Feb 17

5 Easy Ways to Start Solo Traveling

Posted in Solo Travel| Uncategorized

Solo travel is so rewarding, but if you’ve never ventured out on your own before, here are my suggestions for 5 ways to start solo traveling.

I cannot tell you the number of times people respond to my solo travel stories and social media posts by saying, “I wish I could do that”. In my mind I think, “Well, of course you can”, but I also know that’s easy for me to say. It is kind of like my really flexible friends saying “Of course you can do a full split”. Sure… with enough time and stretching and lots of visits to a physical therapist, I would be able to, but I definitely need some tips on how to get started.

The author, a solo traveler, in an orange dress standing in front of an ornate building in Bucharest, Romania. — *^{Living my best solo travel life in Romania}*

As an only child, I got used to doing things at an early age on my own. I’m also somewhere between an introvert and an ambivert, so I don’t mind sitting quietly by myself and observing others as the world goes by.

I also find courage in being somewhere new. I’ll talk to strangers and put myself out there in ways I may not do at home. For these reasons, I adapt fairly well to traveling on my own.

Still, it may not be easy for everyone. Whether it’s the fear of being lonely or concerns about safety, there are plenty of valid reasons to find solo travel a bit intimidating.

What if I told your first solo travel experience doesn’t have to be a monthlong stay alone in a hut in the Amazon Rainforest? Or forcing yourself to talk to 25 complete strangers every day? You can start solo traveling in far less intimidating ways (Hell…even I wouldn’t be up for a month alone in a hut).

1. Start Local

A staycation in your own city can be a great way to break out of your comfort zone. You’ll still be in a familiar setting but make plans to do things you don’t normally do and do them on your own.

*^{Start solo traveling by staying close to home}*

Make a reservation for a table for 1 at a restaurant you’ve never visited before. Book a night at a local hotel by yourself (find a luxury hotel or upgrade your room type for a solo travel splurge). Book a walking tour or a class in a neighborhood you’ve always wanted to explore. Make a weekend of it and resist the urge to have friends or family come meet you along the way. Really test your solo travel legs on this adventure.

2. Start Alone

Maybe you’re not ready to navigate a new city by yourself, but you can start the process on your own. Let’s say you have plans to meet your best friend in New York City or to take a spa vacation with your sister. No reason you can’t take that trip, but do the travel to and from the location by yourself.

Metal staircase leading up to the door of a silver airplane. — *^{You can always start the journey on your own then meet up with friends and family in your destination.}*

Book your own flight or train or rental car and start the trip on your own. Depending on how far you’re going, that will mean at least a few hours or even up to a day on your own to navigate your travels. You know you’ll see a familiar face at the end of the journey, but the time when you are on your own can let you experience what a longer solo trip might be like.

3. End Alone

Another great way to start solo traveling is to extend a trip you already have planned with others so you have a few days alone.

Say you’re doing a family trip to Paris for a week. Book the tickets to travel there with your family, but then plan to stay an extra two days at the end on your own. That way you’ll have plenty of time with others around and you may actually be ready for a little quiet time by the end of it. Plus you’ll have had time to navigate the city, familiarize with some local spots and identify a few places or activities you want to explore on your own.

A cappuccino sits on a table in a cafe with a window view of the street. — *^{A quiet cup of coffee and a view}*

By the time the rest of your group is heading home, you’ll be ready to strike out on your own. Things will be a less intimidating because you have already had a week to figure out how to get around. Perhaps you’ve even met a few locals to reconnect with during the solo part of the trip.

And don’t worry – that’s not cheating. Solo travel doesn’t mean you have to spend every waking moment alone. It just means you are the main character of this travel story. The other folks are supporting characters that come and go from the scene.

Then when you return home, you can reconnect with your group to share the memories you had together and the new experiences you had on your own.

4. Meet a Group of Strangers

As I mentioned in the previous section, a solo trip doesn’t mean you have to take a vow of silence and solitude. You don’t have to wander the streets of Rome on your own, only speaking to the hotel staff and shop clerks. Why not book yourself on a trip with built in companions?

A group of women sitting on a long river boat and smiling at the camera. — *^{I traveled to Gdansk on my own but met up with other travel creators as part of Wanderful’s Women in Travel Summit}*

There are plenty of travel focused companies like Wanderful or Intrepid that allow you to book a trip as part of a group. Perhaps there’s a theme around the trip like sustainable travel or culinary travel. Other times, its just an opportunity to explore a new place with a group of likeminded people. You’ll still be going on your own and will need to meet and talk to strangers, but it will be a little less intimidating because you’ll usually have a shared interest and many will also be solo travelers looking to meet new people. Trips like this are great ways to practice stepping outside of your comfort zone and starting conversations with new people over shared interests.

5. Follow Your Passion

Do you love Yoga or have you always wanted to learn how to paint landscapes? Perhaps you have been wanting to up your surf game on some new waves. Why not do any of those things in a new city or country?

View of the author's back as she admires a painting in a Lebanese museum. — *^{If your passion is art, take a solo trip based on art classes and museum visits}*

Run a Google search on “Yoga” and “Bali” or “Surfing” and “Dakar” and you’ll find a host of options. From luxury outfitters that will put you up in the best accommodations and provide all the equipment you need to more budget conscious options that just provide lessons and limited room and board. You’re sure to find so many options.

Traveling for a hobby guarantees you’ll have at least a few hours of planned activities every day. That way you don’t have to face so much unscheduled alone time. Instead of thinking, how am I going to fill my time today and who will I talk to, you know you have 3 daily yoga sessions and mediation time to work with.

Or perhaps, you decide to travel to learn a language. Class time and homework will take up much of the day. Plus the itinerary will likely include cultural activities or opportunities to practice your new language skills with locals. You’ll be ready for a little alone time by the end of the day to let your bilingual brain rest.

For those new to solo travel, which of these ways seems most accessible for you? Or for the more seasoned solo traveler, what other ways would you recommend to start solo traveling? Do you remember your first solo trip and if so, did you follow any of the suggestions I mentioned here?

If anyone is inspired to take their first solo travel trip, I’d love to hear about it. Please leave me a comment and let me know how it went.

And if you try any of these ways to kick your first solo travel adventure and come home unconverted, that’s totally OK. Solo travel in all its forms just may not be for everyone. But do raise a glass to yourself for giving it a go, and by all means keep traveling however feels best to you.

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