Traveling alone can be daunting, but it’s definitely doable! Whether you’re abroad for a semester and want to explore a new city on your own, or you have a whole day to yourself on a vacation, solo travel is exciting. Don’t be afraid of seeing a new city by yourself. Instead, look forward to being able to make your own itinerary and spend as much or as little time as you need in each place that you swing by. Here are just a few tips for traveling solo:
1. Start out small.
If you’re apprehensive about being by yourself, maybe take a day trip to a place nearby or start out by traveling alone to a city that you’re already familiar with and long to see more of. Once you know that you can handle that, start planning bigger solo trips.
2. Figure out what amount of time works for you.
Decide how much time you need to see the place you are going to and also figure out if you are comfortable being alone for that length of time.
3. Find a hotel in a popular area.
While a hotel on a street that is the center of activity may be expensive, you will save money by being able to walk to most of the places you want to see and you can Uber for the farther away places. Also, being in a more populated, nicer area will make you feel safer about traveling alone. Plus, you will likely see other solo travelers doing the same things as you!
4. Don’t be afraid to eat alone.
For many people, this may be the hardest part of traveling alone. There seems to be a stigma around eating alone, but, believe me, a lot of people actually do this and there is nothing weird about it! Bring a book or some work to do to make you feel more comfortable, but if you’re not ready for that just yet, get takeout and bring it back to your room or maybe to a nearby park.
5. Bring walking shoes and dress as if you are a local.
Walking is one of the easiest and best ways to see most places. It is also cheap, but while it is nice to be able to walk, make sure that you do not stand out. Find out how locals in the area dress, and try to imitate it. This will help you not draw any extra attention to yourself and won’t make you appear to be an easy target for thieves.
6. Do your research.
Learn which areas you should avoid and find out what attractions you want to see. Many companies offer tours geared towards solo travelers, so make sure to look into that before you leave for your trips. Also, there are many great solo-travel guides out there for many destinations, so start googling!
Now that you know a few tips on how to travel alone, go start planning your first solo trip! Don’t be afraid to try something new -- you will be left with new experiences that will change the way you see yourself and the world.
