POV: You’re going to Portugal with your bestie, but the night before, she realizes her passport is gone. You’re left wondering if you should cancel the whole trip or just go alone. You’ve never traveled alone before, but maybe you could handle it and might actually enjoy it? Spoiler alert: this happened to me, and me from the future’s advice is “Just F***ing go for it! You’ll have the best time ever and gain a newfound confidence in yourself. Also– dude– you’re gonna get addicted to solo travel and not ever want to stop.”
Solo travel is one of the most empowering, eye-opening experiences you can have. The freedom to do what you want, when you want, paired with the opportunity for personal growth, makes it incredibly rewarding. However, traveling alone also comes with its fair share of challenges, from navigating foreign cities to dealing with moments of loneliness. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to travel solo, you’re in the right place! In this post, I’ll share what to expect from solo travel, practical tips, and lessons learned from my own experiences. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-timer, this guide will help you embrace the adventure of traveling alone.
What to Expect from Solo Travel
1. Freedom with Responsibility
One of the best parts about solo travel is the freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want. The world is your oyster, except maybe that oyster is rotten, and you get crippling food poisoning and vomit all over your hostel dorm room. Pardon the insane metaphor; however, it is so true that with absolute control over your solo trip, things can go wonderfully perfect or horribly wrong. What you can do is control the controllable variables and make responsible decisions. This isn’t to say I always follow my own advice, but hey–I’m still alive and well– what more could I ask for? For example, research the common tourist scams in the area you’re planning to travel to so you don’t become the next victim. Get a general idea of how you’re gonna get around, i.e. trains, buses, Ubers, rental cars, etc. Also, please, please, for the love of GOD, research how far the airport/bus station/ train terminal is from your accommodations. Don’t end up like me and end up stranded at the Berlin Brandenburg airport at 2 am, an hour Uber ride away from my accommodations. Even if you don’t have any plans for your trip before you get there, at least know how not to get scammed and how to get from point A to B.
2. A Loneliness Diagnosis (It’s Not Terminal!)
As the “solo” in “solo travel” suggests, you might find yourself spending some time alone. Having the opportunity to take charge of your life, make decisions, and do exactly what you want to do is truly liberating. You wanna go clubbing until 6am–awesome! You wanna sit in a park all day and sit on a bench–epic! There is definitely a possibility you might feel lonely, but personally, I’d rather feel lonely in Barcelona than suburban Massachusetts. Try to reframe the experience and see it as an opportunity rather than something holding you back. Many of us lead busy lives where we rarely spend time with ourselves, so take your travel experience to get better acquainted with yourself.
On the other hand, surprisingly, some of the times I’ve felt the least lonely in my life have been when I’ve traveled solo. If you stay in a hostel, odds are you’ll have opportunities to meet people. Depending on if I’m feeling like I want to have a more social trip or some more alone time, I’ll scroll through the reviews on Hostelworld and choose a social level of accommodations that matches my preferences. In addition to the reviews on the platform, the site has guests rank the hostel specifically on the atmosphere. Hostelworld genuinely has so much valuable information, so you’re not going into your trip not knowing what to expect (not spons but manifesting). Some hostels are activity-based, some are party hostels, some are directed towards digital nomads, and others are catered specifically towards young people. There are so many options worldwide, and with some research, you can find one that suits your hopes and dreams.
If you’re really not wanting to be lonely as a solo traveler I’d suggest finding hostels that are designed for solo travelers. The first hostel I ever visited while traveling solo was Goodmorning Solo Traveller in Lisbon, which is a hostel designed for solo travelers. (again not spons but pleaseee!) This was the perfect place to begin my solo traveling journey because I could make so many friends and participate in group activities. This hostel has unlimited beer and sangria during their happy hour, guided tours outside of the city, bar crawls, game nights, included breakfast, and a great lounge area where people actually socialize. I would highly recommend this hostel in particular or one with a similar vibe wherever your travels take you. With activities to keep you busy when you’re feeling uninspired and people to hang out with if you’re feeling chatty, this is a recipe for a successful and social (if you so choose) solo trip.
