How to Travel Solo

Solo travel has definitely had a major shift in recent years. Since my first solo trip to London in 2005, I’ve seen a massive increase in interest and love for this way of traveling. It’s shifted from a niche experience to one of the most popular ways to explore the world. When people ask how I can be so comfortable going on a trip alone, I tell them that once you do it, you may never want to travel with others again. The amount of flexibility, independence, and personal growth you develop is unparalleled, and it becomes rather addictive.

Yes, it can feel intimidating to embark on a journey by yourself. Even after many, many trips I’ve taken alone, I sometimes still wonder if I am capable of the next one. It’s natural to wonder if you’re cut out for solo travel, but I do believe once you go, you’ll come out of it an elevated version of yourself. If it’s your first trip, take it easy on yourself by picking somewhere nearer to where you live, or a country where they speak English, like I did.

I’m going to share with you a very practical guide of how to travel solo, which will include how to prepare, where to go, and how to create for yourself an experience you will never forget.

It’s going to take some preparation on your end to make a solo trip happen. I’m talking about mental preparation, destination research, and figuring out what you need to make your trip successful. Having realistic expectations of what you can handle and your tolerances of things will be huge in how comfortable you’ll be. Going on a solo trip will inevitably give you more confidence, grow you personally, and give you tremendous flexibility. Sometimes these things can overwhelm us if we aren’t used to this type of freedom.

Traveling solo is less about the need to be completely independent every second of the trip and more about moving about the destination of your choice on your own terms. It’s a lot of responsibility to have for yourself and it can feel intimidating, but I can almost guarantee you that if you are considering solo travel as something you want to do for yourself, the rewards will outweigh any trepidation you have.

When many people think of solo travel, they think isolation, aloneness, and all these other negative things. I’m debunking this. You actually do not have to be alone the whole time - there are activities and moments where you can link with others, with new people. Get a little out of your comfort zone. Traveling alone is the simple freedom to enjoy a trip completely on your terms. I can’t think of a better way to spend your time. You’re the boss, and that is a powerful thing. And hey, you are powerful.

"I Woke Up Like This" - Alone!

Freedom. To me, traveling alone means complete freedom, and freedom can be a bit much for those of us who feel boxed in on a normal basis. However, when you are free from checking in with your travel companions’ moods, desires, interests, and anything else they inject into the trip, it’s quite magical. There’s nothing like getting in a hotel robe, taking a 4 pm nap, waking up and eating the dinner you choose, having two desserts, and taking up the whole bed yourself. You’re not subject to spending 5 hours in a boring museum because your travel partner wants to do that. No, you are living life the way you want to live.

When you get to go by yourself to a destination, it changes the whole tone of the trip. You may become more of an observant people-watcher, find yourself striking up conversations with strangers, and walking around in awe because you’re not yapping away with another person. Details become more clear when you’re navigating a place independently, figuring out your public transport, eating meals alone, and signing up for walking tours or cooking classes yourself. You own every minute of your trip. What a gift.

There are many reasons to travel solo, and I’ll lay out a few to give you some things to think about if you’re debating on whether or not it’s the right move for you to make for yourself. My immediate response is that it’s the best thing ever, but I may need to convince you a little more.

1. Greater Flexibility with Plans and Itineraries

I’ve traveled with people and I’ve traveled by myself. Repeatedly, I come away from my solo trips a crisper, healthier version of myself every single time. Because I have so much flexibility, I have time to reflect on myself, my life, how I am doing in general, and it helps me to grow into a better me. Being able to skip museums (because I just don’t love all of them, ok?!), eat at any time of the day without someone else complaining because they are hungry, or signing up last minute for a tour is absolutely clutch. I’ve met so many people that I keep in touch with today from other places because I had the time to spend talking to them on my solo trips. The flexibility has resulted in so much good.

