I joined the “solo travel” bandwagon and what started out as a nerve-wracking endeavor, has blossomed into the most rewarding mode of travel for me, for both business and pleasure.
Yep. I Fell In Love With Solo Travel.
The thought of planning a trip was a little scary. And actually, travelling all by myself seemed scarier still. But that was just me. More people are traveling independently for both business and pleasure, to destinations local, abroad, and on cruises.
My first, very reluctant, solo trip was to San Francisco for business. I would need to find parking at the airport at 4:30 a.m, walk through the creepy empty parking garage alone, maneuver through airport security while fumbling for my ID and take my shoes off, find the gate, and buy snacks for the flight alone. As silly as a “snack run” sounds, to me it was daunting to not have anyone accompanying me.
Although I may have appeared to look like a fish out of water on my inaugural solo trip, it turned out to be a huge success, one that I am still proud of.
There was one little problem that occurred after that trip; I now don’t want to travel any way but alone.
Is Solo Travel For You?
Some of my friends and family can’t believe I actually like doing the solo travel thing. But when I travel alone, I can travel to wherever I want, whenever I want, and do whatever I want when I get there.
And while those are obvious benefits of taking a trip by yourself, I also enjoy the less thought about benefits like not having to ask another person or persons if they are hungry, what they want to eat, if they need to use the restroom, or if they are tired.
And, to my surprise, I found I love the silence. Though I do like to be chatty, I discovered that I also like to listen to my own thoughts.
If you are looking to travel as a break from everyone and everything, solo travel may be for you. But before you go booking a trip, understand that traveling alone comes naturally to some travelers but others need to start slowly and adjust to an independent adventure.
Types of Solo Travel
There are many ways to travel solo. I find business travel easier. Everything just seems more straightforward. Conference hotels are usually selected for you. Even the daily itinerary is often out of your hands.
When you travel for pleasure, the sky is the limit on how you plan the trip. In fact, independent travel for fun doesn’t actually mean to be completely alone. You could travel as part of a group tour or hop aboard a cruise or train. I’ve taken at least ten cruises alone and traveled on business too many times to count.
Selecting a Destination
I am the queen of taking solo cruises and traveling for business alone. When it comes to traveling to a destination that I can select on my own, I don’t just haphazardly pick a location that I’ve been dreaming about visiting. I do some purposeful research to weigh out the pros and cons of seeing the location alone.
My first piece of advice would be to travel locally until you get your solo travel “sea legs.” A cruise can be such a good start as the ports of call are selected for you. You are alone in your cabin but not alone as there are thousands of other passengers, many solo travelers, taking the ride with you.
Based on your comfort level, you can select a more glamorous trip to an abroad location but there are many more travel factors that would need to be considered like currency, language, transportation, politics, weather, time zone, and personal safety. This is a personal decision … pick a destination that seems easy to manage.
How Will You Get From Point A To Point B?
Travel can be stressful. So, how you get were you’re going (aka. Travel arrangements) is key. If I’m not taking a cruise from a drivable cruise port, I will schedule the train or a flight, preferably to arrive the day prior to embarkation.
If my travel necessitates a flight, I take my time finding a flight that is not too early in the morning or late in the night. I like to arrive at the airport two to three hours ahead of the scheduled departure so a 6am flight would require me to arrive at the airport alone around 3am. That is not acceptable.
If I take a flight in the evening, it may mean arriving at the destination very late at night, making getting to the hotel after midnight a scary and dangerous experience alone.
And while we’re on the subject of transportation, consider purchasing travel insurance. Dealing with problems (like flight cancellations, baggage loss, and illness) especially when alone, is a hassle. Extra travel coverage can you more confidence.
Select Accommodations
I will come right out and say that I have never stayed in an Airbnb alone. For solo travel, I prefer hotels. .
The best accommodations depend on your budget. Are you looking for a luxurious, spa experience, an artsy contemporary vibe, or a resort that has non-stop activities with a beach and pool onsite? And safety should be a top concern. If I don’t feel safe where I’m staying, my anxiety will not allow me to enjoy my solo adventure.
A hotel that is centrally located is helpful. Does the hotel site allow you to walk where you need to go, provide public transportation, or should you rent a car and drive yourself around. I prefer to walk everywhere, so a safe location is a priority of mine. Sometimes driving myself makes me feel more secure … that is … until the GPS fails me … and yes, that has happened to me.
Traveling Alone? Have A Plan.
When I’m planning to travel solo, I research, then plan. It really helps to have a travel itinerary. A benefit of traveling alone is that I can select only the places that I want to visit. I don’t need to compromise with a fellow traveler and watch paint dry while I’m being dragged through a museum of some sort of artifacts that I’m not interested in.
To make my itinerary, I schedule one major attraction on each travel day. Then I add in smaller attractions to fill in the gaps, always taking into account quiet time at the hotel for pool or beach time.
Oftentimes, during my research, I notice that advance reservations are required. I like to buy tickets to attractions early and online so I avoid having to stand online by myself. Also, planning online keeps me focused and the adventure and fun. Pre-planning means less anxiety and frustration.
This brings me back to my love for cruising solo. Sometimes during a day filled with activities or an excursion at a particular port, I give myself a “timeout” by going back to my cabin. There I can regroup, relax a bit, and look at the daily cruise newsletter to decide when and if I want to participate in an event or take in a show. Traveling alone allows me to make all decisions.
Don’t Call Attention to Yourself When Traveling Solo
One of my goals when I travel alone is to keep a low profile and just fit in with other travel guests. I never broadcast that I’m traveling by myself.
One safety tjp is don’t point out that you’re alone and no one will assume that you’re solo.
And while on the topic of safety, when traveling alone, be vigilant of your surroundings. If you’re uncomfortable in a location, just move on to the next attraction on your travel plan.
Communicate With Friends and Family
While solo traveling, it’s a good idea to give your friends and family at home a copy of your travel itinerary and communicate with them during your trip. This could be via a phone call, email, or even texted photos of the travel destination. By keeping in touch, they will worry less, and you can assure them that you’re having a wonderful time.
Be sure to charge your mobile device and portable back-up power pack before leaving the hotel for sightseeing. I use my phone for just about everything, especially for taking lots and lots of vacation photos, and for GPS. One time, I was happily exploring a destination and panicked as my phone displayed “low battery.” I safely made it back to my hotel room, but I will NEVER let that happen again while traveling solo.
One caveat that I’d like to share. Hold off posting photos on social media until you arrive home safely. You don’t want to point out that your home is unattended. Share your experiences later.
Takeaways: Final Thoughts About Traveling Alone
Remember, the first trip may make you feel a bit self-conscious about traveling alone, but with experience, you will reap in the benefits of solo travel. I no longer send postcards saying, “wish you were here” because I just love exploring new places independently.
- Select a destination that meets your comfort level
- Plan transportation to make for smooth travel
- Choose accommodations centrally located to attractions
- Create a travel plan/itinerary
- Communicate with friends and relatives at home
- Don’t call attention to the fact you’re traveling alone
- Wait to post travel photos on social media until you arrive home
Author Bio: Originally from Long Island, New York, Donna Wright now calls Deland, Florida her home. An avid traveler, she has journeyed by air, land, and sea, to many cities in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean to exciting destinations like California, Arizona, Las Vegas, San Diego, Myrtle Beach, Lake Tahoe, Reno, and more.
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