Nervous About Solo Travel? Practical Tips for the Skeptic
If there’s anyone who understands being nervous about solo travel, it’s me. I used to be completely against this form of travel. I held all the common preconceptions many skeptics have about solo travel, thinking it was lonely, dangerous, and only for backpackers. However, this couldn’t have been further from the truth.
It wasn’t until my desire to travel outgrew that of my inner circle that I realized I’d have to visit some destinations alone. I grew tired of waiting for others to commit to trips, syncing up our schedules, or trying to get others as excited about a destination that I wanted to travel to.
So after years of thinking I’d never travel solo, I decided to book my first solo trip through a company. Since then, I’ve been on countless solo trips and plan on keeping the trend going!
As someone who has landed on both ends of the spectrum, I have a pretty good idea of what causes people to be nervous about solo travel as well as the many reasons why solo travel is so freeing and fun. This blog will explore these topics and give practical tips for the skeptic. Let’s dive in!
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The Benefits of Solo Travel
I’ve experienced the various benefits of solo travel firsthand, as it has led to personal development, global friendships, and more confidence.
Self-Discovery and Confidence
Firstly, solo travel is a form of self-discovery. While traveling with friends still exposes you to new cultures and ways of living, there’s something about doing it solo that increases this exposure, leading to personal growth.
When you’re alone in a destination, it forces you to get a bit out of your comfort zone. We’ve all heard it said before that you have to get uncomfortable to experience growth. Pursuing solo travel gives you a little control over this comfortability, as you get to choose to be “uncomfortable” in beautiful destinations.
For those nervous about solo travel, I can assure you that this uncomfortableness does not last for long, as you’ll come to find that you can enjoy your own company as well as the company of new people you’ve been meeting through your travels.
Having grown up in an environment where most people held the same beliefs and life goals, traveling has introduced me to many different worldviews, expanding the way I think about politics, life goals, and more.
In addition to an expanded worldview, solo travel has given me a confidence I never thought was possible. This confidence has very little to do with looks and very much so to do with who I am at my core.
Being able to navigate foreign cities on your own, book amazing activities like paragliding, and create friendships with people around the world leads to so much confidence and trust in your abilities. Especially as a solo female traveler, it is so empowering to feel the sense of accomplishment that solo travel brings!
New Friendships
One thing that made me nervous about solo travel was the fact that I thought I’d be extremely lonely. I also felt that environments like hostels were only meant for extroverts. While I’m social, I would often feel my personality shrink back in a room of loud extroverts, which made me believe solo travel couldn’t be for me.
However, through solo travel, I’ve come to find that the confidence I get also translates into my social life. Solo travel creates the perfect environment for social connections, especially if you’re going on a group trip, staying in a hostel, or booking group activities.
I’ve found that there’s no reason to be nervous about solo travel when you are surrounded by individuals with similar priorities, especially when you’re experiencing new destinations together.
Later in this blog, I’ll list some ways to meet other solo travelers so that you can also feel confident to do so. As someone with friends on multiple continents, it’s more than possible to grow your social network when you’re traveling alone.
Flexibility and Freedom in Itinerary Planning
I’ve always been great at planning itineraries, but the people pleaser in me always was nervous that the people traveling with me might not want to do the same activities as me. Solo travel allows me to plan my itinerary out exactly how I’d like and to put my money where I want it to be used.
For instance, during a solo trip to New York City, I spent a day going to back-to-back musicals. Had I been with someone else who doesn’t like theater, they likely wouldn’t have wanted to spend their day doing this. But because I was alone, I got to make this decision for myself and design a day that I truly loved!
Along with the freedom to plan what you want to do, there’s also the flexibility that comes with solo travel. For instance, I met people through my hostel who suggested some activities that I initially wasn’t planning on doing. Since I was traveling solo, I was able to switch up my plans for the day and squeeze in a bit more than originally planned. I ended up having so much fun exploring with these people and seeing spots that I otherwise wouldn’t have gone to.
As a Type A planner who writes her entire itinerary in a notebook, it felt so freeing to embrace some of this flexibility on top of what I had already planned!
Safety Tips for Those Nervous About Solo Travel
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Is solo travel safe, especially for women?
To be completely candid, there’s always a chance that something can go wrong. But the same rings true for a trip to the grocery store in your hometown.
As women, we have unfortunately grown accustomed to being on guard. However, we shouldn’t let this stop us from seeing the world! With a bit of preparation and safety measures, you can feel confident traveling the world without a man by your side. And men, these safety tips apply to you too!
Research Destinations
It’s important to have some general knowledge about the destination you plan on visiting. Some countries are known for being less safe than others, especially for women. I recommend doing some research on whether a country is generally safe to travel alone in, particularly paying close attention to the latest news and politics in the region, as this plays a factor in how safe it can be.
