If you are looking for something new and fun to restore your energy, solo travel offers the chance to do precisely what you want. For travel enthusiasts, solo trips are a must!
If the prospect of a solo journey to a distant destination feels a bit daunting at first, consider initiating the experience by exploring solo within your city or venturing to neighboring locales that are still easily accessible.
Meanwhile, the rewards of a solo travel adventure extend far beyond the destination itself; it’s a life-changing experience that provides a rich tapestry of self-reflection, newfound perspectives, personal growth, and cultural immersion.
The lone explorer’s journey is also unique, allowing ultimate freedom and flexibility. However, it comes with its own set of challenges and considerations. This guide will explore the top 10 tips for having a safe and memorable solo travel adventure.
What is Solo Travel?
Solo travel has become a general term meaning embarking on a journey alone, without companionship from friends or family. This concept has garnered significant popularity in recent years, particularly among those who enjoy the charm of challenges.
It’s worth noting that solo trips are not exclusive to men; women also frequently undertake these independent adventures. While vacations with friends and family undoubtedly offer enjoyable moments, the essence of solo traveling lies in the exceptional experiences it brings.
Tips for a Great Solo Travel Experience
1. Have a List of Things to do
One of the things you can do to travel alone and enjoy it is to have a ‘go-to’ list of things you can do each day. It’s all about being creative, and don’t forget, solo travel’s whole purpose is to have fun!
There is a big difference between adding to a day’s fun and looking for ways to avoid sadness. You can buy a good book and read it slowly daily (optional – with a good glass of wine).
Another fun thing to do is listen to music that makes you want to dance. You can also challenge yourself to cook a new recipe daily and make it fun by going to local markets to find the ingredients. If you happen to go to Italy, the locals are charm personified!
Some quick things you can do at home that are easy to find are funny podcasts, YouTube travel videos, and makeup tutorials.
2. Plan Your Day the Night Before
As the saying goes, ‘Failing to plan is planning to fail.’ When you travel alone and enjoy it, there are times to plan and times to go with the flow. Planning gives you the excitement of designing the ideal day the way you want and intentionally instead of a reactionary day by default.
You create your reality by what you give your attention to, so why not be the one in charge of your destiny? For instance, if you are in Paris, you can plan a day of ‘cute cafe’ spotting and do nothing else but that.
You can also take photos, enjoy the local food, and chat with the locals anytime. And besides, what’s the point of learning a language if you don’t use it? Planning is so much fun and creates excitement as you go to bed.
3. Stay in the Moment
When you decide to travel alone for the first time, it’s vital to begin mental and emotional preparation before going. You can’t just pop to a friend’s house if you find yourself a little lost once you are away. Mediation or mindfulness can be your best friend.
Being in the now is something many don’t do, and it’s mighty. For instance, you are sitting on a gorgeous beach with your nose glued to your mobile phone.
You can’t possibly take in the sea’s movement, the ocean’s smell, the birds flying above, or the tones of the sand glistening in the sunshine. These are moments that you won’t forget, and that will boost your happiness significantly.
Did you know that if you stay present, you can’t possibly feel stressed or worried? It’s like having your pause button, and you can decide how long.
4. Make it a Daily Habit of Visiting a Cafe
One of the biggest pleasures of traveling alone and enjoying cafe culture has been the cafe culture. Some places, such as Vienna and Rome, take this to a new level, where you feel you’ve stepped back in time.
You will also find many locals who are on their own, too, and this can provide incredible entertainment when you ask them questions about tips, advice, and, of course, their life stories.
Going to a cafe gives you that sense of contentedness by being in the company of people even if you don’t know them. It can create a feeling of belonging if you frequent the same cafe anytime. Plus, it’s a lot of fun getting to know the staff.
Pick a cafe for early morning coffee and challenge yourself to chat with one new person daily. You’d be surprised how eager people are to talk.
5. Create Some Pampering for Yourself
Who doesn’t love being pampered? Some much-needed ‘me time’ is something you must prioritize. Whether it’s getting your hair or nails done or lighting a scented candle and curling up on the sofa to a large glass of wine and an old movie, make this a weekly habit.
In the fast-paced world that we live in, it’s vital to have some ‘slow living’ and rebooting. If you’re on a budget, get creative with facials and have a night in with olive oil on your face! It does a whole lot more than the expensive brands, too.
In addition, go to some makeup counters and get freebie skincare samples. And when you’re in cafes having coffee, pick up a few brown sugar sachets and make your body scrub. It’s so satisfying when you’ve saved a small fortune just as effectively.
6. Reduce Your Social Media Time
Always be aware of the time you spend on social media. There are times to use it and times to avoid it. Social media isn’t all bad; sometimes, it may be your comfort.
If you love being productive and working towards your desires, you should give them less and less time. And if you do, make it a maximum of 10 minutes daily!
To travel alone and enjoy it a lot, set a daily time limit and stick to it, even if it means putting your phone out of sight to avoid temptation.
7. Discover the Hidden Jewels
Finding secret little jewels is one of the good things to do while traveling alone. And they usually come when you’re in that ‘go with the flow’ mindset and let yourself wander.
If you love this kind of thing, head away from typical tourist areas and stroll the streets that look ‘lost in time’. Meanwhile, if you are incredibly intuitive, getting a feel of where to go requires a total letting go and gives that feeling of lightness.
It will come quickly when you’re having fun. Also, pay attention to where you see older adults go in their hoards and where you see a busy restaurant well off the beaten path. If it’s packed, there is a reason.
8. Enjoy Delicious Local Food
Food is one of life’s biggest pleasures, and when you are traveling alone and loving it, you will want to taste some of the local cuisine. One such country where this is magical is Italy. To Italians, food is life itself, and you will never meet people who love food as much as they do.
This level of passion is incredibly charming and adorable! It’s also worth pointing out that you are in a new place, and showing gratitude and telling the locals how much you love what they’ve made gets you big brownie points with them.
A fabulous thing to do is go to local markets early in the morning to buy your food instead of big supermarkets. You can sample a lazy lunch with a glass of rose and local cheese, but if you are on a budget, go out for lunch as it can often be better value.
You can also buy fresh bread, cheese, and some wine and have a picnic in a cute park while you do some people-watching.
9. Spend Time With Nature
You can take day trips, head out of the city into nature, and be in awe of the scenery. One of the fantastic things to do is snoozing in the sunshine and listening to the birds sing.
Nature is also incredibly restorative if you have been out of balance. You will feel all the tension, leave, and be full of energy again. Think about going away from the city for a weekend in the mountains.
Having all that space and calm to recharge the batteries is magical. And ensure you wake up very early to see the sunrise. If you are far from nature, buy some flowers instead! Or try putting some drops of lavender oil around the room to give you that natural feeling.
Additionally, if you have a sunny apartment, open the window, have a chilled wine on a cozy chair, and soak up that vitamin D!
10. Stay Active
Being active is vital if you want to feel and look good. If you want to do it in a fun way, find some good music on YouTube and do some dancing. You can also make it a daily challenge to wake up early and take a 60-minute sprint walk, getting in sport before you start the day.
You don’t need to be Jane Fonda in leggings and a headband heading out to Zumba. Just move often and stretch before sleeping. Additionally, doing sport early sets your mood for the day and gives you that feeling of achievement.