5 Tips for Traveling Solo

Hi everyone! As I wrote about in my last post, I took my first solo trip to Bali, Indonesia back in 2009. It was a life changing experience that started nearly 15 years of solo traveling across the globe.

While I am a huge advocate for solo traveling, I understand that for many, it can be a frightening proposition. While some are very willing to take the plunge and go all-in, others may want to test the waters a bit. Here are 5 tips to help you do just that!

1. Your first solo trip doesn't have to be completely solo.

One of the big misconceptions about solo traveling is that you are completely alone. This is not the case. The reality is that unless you are deliberately trying to get away to be by yourself, you will inevitably meet new people whether it's intentional or not. In fact, I would recommend that you plan activities where you're intentionally going to meet new people while on your first solo trip. It can be a wonderful way to connect with either locals, fellow travelers, or both and potentially lead to a life-long friendship!

There are a number of ways that you can go about meeting new people:

• Attend a conference in your respective field or area of interest - I did just this on my first solo trip. Conferences provide a great venue to meet people who you have something in common.

• Sign up for a sporting event - Most cities have at least one 5k, 10k, half-marathon, full marathon, or triathlon event each year. Signing up for one of these can be a great way to do what you love, get in a good work out, and see a new city!

• Attend a workout or yoga class at a local gym - While working out is probably the last thing you're thinking about when on vacation, attending a group class in your destination city can be a great way to connect with locals. Some gyms allow you to sign up for a one-off class or a day pass. But this does take some research ahead of time.

• Use sites like Meetup.com to find local meet-ups - I've used Meetup.com to find running groups, language exchange programs, and happy hours in cities across the globe. This can be a really fun way to meet locals and expats while on vacation and usually doesn't cost anything to sign up.

• Book a free walking tour - There are many companies that offer free walking tours of your destination city. While they are free, it is advised that you provide the tour guide(s) with a tip. You can book these tours on sites like FreeToursByFoot.com, FreeTour.com, GuruWalk.com, NewEuropeTours.eu, among others.

• Book an organized day trips or tour - Sites like Viator.com or GetYourGuide.com allow you to book unique excursions in your destination city. These excursions are often with a small group and range from food tours and cooking classes to city walks and day trips to popular attractions.

2. Go local.

You don't have to travel across the globe for your first solo trip. You can book a trip to a city in your state or country as your first solo trip before booking a trip to another country. Alternatively, if you do want to book a trip to another country, perhaps choose a destination where they speak your native language so that you have one less barrier to worry about. For example, if you are a native or fluent English speaker from the US, you may want to visit Canada, the United Kingdom, or Ireland. If you're a native or fluent Spanish speaker, you may wish to look at Latin America or Spain. And so on.

3. Keep it short.

One of the best ways to test the waters of solo traveling is to book a short weekend getaway. This can be an advantage in the sense that you don't have to overwhelm yourself with created a long itinerary or conducting hours of research on accommodations, transportation, and activities.

4. Plan ahead but be flexible.

Piggybacking off the last point, do some research on your destination, book your accommodations and transportation ahead of time if possible, and create a very rough itinerary of things you really want to do. But don't over-plan or stress about sticking to a schedule. Leave some room for spontaneity and surprises. You never know what opportunities might arise when you travel alone.

5. Stay safe, but don't be paranoid.

Solo travel can be empowering and liberating, but it also comes with some risks. It's important to always be aware of your surroundings, trust your instincts, avoid sketchy areas or situations, and practice common sense. Taking myself as an example, I always let my family know where I am traveling to and provide them with the contact information of my accommodations. Also, I don't like to stay out too late and rarely drink alcohol so I'm less prone to putting myself in riskier situations. The important thing is to be safe but don't let fear stop you from enjoying your trip. Most people are friendly and helpful, and you can always ask for help if you need it.

Traveling solo is not for everyone, but it is definitely worth trying at least once in your life. It can be challenging, especially at first, but I believe it to be a rewarding experience if done right!

I hope you enjoyed this post and found it useful. If you have any questions or comments about traveling solo, feel free to leave them in the Comments section below. And if you are interested in reading more about my travels, stay tuned for future posts!

With gratitude,

Amin