Do keep in mind that people have preconceived notions about some destinations, so make sure you are forming your opinion based on what people who have actually traveled there are saying.
For instance, when I told people I was traveling solo to Sayulita, Mexico, they latched onto the words “solo” and “Mexico” and decided to tell me how dangerous it was as if I was visiting Juarez.
However, knowing that I was arriving solo as part of a group trip and that I’ve seen so many trusted travel bloggers that I follow visit Sayulita, I decided to trust those who had actually been here. I ended up absolutely loving the destination and never once felt unsafe!
Nonetheless, it is important to do your own research, even if you’re going to a town in your own state.
Choose Safe Accommodations
Many people who grow nervous about solo travel often have some hesitations about where to stay. As women, we’ve all heard some horror stories about Airbnb or staying alone in a hotel. I cannot stress enough how important it is to read reviews on everything.
I generally look for reviews from other women so I can gauge how safe they felt there. I also look into the general location of the accommodation, looking into whether it is a safe part of town or not.
When you’re staying alone in a hotel, it is recommended that you never admit to being alone. Many women make a reservation for two and tell the front desk that their other travel companion will be meeting up with them later on. While I’ve never had issues in hotels, this is a general rule of thumb that most women follow.
Alternatively, you can book a shared room at a hostel! I find that I feel safer in a shared room than in a private hotel room. I always ensure that I book a female-only hostel dorm, as I personally feel more comfortable in these.
Check out some hostel options on Hostel World!
Choose Safe Transportation Options
Personally, I’m a huge fan of public transportation when I’m traveling. I love walking when I can, but for longer distances, public transportation is more affordable and safer.
In my opinion, I think it’s better to take transportation where there will likely be others around for support in case something does happen. I don’t feel as comfortable taking an Uber or a taxi by myself, and I don’t recommend this to other solo travelers, especially if you’re in a foreign country.
Keep Some Personal Protection With You
Up until recently, I never traveled with any personal protection. I always knew I should have carried something, but now I feel so much safer just knowing I have something on me in case something were to occur.
The most common forms of self-defense people keep on them include pepper spray, knives, or an alarm. Personally, the alarm is my favorite, as I know this can go through airport security. Additionally, I feel much more confident using my alarm if needed. I love the Birdie Personal Safety Alarm. Not only is it a cute accessory to my outfits, but its ease of use and loud alarm make me feel more at ease.
Use Technology and Apps for Safety
If you’re feeling nervous about solo travel, I recommend taking advantage of some free apps to help put your mind at ease. Firstly, I share my location with a few people of my choice so they can know my whereabouts.
Secondly, you can take advantage of some other apps for personal safety. One of my favorites is Noonlight, which I first downloaded when I used to work retail alone at night. With this app, you hold a button until you feel safe. After releasing the button, you have a certain amount of time to enter your personal pin to signal that you’re safe. If you do not enter the pin in time, it will notify authorities and send police to the location tracked in Noonlight.
Trust Your Instincts
A huge part of traveling solo is just being able to trust your instincts. If your gut is telling you not to do something, and you know it’s a different feeling than simple butterflies in your stomach, then you should listen to it.
Prepping for Your First Solo Trip
If you’re feeling nervous about solo travel, one of the best things you can do is prep as much as you can for your trip. Feeling confident about your itinerary, mode of transportation, and more will help ease some of those pre-trip jitters.
Inform Friends and Family About Your Plans
It’s always important to let a few chosen people know of your upcoming trip, especially when you’re going solo. Rather than posting the details on social media, message a few friends or family members to let them know the dates, locations, and flight details so that they can be in the know.
While a daily check-in isn’t required, letting them know you arrived safely and checking in at certain points during your trip is highly recommended.
Set Your Budget and Itinerary
When you’re not splitting the cost of a room with someone else, setting and sticking to a budget is extremely important. Hostels have helped me save a lot of money on my solo travels and have been a great way to meet other travelers.
I also always fly basic economy, but if it’s in your budget to book something more expensive, then go for it! I’m still dreaming of the time I got upgraded to Business Class on a flight home from Dublin and was treated like an absolute QUEEEEEN.
Your itinerary can also be catered to exactly what you’d like to do. However, I do recommend leaving a little wiggle room in your plans in case you meet other travelers who invite you out with them.
Pack Your Essentials
Feel more prepared for your trip by making sure you have all your essentials ready to go. I have a section in my Notes app where I list all of my travel essentials that I do not want to chance forgetting. A few of these include my passport (for international travel), my apartment/car keys, sunscreen, adapters, chargers, etc.
How to Build Confidence for Your First Solo Trip
Even with all these tips, it’s still okay if you’re feeling nervous about solo travel. Even though I’ve traveled solo numerous times now, I still get those pre-trip butterflies you may be feeling. This has become part of the excitement for me, but I definitely had to ease into it.
