
Freedom to do whatever you want, meeting lots of new people, stepping out of your comfort zone—these are the main advantages of traveling solo. Going on a trip alone, even on a short one, is a wonderful experience, and it can become the adventure of a lifetime.
The year 2020 brought a lot of unpredictability into our lives. Many of us got stuck in our homes for a long time and can’t wait to travel again.
Moreover, finding companions for future travels got even more difficult. This is why more and more people are considering going on a trip alone.
I’m not a newbie to solo travel, either. To me, solo traveling is a great way to have some time to myself, step out of my comfort zone, and reflect on my goals and dreams. It makes me feel confident and independent.
Although this blog is written by a woman and read mostly by women, the tips I share are universal.
Why is traveling solo worth it?
Since you’re reading this post right now, you probably seriously consider traveling solo. If you’re not convinced about it yet, let me share some of the biggest advantages of such an adventure.
Independence.
When you travel solo, only you decide what your schedule is. Wanna visit museums all day? Great, go for it! Prefer sitting at a beach? No problem! What restaurant do you want to go to tonight? It’s your call!
Traveling solo means that you can organize your travel in a way that’s suitable for you. No one interrupts your plans, you don’t depend on the others’ choices, and you can travel at your own pace. And, of course, you don’t have to wait for another person’s decision to book your next flight.
Meeting new people.
Traveling solo makes you more open to conversations with other people and meeting fellow travelers. People are social, and even when we travel alone, we still seek contact with other people.
The great thing about solo traveling is that you usually meet other solo travelers who are just as open to new experiences as you are. You can share your thoughts, ideas, experiences, stories, etc. Meeting someone from a different country and culture makes you broaden your horizons and understand other people better.
I’ve met many interesting and inspiring people during my solo travels.
A confidence boost.
When you organize the trip yourself, and you travel yourself, you get a tremendous confidence boost! You get proof that you can be responsible for a big project and that you can step out of your comfort zone.

Traveling solo gives you a huge boost of confidence!
Getting to understand your identity
When you travel in groups—with a partner, a friend, or a group of friends—you often spend time in the company of one another.
When you travel by yourself, you have time to focus on yourself—and you get to
You get questions about yourself, about your cultural identity, about what you consider “normal” in life. This is probably the most exciting and rewarding aspect of traveling solo—you can see the world from others’ points of view.
Ok, so are there any drawbacks?
Of course, there are.
First, you need to prepare everything yourself. Although I actually like all these preparations, I admit that they can be time-consuming.
Second, you need to be especially careful about your safety, especially when you’re a woman.
Third, you’ll probably get lonely sometimes, as there’s no one around to share your excitement with (although nowadays, connecting with anyone in the world has become easier).
Fourth, traveling solo is usually more expensive than traveling as a couple or in groups (a single room is generally relatively costly compared to a double room).
Before You Go
1. Choose the right destination.
Some countries and places are great for solo traveling, some others aren’t.
If you’re a beginner at solo traveling, set the level to “easy” and choose big cities in developed countries as your destination. If English is your native language, you may also select a country where English is an official language—it will make things that much easier.
The basic rule for a beginner solo traveler is: choose a destination where you can easily communicate with the locals and with your loved ones at home. That’s because whenever you feel that you need advice or help, you can quickly get them.
I recommend starting your solo travel experience with big cities. In most metropolises in the world, it’s easy to communicate in English, find a restaurant or cafe, an open shop to buy anything, or working wifi. In smaller towns and villages, these things may be more challenging.
Of course, there are some basic safety rules for choosing a destination – not only for women. Avoid conflict-stricken, unstable countries, even when they’re stunningly beautiful. There will be a better moment to visit them. In big cities, learn which districts are safe and what areas to avoid (at night or in general).
2. Be aware of your limitations.
Don’t be afraid to limit yourself to “touristy” places when you’re new at solo traveling. You don’t have to act like an experienced explorer, and seeing the most touristy stuff in Paris or Rome is still much fun!