2. More Opportunities to Meet Locals and Other Travelers

As I just stated, I have made friends with more people I can imagine because I took the time to stick around a little longer than I might have if I had been rushed by someone else. When you’re traveling with another, you’re usually involved with one another more than the outer world. You’re not paying attention to the store owner who could tell you the history of the products or where they are from. Traveling alone gives you the chance to open yourself up to possibilities that stretch beyond what you typically do, and many times that involves other humans. And some amazing ones at that.

3. Easier Cultural Immersion and Personal Reflection

I’ll give you an example. I travel to Paris often by myself, but since I have gone so many times I have many friends there that speak French. When I am with them, I step back and let them take the lead in conversation because my French n’est très bien (not that good). If I’m by myself, I’m more friendly, interested in attempting to speak French to store owners or others I meet, and generally more willing. It’s a fascinating side-by-side for me, and I actually like the version of me who gets to be that independent lady taking charge in another country. You might like who you are in that type of situation, too. Be bold, be independent!

4. Increased Confidence in Unfamiliar Situations

One of the best examples of confidence building activities is public transportation and navigating it. People get so nervous about using, say, the metro in other cities or countries. What I can tell you is that once you get the hang of it, you feel like a total badass afterward. Navigating streets (even with maps), making restaurant reservations, and anything else you do by yourself boosts your confidence and lets you know how much you can count on yourself. It’s really awesome.

5. The Ability to Prioritize Personal Interest and Experiences

The ultimate flex when traveling alone is being able to do whatever you want the entire time without a peep from another person. Whatever weird thing your heart desires, you can book it without having to feel uncomfortable or ashamed for wanting to do said thing. There’s nothing better than having complete control of your whole schedule 100% of the trip. Whether it’s simply zig zagging around streets and photographing every single thing you pass or pigging out on pastries at every corner patisserie (is that just me?), you make the call. Your solo trip becomes fully personalized to your wants and needs, and that will genuinely excite you.

Feasting for ONE in Paris

Here’s where we have some fun, because the idea of traveling alone might excite you, but then what? How do you actually do it? I’m going to guide you through some practical tips of how to make your solo trip a success.

Choosing Destinations That Match Experience Level

I know I’m not alone in the way I chose my first solo trip, but I don’t think I’m also the norm by jetting off to another country for my first time. I’m going to encourage you to start a bit smaller than I did if traveling abroad is too intimidating to kick off your solo tripping. My favorite thing to recommend to start off is by doing a staycation if the thought really overwhelms you. If you think you can handle a bit more, pick a place within a couple of hours from where you live, and go there. You know you have the safety of getting home easily, and you’ll feel more inclined to actually make the trip happen.

Booking Accommodations in Safe, Central Neighborhoods

I’ve said this on repeat in my other solo guides: I do not recommend AirBnBs or the like for solo travelers, especially less experienced ones. There is a lot to be said for hotels that have accountability, staff, and amenities that make your trip much smoother. I personally don’t love AirBnB-type accommodations because of bad personal experiences, so I will rarely, if ever, recommend them. That’s my personal opinion, and as an avid solo traveler, I feel safer with people on staff knowing who I am and having an eye on me. Neighborhood safety is very subjective, so do some research wherever you decide to go.

Creating a Flexible Itinerary

One of my main tips for when anyone travels is not to book more than one major thing in a day. It gets exhausting running from one event to another, and it takes the joy out of the entire experience. There’s not room for whimsy and surprise when you leave zero flexibility in your schedule, so I’m going to encourage to adjust your plans accordingly. Know that accomplishing it “all” will not happen, so prioritize the important things and let the element of wonder take over in the rest of the day.

Understanding Local Transportation Systems

I do want to say that figuring out local transport is not on everyone’s bucket list of things to do when going to a new place. If you like to save money and not take ride shares or private transportation everywhere, it is a good idea to get a feel for how locals get around. It’s easier than ever to get information on public transportation systems, and many have apps you can download for when you’re visiting.