View some tips on building confidence for your first solo trip below!
Start Small
Not ready to be solo in another destination? Start out in your hometown!
I used to be intimidated by going to the movies alone, going to the gym alone, sitting at a coffee shop alone, etc. (Although I’ve always preferred shopping alone.)
Now, doing things alone doesn’t seem like a big deal to me because of all my experience traveling. And trust me, people aren’t staring at you, wondering why you’re alone like you think they might be doing!
Although my solo travels grew my confidence to do things alone in my hometown, you can start out with the hometown solo dates and grow your confidence from there. Once you realize that you can enjoy your own company, you’ll begin to see how fun solo travel can be!
Join Group Trips
I eased into solo travel by booking a group trip with a company leading trips to Iceland. At the time, I’d never traveled solo, wasn’t sure if friends would want to join me on this trip, and definitely didn’t want to try doing Iceland completely alone due to the driving.
So when I saw a TikTok of a group called Travel World Culture traveling here following a fun itinerary, I decided to go for it! I was definitely feeling a bit nervous about solo travel going into this, but I started to grow close to some travelers on the trip very early into it.
I was placed in a room with the perfect roommate but also could’ve paid more for my own room, and I got along really well with some others, one of whom I’m close friends with to this day and have visited in New York City multiple times!
**Shameless plug: If you decide to book a trip through Travel World Culture, let them know that Amanda referred you!
I’ve done a few group trips since then and definitely love promoting this type of travel. It’s a good way to ease into solo travel and make new friends without fully committing to being by yourself. And it has introduced me to some of my closest friends!
How to Connect With Other Solo Travelers
Alright, skeptics. Still not convinced? Let me show you how you can connect with other solo travelers, some of which can be done before you even leave for your trip!
Utilize Social Media
Social media is a great way to make connections before even leaving for your trip. I’m a part of some Facebook groups for solo female travelers and have made many connections through these.
I’m aware that Facebook isn’t always the “cool” app to be on, but these groups have helped me connect with locals and tourists alike during my trips. A few of my favorites include Girls Love Travel and their Overnight group, The Travel Squad, Host a Sister, and Solo Female Travelers. Creating some connections before my trip has helped me feel less nervous about solo travel since it gives me some prior reassurance that I’ll have at least one person to meet up with at some point.
However, you can also join location-specific groups. For instance, on a solo trip to Sedona, AZ, I found a group of locals and tourists with posts on the best hikes, local events, and more. This was the perfect place to connect with locals, as I wanted to find people to hike with.
You can also use TikTok and Instagram to connect with people. Try looking for location tags or seeing what types of accounts interact with the local businesses online. Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone who seems to match your vibe if they live in or will be traveling to the same area as you. The worst they can do is either ignore your outreach or decline!
Stay in Hostels
It took me a little bit to warm up to the idea of staying in a hostel. And the first one I stayed in didn’t leave a good impression. Since then, I’ve booked all my hostels through Hostel World, and I’ve never had a bad experience booking through them!
They work with highly-rated hostels and truly offer the best of the best. Now, I love being able to stay at hostels during my solo trips!
Hostels are one of the best ways to meet other travelers. The best hostels are those that host social events throughout the week. For instance, the hostel I stayed at in Sayulita had weekly salsa lessons, a pool party, a rooftop party with a DJ and flash tattoo artist, daily yoga, and more. It also had a Whatsapp chat for the entire hostel where people could mention their plans and invite others along.
Participating in these events and chats is not only a great way to experience the culture, but it’s a proven way to meet other travelers looking to do something fun!
Aside from the social events, you can easily meet people by making conversation with the travelers staying in your room or hanging out in the common areas of the hostel. If you’re afraid to make the first move by striking up a conversation, it’s likely that somebody else will introduce themselves to you at some point.
It all just happens so naturally in these environments! I’ve been sitting alone one minute and playing pool with 5+ people the next. Embracing this spontaneity will make you much less nervous about solo travel and will likely end up being the most memorable moment of your trip.
Participate in Local Events or Tours
While hostels are a great way to participate in events, you should also pay attention to what types of local events might be going on. Are you visiting during a holiday when celebrations are taking place? Is there a salsa class that takes place on the beach each week? Doing a bit of research on events and showing up can be a great way to meet solo travelers or locals.
You can also book a tour, which is guaranteed to be full of other travelers. I’ve been on a few different local tours and have had great conversations with others on that same tour. Given that you’re both experiencing the same thing, it gives you something easy to talk about, which can evolve into further conversations.
I hope this blog post has made you feel less nervous about solo travel! While it’s okay to feel those nerves, it’s important that you don’t let them stop you from something as exciting as a solo trip. Join the bandwagon of every other frequent solo traveler who once swore they’d never do such a thing!
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