Traveling Alone: Advice & Tips

Traveling alone is life-changing, in large part because it challenges you. I did not enjoy or appreciate my first solo trip 15 years ago (I was miserable!), but I treasure solo travel now. That’s because, with plenty of practice, I’ve learned how to navigate it better.

Use the advice and tips I’ve picked up over the years to help you shape the experience you want to have, get the most out of your trip, and connect with people along the way.

No matter how much research you do on a place, how many times you’ve been, and how much advanced planning you do, you never know what you’re going to get when you travel, especially when traveling alone. That is what makes solo travel so exciting, but it can also make it disappointing if you don’t go into it with the right mindset and expectations.

Know that there’s only so much you can control (we’ll get into shaping your experience in a bit). Your mind and expectations are two things you can control, though. So expect the unexpected, have an open mind, and seize the day, regardless of what it looks like. One day, you might meet amazing people and have the time of your life. The next day, it might storm, and you get stuck inside. Be ready to take those days as an opportunity to relax, read, or reflect. Set out to make the most of the experience rather than having certain experiences. Remind yourself of that when you need to stay grounded in your intentions and expectations and in control of your journey and the experience.

Keep in mind that traveling alone gets easier with time. Don’t beat yourself up for not loving it at first or feeling lonely. Be patient with yourself. Solo travel is truly a learned skill. You will feel more confident being alone with yourself and better equipped to shape your experience with time and experience. Until then, leverage the tips and tricks I’ve picked up over the years while you figure out what works best for you.

When you travel alone, advanced planning can help you shape your experience. Choosing accommodation is one of the most important ways you can do that.

If you’re looking for a social environment, on a budget, or want the convenience of signing up for cheap group tours at your front desk, choose a hostel. If staying in a dorm room with other people isn’t for you, most hostels have private rooms with bathrooms, so you can still take advantage of a hostel’s benefits without sacrificing your privacy.

For some of the amenities of a hotel, a more local experience, and the opportunity to mingle with other travelers as much or as little as you want, go for a guesthouse (always my preference!). Some guesthouses offer breakfast and have a shared dining table, which is a great way to meet like-minded people. The host will also be a local expert and have great recommendations and information you probably won’t find in a guidebook.

If meeting others isn’t your top priority, a hotel might be right for you. Hotels are great if you’re looking for luxury, traveling with your partner or friends, or have fully planned your trip. I book a hotel when I’m planning to be more independent and self-sufficient.

To the extent possible, make travel arrangements that give you the option to cancel or shift later. One of the best parts about traveling alone is having the freedom to do what you want when you want. I try to preserve that freedom by making flexible plans. Sometimes you want to stay somewhere longer because you love the place, made great friends, or got sick and lost a few days. Other times, you’re ready to leave a place early. Flexible travel arrangements allow you to adjust your trip based on how things go.

COVID-19 has made it much easier to make flexible arrangements, but it’s not always possible. When that’s the case, I try to book tours or transport as close to the last minute as I can, when I know how I feel and what I want to do next, or book cheaper accommodation that I won’t lose too much money over if my plans change.

I’m willing to bet that most of you going on a solo trip are not looking for a silent retreat. While I like to spend time by myself, more often than not, I also want companionship. I find group activities to be the perfect way to get the best of both worlds on a solo trip.

Group tours are great for meeting other travelers, visiting sights that are difficult to reach on your own, learning about a place’s history, and experiencing the local culture. As an added bonus, they’re also much cheaper than private tours. I almost always go on a walking city tour in big cities and look for food-centered tours in foodie destinations.

Group classes are a fantastic way to immerse in the local culture in the company of others. In today’s globalized world, there are tours suited to all travelers and interests. I do a one-day cooking class in most places, once did a one-month salsa dancing course in Latin America, and most recently spent six months studying French at a university in France on a sabbatical. All of these experiences were wonderful in that they helped me to immerse in the culture and learn a new skill while meeting like-minded people.

One of the best things about traveling is meeting people you would never meet otherwise and learning about a place, its culture, and way of life through the locals. But meeting people can take effort and courage. First, know that people want to meet and talk to you! Other travelers want to meet people as much as you do, and locals (in most places) love to meet foreigners. So don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Be confident in yourself.

For some people, talking to strangers might be second nature, but for those who find it less natural, I’m sharing how I typically open myself up to others when traveling alone.

Body language helps you convey your openness to engaging and assess others’. If I’m sitting alone and open to chatting, I keep my head up rather than looking down at my phone or appearing focused and busy. I sit facing in the direction of others, as opposed to away from them or closed off, and will not avoid making eye contact (the way I would if I wanted to be left alone).

If I want to engage with someone (and think, from their body language, that they might want to as well), I usually strike up a conversation by making a short comment that the person can respond to or not. For example, at a bar, while chatting with the bartender, I might comment to the person next to me that the bartender makes great drinks. I like to give people the opportunity to engage with me (if I want to engage with them, of course), but also an easy out to disengage out of respect for their space and boundaries.

To connect with locals, which is the best way to learn and experience where you are, learn a few words in the local language like hello, thank you, and goodbye. It always surprises me how much locals appreciate foreigners making an effort, even with just one or two words. More often than not, it turns into a memorable conversation and experience.

Safety Note: When you put yourself out there, you let in the good with the bad. If someone makes you feel uncomfortable or you simply don’t want to talk to someone anymore, do not hesitate to disengage and physically move if needed. You do not owe anyone anything.