Always stick to social rules in a particular country, and learn about its culture.
I also try to avoid solo trekking/hiking. Maybe I’m too soft, but I don’t feel comfortable walking or sleeping in the wild all alone, so I prefer hiking with my friends. There are some exceptions, though. I wouldn’t be afraid if I was doing a very popular hike in an English-speaking country, for example, the Mist Trail in Yosemite National Park.

Although, hiking solo has its undoubted charm.
3. Make a day-by-day plan.
I know that spontaneity has its charm, but preparation is the key if you want to stay safe and get the most of your trip.
Always book accommodation at least for the first night (although, I like to have at least a few days planned ahead). You really want to avoid looking for a hotel room when you’re jet-lagged or late in the evening. Searching for a nice place to grab some food near your hotel/hostel is also a good idea. When you plan on traveling by plane, train or bus, find out if you need to book any tickets in advance. Learn if you need to have some cash on you or if there’s an ATM near your hotel/hostel/airport.
It’s good to have a rough plan for your trip. List the places you’d want to see, a few addresses of hotels and hostels nearby, restaurants with good reviews. You can always modify the plan and be more spontaneous, but this list will be something you can stick to whenever you get stressed or overwhelmed.
Besides, spontaneity is often more costly.
4. Choose the right accommodation.
Hostels are probably the best accommodation for solo travelers. Once associated with low prices and students, now they’re practically for everybody!
Hotels, especially chain hotels, tend to look the same wherever you go. Also, most people stay in luxury hotels only when they’re traveling in business. On the contrary, in hostels, you can usually feel the vibe of the place you’re at, and you meet the specter of different people. Plus, hostels are generally much cheaper than hotels.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I avoid hotels. I just choose those with great reviews and unique traits, like boutique hotels or famous hotels (like Marina Bay Sands in Singapore with its famous infinity pool).
Airbnb is another great accommodation option. Apart from renting an apartment from a local, you can also ask a host about the city you’re staying in. Besides, when you rent someone’s apartment, you can immediately feel like a resident in a certain place: start the day in a local cafe, go to the nearest grocery store for a sandwich, have a morning run in a park nearby, etc.
If you’re more sociable and you don’t want to spend so much time alone, you can enjoy the company of your host! Many hosts rent rooms instead of whole apartments.
Couchsurfing is an interesting but sometimes risky option. I chose it a few times during my travels, but I still prefer hostels. If you’re on a tight budget, though, CS can be a good idea, but staying with a proven, well-reviewed host is a must.
5. Pack light.
Pack whatever you need but try to avoid overpacking, which is a common mistake, especially among inexperienced travelers. There’s a good chance that many things you pack won’t be used even once.
Make wise clothing choices – choose those t-shirts, sweaters, pants, dresses, etc., that are versatile and that you can mix and match. You can never go wrong with a white t-shirt, jeans, or a simple midi dress. Pack up to 3 pairs of shoes and be sure they’re comfy. Bring only a small toiletries bag – you can buy shampoo everywhere, and you don’t need to have full make up every day.
If you’re not sure what to bring, make a checklist of everything you think you need. Then generously cross off half of these things. Really.
And by the way, remember that whatever you take, it’s you who will carry your bag along, so taking too much stuff just isn’t convenient.
6. Browse through resources.
There are numerous travel blogs, forums, websites, etc. everywhere. Finding a perfect itinerary, hostels or food recommendations, and any information about your destination became easier than ever before. If you have any questions or seek advice, you can always find an experienced traveler who can help you.
There are also great Facebook groups for solo travelers. When you’re a woman, you can find lots of inspiration and information in the Solo Female Traveling Network, as well as a more general group, Girls LOVE Travel.
