I traveled solo for work a long time before I considered taking a trip alone for fun. Up until that point, my fun travel always included family or friends. But then a job change made it easier for me to travel and it got harder and harder to find someone to go with me. I decided to try a solo trip and realized there was a lot no one told me about traveling solo.
When you travel solo for work, you usually have an itinerary and a task to complete with not much free time. You know where you are going and many times your company arranges all the hotels, the car and activities.
But it’s so much different with solo travel. Every decision is all on you. The first time I traveled solo for fun, I was surprised at some of the things that happened. Things I hadn’t even considered. While I’m still no expert, I now know more about what to expect when traveling solo. I’m better prepared for what could happen and what the solution is.
No one told me that my bags would go everywhere with me…
You know that thing you say to your travel partner right before walk away… “watch my stuff, I’ll be right back”? Well, it’s not happening this time. To make things worse, you may have picked the perfect seat somewhere and now you’ll have to give it up if you leave.
It seems like a no-brainer but honestly, I had not thought about the fact that my bags would constantly be with me. That means up the five flights of stairs when there’s no elevator, the bathroom stall at the airport and the boat tour between destinations. The less you have with you, the easier it will be.
Southerner Says solution:
- Pack light when traveling solo. Take half of what you think you need. I know it’s tempting to pack ten pairs of shoes, but shoes are where all the weight is. Try to narrow it down to two or three pair of shoes.
- Pack smarter. Use packing cubes so that you can redistribute clothing to a different bag to reduce weight if need be. Instead of one big heavy bag, try a couple of smaller bags that can be that could be carried separate but then hooked together when needed.
- Consider storing your luggage for the day. Most hotels will store your bags even after you have checked out of the room. Many hostels have lockers. You can even store your things a some bus stations.
No one told me I’d be asked if I was alone…
By nature, humans are curious beings. As you meet people and strike up conversations on your travels, it’s only natural they will ask you about yourself, your family and the dreaded one: are you alone? This can catch you off guard. It’s never a good idea to tell a stranger you are traveling solo. I don’t condone lying but safety is top priority no matter what.
While we are talking safety, it’s also not a good idea to tell a stranger exactly where you are staying. Even in casual conversation. At times, I’ve even given a taxi or an Uber, a location down the street from where I’m staying.
Southerner Says solution:
- Be prepared to answer. The more prepared you are, the more natural you will sound. One of my favorite things to tell people is that I’m visiting friends and meeting them later. That way they think there’s someone expecting you later and to not show up, wouldn’t be a good thing at all.
- If it’s reasonable, tell people you live there. This way you’re not an easy mark as a tourist. Tourists come and go but there’s more accountability with someone that actually lives there.
No one told me I would be eating every meal, every day alone…
I’m no stranger to dining alone. Traveling solo, I obviously knew I would be eating by myself. However, I didn’t expect it to get so boring after awhile. Eat every meal by yourself and you might begin to question why you are alone to begin with. That’s not a good thing.
Southerner Says solution:
- Choose restaurants with bars or counters and sit there. This gives you an option to talk to a bartenders or other customers. Bartenders are used to talking but they also seem to have a knack of knowing when not to as well. And no, you do not have to drink alcohol to sit at a bar.
- Find street food for takeaway or a food truck. Many tourist destinations have food truck parks where you can sit and eat and people watch.
- Read. Carry a book with you or something to work on. I personally use the time waiting for my food in a restaurant to catch up on what I’ve been doing on my trip and writing in my journal.
- Find someplace with a great view. Even if it means sitting outside in 40F degree weather.
No one told me I wouldn’t be in any of the photos…
I love landscape photography without humans and I’m okay with selfies but occasionally you’d like a photo of yourself IN some beautiful scenery.
Southerner Says solution:
- Invest in a tripod and get to know your self timer. To be honest, I have tried this and my photos were pretty bad but I have been practicing when I can find a place with no one around. If they don’t turn out, this will at least give you something to laugh at when you get home.
- Ask someone to take your photo. This also is a bit awkward at first but it gets easier as well.
- Learn to live in the moment. Travel shouldn’t just be about getting the perfect shot. Put down your camera or phone and soak it in.
No one told me I would feel alone…
It’s true. I sometimes do feel alone when I travel solo. And you will too at times. How much, depends a lot on you and your personality. Most people naturally like to share things with others. Being in a new or exciting place with no one to share it with can be a totally different experience if you aren’t used to it.
Southerner Says solution:
- Start small if you think this will be an issue. Take an overnight or weekend trip first to see how you feel and adjust to be alone before you commit to a longer trip.
- Go somewhere you’ve been before so you feel more comfortable. Something you’ve seen and already experienced will make you more confident in your surroundings than something brand new.
- Travel solo but book a group tour to break up the alone time. Stay in a hostel. There is always someone else traveling solo that you can do something with. Choose an resort or a hotel with group activities that you can participate in.
- Utilize apps or Facebook groups for the area you are traveling to. Many cities and destinations have language classes, wine tastings and similar activities that you can participate in.
- Make friends with locals. Especially if it’s an area you travel to frequently. As a female, if I meet a female Uber driver when I’m traveling, I get their phone number and stay in touch. This way I have a contact in the city in case of emergency and I make a new friend that I can hang out with.
No one told me my family and friends would think it was odd…
The first time I went out out of the country alone, I didn’t tell my mom until the day I left because I knew she would worry about me going out of the country alone. Her first words to me when I called her from the airport were “what’s wrong”? Even after years of traveling alone for work she assumed that by taking a solo trip, something had to be wrong.
In fact, imagine my surprise when several family members and even friends, asked me if I was okay; was I traveling for work, where’s your husband, etc. It almost felt like I was being made to feel bad for doing something I wanted to do.
