Is Solo Travel For Everyone?
HOW TO TRAVEL SOLO SUCCESSFULLY
June 27, 2022
If you’re thinking about starting plans to take your first solo trip, let me tell you: I’m rooting for you!
But I get it…
You haven’t done solo travel before and you might be wondering: Is it for me? Am I going to enjoy solo travel?
Of course, traveling solo is not just about getting to destinations on your own but also knowing how to make the experience worth your while!
So the short answer is ‘YES’, solo travel is 100% for everyone— No doubt.
However, your first experience will very much depend on the following three aspects:
personality
preparedness &
being open-minded
Read more below to understand how I believe you can have your first successful solo travel adventure!
Preparing For Your First Solo Travel Experience
PERSONALITY
Whether you consider yourself an extrovert, or introvert (or both) there’s no rule that says that one will enjoy solo travel more than the other!
Let me say it again…Solo Travel is for everyone.
But of course your experience will vary based on your personality and the things you like to do for entertainment.
The activities you choose to do during your solo travel trip will make or break your experience!
The trick to having fun while solo traveling is to find the activities that make you happy. You can wish to do them alone but the reality is that you don’t have to—
Just because you are traveling solo doesn’t mean you can’t join groups or meet friends & do those things with them!
So what can you do to make your solo travel experience better?
Make a list of things you like to do in your hometown (for example: going to the movies, trying new restaurants, dancing, etc) that make you feel good, happy, and safe!
Then find out where you can do these same things at your chosen solo travel destination. This is a great way to start!
KEEP IN MIND:
When you are in a new place, you will feel a small (or big) wave of adrenaline rush and the sudden urge to try things you never thought you would back home.
For example, if you normally spend time alone in cafes or at home watching movies, it’s possible that traveling will make you want to be more social and active. It might make you do super adventurous and spontaneous things too!
The same thing goes for the opposite, if you happen to be a very active & outgoing person at home, you might feel inclined to take it more slow abroad and find yourself enjoying spending time alone .
Either reaction is normal and it’s okay to do what YOU feel like doing.
PREPAREDNESS
“Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”
Preparing for a solo trip can feel daunting if you don’t even know where to start.
In group travel, preparing is relatively easy. There are other people that can plan things for you so all you end up worrying about is packing your bags.
But when it comes to solo travel, preparing takes a lot more planning ahead of time!
Since you’ll be on your own for the most part of the trip, it’s important that you pay close attention to details of your itinerary and safety, well in advance, so there are no issues.
Being prepared for your solo trip will decrease possibilities of misunderstandings or worse situations like being stranded somewhere you don’t want to be at.
So what can you do to make your solo travel experience better?
Aside from creating an efficient packing list, research the pros and cons of staying at hostels, Airbnbs, or any other lodging option you prefer.
In addition, create a financial and savings plan by forecasting your grocery or food spending and deciding how long you want your solo trip to be, and what activities you want to do while you’re there.
To start the planning stage, these 3 topics will help you navigate what solo travel will feel like and how much money you’ll need to make it happen.
KEEP IN MIND:
If you want to go more in-depth with your research, even better! — I welcome you to sign up to my monthly newsletter to get a Solo Travel Checklist.
You can use this checklist and the blog as a starting point. But if you want to be notified when my Solo Travel Guide + Planner workbook launches, I welcome you sign up to my monthly newsletter!
BEING OPEN-MINDED
The last thing to consider to make your solo travel experience successful is to practice open-mindedness.
Are you okay with facing last-minute challenges?
Being open-minded is not a solo travel requirement. But approaching it by being welcoming and curious about the world around you will make the experience more fulfilling.
Solo travelers begin their journey because they have a goal to travel alone. However, many don’t enjoy their experience because of expectations that were not met.
Whether that is about the people, the culture, or the experience itself, when we set expectations without realizing that we need to maintain an open mind (i.e. being able to adjust and accept different outcomes without judgment), we are doing ourselves a huge disservice!
For example, social media has led us to believe that a travel influencer’s life is glamorous and perfect. But this isn’t true at all! No matter how much they prepare for a trip, something will always go wrong.
When that happens, you have to learn to just let it slide and re-adjust.
So what can you do to make your solo travel experience better?
Being open minded to the possibility of going solo will open doors to lifetime adventures you won’t see at home. It will allow you to see beautiful places around the globe!
But before you go, you should study your destination and research travel blogs to learn how to manage your expectations of the place.
If things happen to go left during your solo trip, managing your expectation will help you keep an open mind about your experience. The last thing you’d want is to simmer and possibly ruin the rest of your trip because one thing didn’t go the way you planned it.
KEEP IN MIND:
In addition to managing expectations, you should also note that culture shock is real and can happen to anyone. The key is to maintain an open minded!
As you research your destination, learn about their culture and traditions and understand their perspective. That said, you don’t have to necessarily agree with it! You can always research another destination that may be better suitable to your beliefs.
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