling and plan on doing all of those things! For instance, I love local coffee shops, downtown wall art, and the unique nature of the area. So I might do a trip where I first explore downtown, get my coffee, and wander to a farmers market, then plan a hike after that. You are keeping yourself busy with the things you love. This will bring you joy. The more of these trips you go on the more you will discover what you like to do and may even discover new things about yourself and your interests!
Take your favorite hobby with you. For instance, I love to bring my camera wherever I go and take photos of things that intrigue me along the way. This gives me a goal for my trip. Another idea would be to bring a journal. It is very relaxing on a solo trip especially when you are in a new environment to just take everything in. The people, the street art, the smells of local food. Journaling allows you to write down what you notice, how you feel, and any ideas that this new destination inspires you to think!
Some settings have a connotation of being depressing for doing alone. Such as going to a restaurant and sitting by yourself. This is all a matter of perspective and location. If you go to a spot that looks like it’s set up for couples on dates, then having a candlelit dinner by yourself would make you feel very lonely and you may get a couple of pity glances (side note: this kind of restaurant is not off limits to the solo traveler. It is all a mindset! The pity glances only come if you are looking sad and depressed. So whatever you choose, just do it contentedly!) My advice is to choose a restaurant where you can sit outside and watch people pass by while you draw or journal. This is a prime chance to meet others by finding a restaurant with bar seating. You can strike up conversations with others sitting by themselves. Cafes are another good option for just grabbing a bite and where many people frequent alone.
I suggest starting small with your solo trips and working up to something bigger as you begin to know yourself more and your style while solo traveling. Take a day trip to a nearby town you’ve always wanted to visit and just grab a coffee.
Another great way to meet others on a solo trip is by using Meetup.com. You can search for groups in the local area you plan to go and sign up for events during the time that you will be at a certain location. I have met many great friends through this and would highly suggest it.
How to Stay Safe Traveling Solo:
As a female, I know the risks that could come from traveling alone and possibly looking vulnerable to others who may want to harm you. Things can happen alone or even if you are with friends so the only way to avoid all incidents 100% would be to stay inside and never see a thing. But that is not exciting. That being said, you can and should plan as best as possible for any worst-case scenarios.
Always do your research on areas to find out how safe it is before visiting, especially if you are traveling to a different country. Know the bad spots to avoid and the good spots you can walk on foot. This is also important when you are planning where you are going to stay if getting lodging. You would not want your lodging to be in the most high crime area where you would feel unsafe exploring by foot.
Always stay vigilant. If you see a strange-looking person walking towards you and they look like they could mean you harm, just cross the street anyways even if you feel your intuition is wrong. It is never wrong, and it never hurts to stay cautious.
If you are approached by someone who wants to connect, but you feel uneasy about them, always have a backup story to indicate that you are not by yourself. And an escape plan if it seems they want to stick around for too long.
If you have a means for self-defense items such as pepper spray always have it on you just in case.
Always keep in mind the possibility of pickpocketers. If you have a purse, wear it in a way that the opening is not easily accessible to others, and it is better to wear it across your body rather than hanging from just one shoulder, in case someone may want to snatch it quickly.
A travel belt that is hidden under your pants is also a perfect way to avoid pickpocketers in places where you know it is very prevalent.
Let others know your whereabouts on your trip so that if they do not hear from you after a time they will be alerted and have an idea of where they last heard from you at.
I have never had a bad travel experience where I have felt unsafe by following the above guidelines. So mentioning all of these things is not to scare you but is something to keep in mind.
Summary
Solo Travel can be all around rewarding when it comes to traveling freely, building self-confidence, and self-discovery. I would love to hear some of your own solo trip stories in the comments below! Or even some additional tips and tricks you’ve found to help you on your travels. Additionally, what solo trips are you planning on taking next?