Southerner Says solution:
- Never let someone make you feel bad about doing something perfectly normal and something you want to do. There are plenty of women, of all ages, that enjoy traveling solo but it isn’t for everyone. More than likely, if someone is negative about your solo travel, it’s someone that hasn’t tried it. If their concern is a matter of safety, use the opportunity to educate them about the ways to stay safe as a female solo traveler.
No one told me strangers would try to fix me up…
It’s funny because on some trips, it seems if something happens once, then it seems to keep happening. I had one trip where everyone wanted to fix me up. Even an Uber driver said “well maybe you’ll meet someone here”. Me: insert rolling eyes emoji.
Southerner Says solution:
- This one is easy. Just say you are married/in a relationship/going through a divorce or all of the above. You can always just laugh or pretend you didn’t understand. I find that works well when you don’t know what to say.
No one told me I would feel like a target sometimes…
So, I’ve had a couple of times where I felt I was a targeted for being a female and a tourist. The first time it happened, I was sitting waiting for a bus and a man came running up and sat down real close beside me. He asked if I would do him a favor. Immediately, I said no. And he replied, but you don’t even know what it is.
He was right. I didn’t know but to be honest, I didn’t care. I knew there was no way I was going to do anything for this random stranger who wasn’t sick, hurt or dying. After I said no, he just sat there, just looking at me. Kind of in disbelief. Like trying to figure me out. Finally, he walked away. But not far enough before calling me a nasty name.
To be clear, I never felt unsafe. It made me more mad than anything that a total stranger would come into my space like he did. (I was already in a mood because of a travel mistake that cost me a lot of time) If he truly needed something, there are so many other ways to go about it. Not to mention, there were plenty of police and other people around if I had needed help. It’s sad but as a woman traveling alone, you have to be in self protection mode at all times and not let your guard down.
Southerner Says solution:
- Be aware of your surroundings when traveling alone. While you are a guest in a foreign country, you aren’t obligated to do anything for anyone. More importantly, don’t let your niceness kick in. It was way easier for me to say no right away than after he told me whatever it was he wanted.
- Wear sunglasses as much as possible. It’s much easier to play the “don’t mess with me” person when your eyes are hidden.
- Listen to your gut. If you are uncomfortable, there’s a reason. If you feel unsafe, get help immediately.
No one told me someone would ask me to work…
When people see you traveling solo, I assume they must think you’re bored or are in need of something to do. Whatever the case, I’ve had several situations where I was asked to perform a task, fill out papers and keep up with something because I was the solo person in the group.
I even had a woman on a bus ask me to help her take care of her daughter that was sitting next to me. She had an empty seat next to her and I felt like she put the young girl beside me because she didn’t really want to do it. So I was a bit annoyed at first, but it actually turned out okay and I ended up making a new friend.
Southerner Says solution:
- You always have the prerogative to say no but if you find yourself in a helpful mood and want something to do, you might end up making a new friend or getting extra perks. I’ve gotten better seats, better views and made friends because I agreed to help someone out.
No one told me it would be more expensive…
It’s true. It doesn’t matter that one person is easier to take care of or easier to clean up after, most places will charge more for a solo traveler of a single room. Sometimes they will just go ahead and charge you for a double anyway. Like you won’t notice.
Southerner Says solution:
- Ask for a discount. Some hotels even have smaller rooms for solo travelers. A neat and clean traveler doesn’t need much. You probably won’t get much in return but it never hurts to ask.
No one told me people would feel sorry for me…
You’re going about your business, having a good time and surprise; you catch someone looking at your with a face that says I feel sorry for you. Pity on face of total strangers, the hostess at a restaurant, the server, a tour guide, the beach attendant, all surprised me. It’s funny because they had no idea how happy I was to be there, traveling solo.
Southerner Says solution:
- If you find yourself in a similar situation, you’ve got two choices: laugh about it OR use it to your advantage. You might just get something for free. On one of my last trips near a wine trail, I saw nearly no other solo travelers. While at a nearby restaurant, seated at a small bar where the staff prepared drinks, I sensed one of the female servers felt sorry for me. She started talking to me and once she knew I was there to tour wineries, she gave me some great recommendations. Then she let me try six different wines to “prep” for the next day. Not a bad way to learn about local wine.
No one told me I would doubt myself…
Even though one of the easiest things about traveling solo is making all the decisions yourself, I can’t tell you how many times I doubted what I was doing when it came time to make those decisions. Especially in a new place. Where to go, where to stay, where to eat, what to do, and on and on.
And to be honest, I’ve had some mess ups.
Like jumping on a bus last minute to an unknown city and not liking it at all. Then having to backtrack hours the same way because of bus scheduling conflict. Sometimes you win and sometimes you win less but let’s face it, a bad or a semi bad travel day is better than no travel day at all.
Southerner Says solution:
- Travel more. The more you travel solo, the more comfortable you will get. Leave your quicker decisions for when it can be undone and you can change fairly easily. There were plenty more things I doubts about that turned out fine, than things I doubts about and turned out bad.
- If you mess up, most things are fixable. If not immediately, then at least the next day. In the city I didn’t like, I stayed one night, explored some the next day and then left. In the end, I felt so much better about my situation the the next day and now, looking back, I’m really glad that I went.
No one told me it would be so rewarding…
After reading about some of the negative things that could potentially happen on a solo trip, you might think why would anyone want to put themselves in that position? I promise, the positives and what you get out of it, far outweigh the negatives. There’s just such an ease to it. There are no expectations. No disagreements and no one to please except yourself.
But it’s also not just about doing what you want to do when you want to do it. Traveling solo gives you an opportunity to rely on yourself in a way you might not experience in everyday life and at home. It’s very empowering. And that can be a really good thing for your mental health and confidence.
Southerner Says solution:
- plan on traveling solo asap!
