Having traveled solo many times myself, I am a big proponent of others traveling alone at least once in their life. You learn so much more about yourself as an individual because it forces you to take leaps of faith and trust in your instincts. However, traveling solo, especially for women, can be dangerous if you’re not wary of your surroundings. Here are the top tips I picked up during my solo travels around the world.
Before you depart for your journey, make sure someone back home has a copy of your travel plans and hotel information. If you’re backpacking and thinking about winging it, give someone a copy of your booked flight information. If you have over-zealous parents, like myself, it will give them some peace of mind knowing that you made your flights and you’re still breathing. Also, check-in from time to time whether it is public via social media or a private email to close family and friends. They’ll thank you for it.
Pick-pocketing is an art form in many regions of the world, so before you leave make sure to make copies of your I.D., passport, or any other important identification documents. You don’t want to get stuck in a country without your passport to get home because often times it takes a few weeks to get a temporary one to get home.
Via three degrees of separation, you probably know someone who knows someone wherever you might be traveling in the world. Reach out to your neighbor’s sister’s best friend and ask them to show you around town or go out for drinks. It helps curb the waves of loneliness you might feel during the long-stretches of solitary time. If you truly know no one, head to the nearest bar and enjoy the scene. Don’t accept drinks from strangers (obvi), but this is your chance to meet other like-minded people and share your stories.
Throughout my travels, there have definitely been some destinations more curated for the solo traveler experience than others. Safety is also always my number one priority, so before you decide on a location, check the U.S. Passports & International Travel page for warnings and alerts. New Zealand, Switzerland, Bali, Iceland, and Costa Rica have been some of my top favorite journeys for solo travel. Try to stay in high-end hostels when available, I’ve made many good friends over the years while bonding over a shared bathroom.
Humans are social creatures, it almost seems unnatural for us to want to be alone because our survival has always depended on teamwork. However, for this one week or however long you have decided to travel alone for, embrace the quiet and try to enjoy yourself. But most important of all to remember: this is the time to devour some books gathering dust on your shelf, treat yourself to some fancy meals, and do whatever the f*@$k you want, this is your time.
