Not to sound cliche, but solo travel has completely changed my life. Well into my mid twenties I was a very shy, reserved person and traveling by myself literally forced me out of my shell. I now feel so much more comfortable striking up a conversation with anyone, anywhere, and have come to genuinely enjoy and even crave my alone time.
When I was teaching English in Spain, I got sick of waiting for my friends to have the time or the money to join me. I began to feel every weekend that went by was wasted time, and so I took a leap of faith and booked a solo weekend trip to Seville. The rest was history as they say, I was completely hooked! Not only did I open myself up to meeting new people, I also got to pick and choose where I went and what I did. I had no other itinerary but my own and I absolutely fell in love with that freedom. I know it can be very intimidating and downright overwhelming at first, so here are some tips:
1. Stay in a hostel! PLEASE do not let the horror movie deter you, this is an amazing, cheap way to travel! Most hostels have common spaces where you can get to know other like minded travelers, and they organize activities throughout the week. I can’t tell you the number of times I have shown up to a hostel alone and buddied up with people in my dorm to take on a new city. Hostelworld is a great place to look for reviews, although I try to actually book directly with the hostel and save them from paying that commission. If you are alone, keep an eye out for reviews about the social aspect of the hostel, you want to make sure there is a great friendly vibe.
2. Do free walking tours! The name your price concept is becoming increasingly popular around Europe and certain US cities. Most hostels will have pamphlets, or you can just run a quick google search. Show up, take the tour, and at the end you get to pay what you think the tour was worth. I absolutely love these things! It’s my favorite way to orient myself in a new city, and the recommendations from a local guide are invaluable. This is also a great way to meet new people!
3. Do you research beforehand– you want to make sure you know a little bit about your destination before hand. Things like safety, and cultural norms are important to bear in mind when packing. In places like Morocco or Istanbul I was sure to cover my shoulders and wear long dresses or pants in order respect the culture and as not to draw any unwanted attention. You also need to be mindful of what you wear if you are entering any temples or cathedrals. Places like the Vatican require you to have shoulders covered and skirts to the knee.
4. Enjoy the alone time- I know it can feel awkward at first, but try to enjoy being by yourself. For me, it was especially difficult to bring myself to sit down in a cafe, bar or restaurant alone. As an American, this is not really part of our culture so it felt really funny at first..but now, getting a coffee (or tea!) alone in a new city is one of my favorite things! I assure you, no one is looking at you or judging you! Just enjoy being by yourself, and being able to revel in the present moment. so often we are distracted and this is such a great opportunity to be in the here and now. Also, when you are by yourself, YOU get to make your itinerary and that is such an incredible feeling!
5. Join a tour– If you are a bit nervous about traveling alone, I would highly recommend looking into companies like Top Deck or Contiki. They operate bus tours around the world which are full of young, like minded travelers just waiting for adventure. I personally have traveled with Topdeck several times; once with a friend and twice solo. I have always had amazing experiences with them! Everything is taken care of, so you can just relax and have the time of your life!
6. Take a lot of pictures! You don’t think about it in the moment, but once you’re back home, your pictures are the only link to that incredible trip you took. I get teased for having so many selfies in my top nine at the end of every year but honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. My photos are priceless memories of my amazing trips, and I am not afraid to take too many!
7. Keep a travel journal! Like pictures, this will be a link to your trip. I have so many full journals in my desk drawer and I love that at any moment I can go back and relive my adventures!
8. Try the local cuisine– OK you guys, I know this picture is super blurry..but it’s the only proof I had that I once ate a scorpion. That’s right, I willingly ate a creepy crawler. No, I wasn’t on Fear Factor, and I wasn’t drunk..I just figured “when in Thailand!” I’m not saying go and eat something crazy, but do be open minded! I know as Americans we tend to stick to the same thing but you might be pleasantly surprised by what else is out there!
9. Embrace the suck– I’m just going to go ahead and say it, traveling isn’t always pretty. It’s easy to look at the highlights on instagram and think travelers have the greatest life. However in reality, what we are showing you is just that, the highlights. I thought about this alot on my last solo trip, especially as I was hiking to my hilltop accommodation in the middle of July with a 20 lb backpack on my back. Sometimes, it’s going to suck; you’ll get lonely, you’ll be hot and uncomfortable, but that’s life! Embrace the suck, because it is always always worth it! Especially when you get to the top of that hill and have the most amazing view!
10. Last but not least, GET OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE! A total cliche, but absolutely necessary especially if you are solo traveling. Whether it’s trying a new activity, learning a new language, or meeting other travelers don’t be afraid to be uncomfortable.. it’s where the most growth happens! And in the end, you will almost always be glad you did it!