Budgeting for Emergencies and Unexpected Costs

As diligent as we can be with planning, sometimes annoying things happen. I remember when I was going to Italy, my flight got so delayed that I was going to miss a Michelin star dinner that was not refundable. I had no backup plan, and had to hope they would move it to the next day, which they did, and it worked out. However, sometimes sh*t happens and you’re stuck holding the bag. Plan for the unexpected sometimes, and my best advice is to roll with the punches. Travel is not a science, and things don’t always go as planned. Have a little wiggle room in the budget for those times.

Staying Connected with Offline Tools and Backup Plans

One of my biggest travel hacks is putting any desired locations or activities in digital form, hopefully on more than just one device. Having offline maps (like Google maps), screenshots of hotel reservations, copies of travel documents like passport or drivers license are all important to having a smoother trip, especially solo. Taking battery packs to recharge your devices is also a major benefit if your phone runs out of juice. A side note: I would not post in real time on social media. This is not a wise decision for females especially due to the creeps of the world.

Coffee in Turin

I’ve written an entire guide on best places to travel for solo female travelers, and I’ll add a few different ones to this list. The ones on my female traveler guide I have been to. Some of the ones on this list below are from research and asking other solo female travelers about them.

Paris, France

It goes without saying that Paris is my favorite solo destination. I’ve gone for years, and gone many times, and it never gets old for me. With the charming streets and boutiques, the food, parks, and walks along the Seine, I can’t get enough. Navigating the metro is quite easy, and frankly walking is even better because the entire city is like an outside museum. It’s easy enough to sit for hours at a cafe or park journaling and reflecting by yourself, and you’ll never feel alone there. Paris is absolutely wonderful. I wrote a guide on Paris being a safe place for solo female travelers.

London, England

How could I not mention my first solo destination spot? I’ve gone to London many times since my first time, and I will continue to go back for more of it. London is a very walkable city, and when you’re feeling too tired to walk, you can cram yourself onto the metro to give yourself a rest. I feel very safe in London as a female, and I love staying in different neighborhoods when I go. Walks in various gardens and learning more about WWII and Winston Churchill are exciting to me, so I endorse London as a fantastic place to travel solo.

Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo is high on my list of places to go, and friends that have gone there alone are obsessed with it. Japan in general becomes a favorite destination to anyone who has gone, and I’m very anxious for my own solo trip there. Everyone that goes says how easy and efficient the public transportation is, and the safety is unlike any they’ve experienced. This is a destination that would be a no-brainer to say yes to as a solo traveler.

Turin, Italy

Turin, Italy is a place that stays with me. Ever since I went there, I’ve thought about how tranquil and peaceful it is, and am looking forward to a return visit. The food scene is delicious (it’s Italy, after all), and people are very friendly. There’s a good mix of bigger city life and green space. It’s a less chaotic choice than places like Rome, and if you want to enjoy beautiful architecture, coffee, wine, and getting a truer sense of Italian life, Turin is a fantastic place to go for a solo trip.

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

I’m not sure there is a better qualified person to speak on solo travel + New Orleans than I am. Being from this city, I have written loads on it, including a guide on solo travel in New Orleans. We have anything from music to food to streetcar rides to the friendliest people to keep you entertained. New Orleans is a place that stays in your heart and you continue to come back to, with or without people. I cannot speak highly enough about the ideal atmosphere New Orleans has for going on a solo trip. If staying in the United States is your jam, consider New Orleans as your destination of choice.

***For a broader list of destinations to travel solo, check out my guide on first time solo female travel destinations.

As we’ve discussed, solo travel can often feel intimidating, but there are enough of us rooting for you to channel the confidence you need for you to book it. It might be the most rewarding and confidence-building thing you ever do for yourself. The gains will certainly outweigh the discomfort, and you’ll come out a more elevated version of you. Whether it’s a weekend solo trip, an international adventure, or a trip around the world, traveling alone has a great way of reminding you just how capable you really are. So wait no longer and book that solo trip.

If you're ready to book your solo trip, here is a guide on what to pack for international travel and 8 benefits of solo travel.

Subscribe to my amusing, informational, and fun newsletter that comes out every other Friday by clicking here.

Some of the links may go to my affiliate account. If you purchase from one, you're helping me grow my business. Thank you!