3. A Sense of Accomplishment
One of the most rewarding things about solo travel is the sense of accomplishment. Whether it’s navigating a new city or finding a hidden gem off the tourist path, there’s an unmatched feeling of pride when you figure things out on your own. Remember to pat yourself on the back every once in a while; you’re really doing all this, AND all by yourself! A lot of people hold themselves back from such invaluable experiences just because they’re too nervous. Solo traveling isn’t for everyone, but if the only thing holding you back is nerves, it is totally possible and worth it to conquer your fears because there’s a whole world to explore once you get past your fears.
What helps me best manage my fears are harm reduction practices, i.e., booking myself into a hostel with all female dorms, keeping my drinks covered if I go out (it’s giving man or bear), or even just carrying around my portable charger and bringing snacks. Although there’s inevitable risk in solo traveling as well as traveling in general, having your bases covered in terms of being safe and feeling good can help your psyche chill out a little.
Tips for a Smooth Solo Travel Experience
1. Choose the Right Destination
Selecting the right destination for your first solo trip is crucial, as it can set the tone for your entire experience. I chose Portugal for my first solo trip, and I couldn’t have made a better choice. It’s a country known for its friendly locals, well-established tourist infrastructure, and safe environment. Before choosing Portugal, I literally Googled “safest and best countries for female solo travelers,” and found Portugal consistently topping the charts.
Not every country on your travel list is going to completely and progressively embrace your various identities, so I’d definitely recommend doing your research. Especially when you first start solo traveling, the last thing you want is to feel unsafe or discriminated against for whatever reason. Some countries I’ve traveled to and have felt particularly safe are New Zealand, Iceland, Switzerland, and Denmark. This could be a great place to start, but don’t hold yourself back from exploring outside of Europe and the West in general; there’s a whole wide world to explore with lots of places where you’ll be comfortable.
2. Plan Ahead, but Stay Flexible
Be prepared, but don’t feel like you have to have every last minute of your trip flawlessly scheduled. Expect the unexpected and give yourself some space in your plan to have some chill-out time. Half of the fun of solo travel is having the sense that you can do whatever you feel like. If you overplan you will miss out on those valuable last minute go with the flow decisions. When you can afford it, get those refundable fares, having flexibility to go with the flow can greatly improve your trip satisfaction. You never know if you’ll make a new friend on the beach who offers to teach you how to surf– you’ve always wanted to try– don’t miss out on this opportunity! That sounds much more fun than being stuck on a bus for 5 hours, that’s a bridge you can cross tomorrow.
3. Pack Light
Packing light is essential for solo travelers. You don’t want to be dragging a heavy suitcase around cobblestone streets or up and down metro stations. When I’m going on a short trip, which I would consider to be anything under around 10 days, I travel only with my travel backpack, which is considered a personal item and fits under the seat in front of me. It depends on how light you’re comfortable traveling and what season you’re packing for, but after a lot of practice, I’ve found I need a lot less than I’d think to sustain me.
I’ll have to write a full blog post on this, but basically, I like to pack a mini capsule-type wardrobe and wear things until they’re visibly dirty or smelly. Maybe this is a hot take, but when you’re backpacking your hygiene doesn’t have to be the same as at home, just make sure you keep yourself at a reasonable level of funk so you don’t fumigate your hostel neighbors. I also like to bring some laundry soap sheets so I can do a quick wash-up in the hostel bathroom or the local laundromat if I’m feeling fancy. Also, whenever I travel, against my wisest instincts, I end up acquiring something, so make sure to even just leave a sliver of space for some souvenirs.
Final Thoughts on Solo Travel: Embrace the Journey
Solo travel is a transformative experience that allows you to discover new places, meet people, and learn more about yourself. Whether you’re exploring a bustling city, hiking through scenic landscapes, or simply relaxing in a new environment, solo travel offers the opportunity to connect with the world and with yourself on a deeper level.
If you’re considering your first solo trip, don’t hesitate. The challenges of loneliness and uncertainty are just part of the journey—and the rewards of independence, personal growth, and unforgettable experiences are well worth it. Solo travel may not always go exactly as planned, but that’s what makes it so valuable. I promise you’re capable of so much more than you would ever expect, and solo traveling will give you concrete proof. You’re beautiful, smart, brave, and slay so hard every day (if you got this far, you automatically slay me away)! Now go, leave, exit this page, and start planning your solo adventure!