7. Talk with your family and friends about your trip.
You’re family and friends might not be as enthusiastic about your trip as you are, especially if you’re traveling solo for the first time. And don’t be defensive about that—many people have some ideas and fears about traveling alone, and they’re probably just worried about you.
If you fear that your loved ones might not support your idea, prepare arguments about why this trip is important to you. Also, tell them about your plan, maybe even hand them a list of the hotels you plan to stay at and places you plan to visit (if you already have all the details). Assure them that you’ll contact them often.
When someone tells you that your plans are unreasonable, then it’s easy to get discouraged. Nevertheless, remember that it’s your life.
8. Find your “why.”
Take some time to reflect on why you want to make this solo trip.
Are there any specific reasons you want to go on this journey alone? Maybe you’re fed up with waiting for others to be decisive enough to go with you. But maybe there’s something more: maybe you want to escape your problems, or you want to find inspiration for your career, maybe you want to face your fears, boost your confidence, or maybe you just want to have some fun.
Whatever your reasons are, reflect on them and honestly answer what your “why” is. This will save you from possible future disappointments.

When was the last time you had time to reflect on your goals and dreams?
Moving Around & Meeting People
9. Be sociable in hostels.
Hostels are great places to meet other travelers and get to know the city or country you visit. Most hostels have a common room where you can eat breakfast in the morning and just hang out for the rest of the day, read some books, work on your laptop, grab a coffee, and—of course—talk to other travelers!
Hostels usually organize regular events for their guests. They create lots of opportunities to get to know travelers from all over the world, exchange your experiences and ideas, or even find a travel buddy for the rest of your trip.
10. Go for a walking tour – or numerous of them!
Walking tours are a perfect way to get to know the city, a particular neighborhood, district, etc. There are numerous free walking tours in every major city globally, and they usually focus on the main tourist attractions or the center of a particular city. Some of them are offered by hostels to their guests (another good thing about staying in a hostel!).
Many tourists absolutely love food tours and wine tours, organized in many places in the world. Basically, your options are endless; you can go for a bike tour, art tour, secret tour (to see the less touristy places), bar hopping tour, you name it.
I can’t recommend going on walking tours more, as I attended lots of them and they were always a blast.
11. Attend meetups.
Meetups are another great way to meet people with similar interests. There are many types of meetups—they can be focused on:
– your work (IT meetups, people in marketing, digital nomads, etc.),
– speaking in a specific language (for example, meetups in Spanish),
– hobbies and interests (like books or architecture),
– sports (hiking, sailing, cycling together, etc.)
– traveling (for example, meetups for travelers located in Bali)
Whatever you like doing, there’s probably a meetup that suits you. When I traveled through Switzerland, I found a meetup for people who want to sail on the Zurich lake—and I loved it. As you can see, the options are endless here.
12. Blend in.
Look like a local and do what locals do—that’s the rule many experienced travelers live by.
There’s definitely something to it. When you’re in a new place, and you’re unsure what to do, where to eat, etc., just observe the locals. Look for the restaurants that attract crowds instead of those looking empty. Dress according to the occasion, place and the local culture. And don’t be afraid to ask for advice when you need it. The local people are usually understanding and helpful (BTW, learning a few words in the local language won’t hurt).
Of course, it’s impossible to blend in when you’re a tall blonde traveling through Asia. Nevertheless, it’s not about how you look, but how you approach and respect the local culture and people.
13. Remember about your safety.
Safety is a major concern for many people who plan a solo trip—especially for women. This risk is very manageable, though.
Following some general safety rules is a must for every traveler, not only a solo traveler. Leave your valuables at home, don’t walk around sketchy neighborhoods at night, have some cash with you, carry the copy of your ID in a different place than the actual document, etc. If a person or surroundings don’t feel right, just leave them.
If you use common sense and trust your intuition, you’ll be alright. More than that, you’ll have the time of your life!
How about you?
Are you a solo traveler, would you like to become one, or perhaps this traveling style doesn’t suit you at all?
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