30 tips for travelling solo

By Paul Feinstein

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of travelling alone – getting lost, experiencing a new city or region, and making new friends along the way. Solo travel is exhilarating in so many ways that the trend of embarking alone has grown in popularity around the world.

In the recent years, travel researchers and data analysts have seen large spikes in solo travel. Taking a peek at Google Trends shows a more than 100 per cent increase in solo travel interest alone in the past five years. In 2018, 70 per cent of the travellers on Intrepid Travel’s U.S. trips were travelling solo.

Solo travel, of course, has its pros and cons. Going alone means more mobility, the ability to change plans on the fly, and a great way to get out of one’s comfort zone. The negatives can be loneliness, safety concerns, and a lack of shared experience.

But people travel alone for many reasons. Some venture out to meet new people. Others take trips to find themselves. And many travel solo simply for the thrill of an unknown adventure. Regardless of the reasons, single travel can be one of the best experiences a wanderer can have, or one of the worst if they’re wholly unprepared. Stacker delved into the world of solo travel and came up with 30 useful tips so adventurers can make the absolute most of their single sojourns.

Pack light

One of the best things about travelling solo is the ability to be mobile without another person’s baggage (literally and figuratively) getting in the way. But packing too much can hinder your flexibility in the same way. Rolling clothes creates the most space and packing cubes can be lifesavers. But getting the right bag is the most important thing. Go for a good rolling carry-on paired with a shoulder bag or try out one-bag travel to stay light.

READ MORE: How to pack a carry-on: The WCT Travel Guide

Learn self-defense

While most vacations are free of any real danger, there are always moments when knowing a thing or two about self-defense can really come in handy. The number one rule in all self-defense advice is to try to run away, but taking a couple of classes may make you feel more comfortable out on your own.

Know before you go

Being armed with the most information possible is always ideal in case you run into sticky situations. For Canadian travellers, visit travel.gc.ca; for U.S. travellers, download and register on the Smart Traveler app, the official app of the U.S. State Department, containing all the info for embassies, travel alerts, warnings and more.

Get smarter

Wherever you travel, not everyone speaks the same language. Learning, at a minimum, a few words in the local language is crucial for things like finding bathrooms, giving directions, ordering food, and saying hello. Download both the Google Translate app and the appropriate local dictionary. That way, the app works offline for all your translation needs.

Set up your phone

International phone plans, SIM cards, burner accounts: It can be exhausting (and painfully pricey) to figure out how to stay in touch on the road. Luckily, apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, Google Voice, and Skype make keeping in touch free and easy — as long as there’s Wi-Fi. Also, if you have an iPhone, you can stay connected with any other iPhone user via iMessage over your internet connection. But if you’re really concerned about touching base back home, check out mobile Wi-Fi devices in the country you’re visiting or consider swapping out your SIM.

READ MORE: Use your Canadian phone plan on US travels or choose an American option? The WCT Travel Guide

Book your bed

One of the best parts of solo travel is being able to plan, or not plan, as much or as little of the trip you want. One thing is certain: Wherever you land, you’ll want a bed for the night, and booking your first night or two in advance helps minimize any jet-lagged arrival shocks. Obvious choices for booking include Booking.com, Trivago, Hotels.com, etc. But for great last-minute rates, check out Hotel Tonight for serious discounts that benefit the procrastinating traveller.

Exploit social media

Most travel experiences are greatly enhanced by knowing someone in the place you’re visiting. You get the best local knowledge for food, drinks, non-touristy sights, and more. While the amplification of your voice on social media has its downsides, one positive is that you can blast a message out to the world to see if your friends or friends of friends know anyone for you to meet on vacation.

Battery life saves lives

Although your luggage may include a built-in battery charger, it’s always smart to carry a small spare to avoid getting stuck on a long flight, a car ride, or train trip with a dead phone. The best portable batteries weigh next to nothing and can charge your phone multiple times before they need to be recharged themselves. Check out brands like Anker, Belkin, and Mophie for some of the better ones out there.

Orient yourself

As a solo traveller, one of the biggest fears can be getting lost in unfamiliar territory. Regardless of your feelings, one of the better safety blankets for this situation is Google Maps. Download the app, along with the offline map of the city you’re traveling to, and you can use the map offline so you need not worry about a Wi-Fi signal in the middle of nowhere.

Money matters

First things first, always have some cash in your pocket. Depending on your preference, you can either go to your bank or local money changer before you leave and grab $100 in whatever the currency is of the place you’re going, or wait until you arrive and hit up an airport ATM to avoid worrying about exchange rates in advance. Just make sure your bank doesn’t charge astronomical foreign transaction fees, and take out a larger sum one time instead of small sums multiple times, as the bank fee is the same no matter the amount you withdraw. You should also only use a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, as these can really add up, and always pay in local currency.

Hostel or hotel?

No matter your accommodation of choice, try to look for bookings that are friendly to solo travellers. Often, the best solo accommodations are in the B&B space, since they provide a homier vibe during your stay. Hotels with a good bar scene are always adventurous for meeting someone you might fancy, and hostels are practically designed for fellow travellers to mix and mingle with one another.

Tell the world

No, that doesn’t mean telling all 752 friends of yours on Facebook you’ll be gone during a specific time. Tell your bank and your credit card company that you’re going away, so they’ll know not to flag your accounts for suspicious activity — this also helps with identity theft. Also, tell your closest friend or family member your online passwords in case of emergencies and send them copies of your passport and credit cards and your entire itinerary.

Eat at the bar

If you’re looking for company while travelling solo, one of the surefire places to find it is at the bar while you eat. Most restaurants allow patrons to order from the regular menu at their bars and it’s an easy way to chat up the bartender for local tips and to meet fellow diners and drinkers who constantly sidle up for their orders.

eBooks > real books

Reading on the road is a great way to unwind, relax, and even get to know a place better if you choose material based on where you’re travelling. But the weight and size of a heavy book inside your bag will throw a real wrench into that “packing light” plan. Before you leave, invest in an e-reader, download a library app, and stock up on free reads, or use the Kindle app from Amazon on your tablet and buy that beach book you’ve been meaning to check out.

Get lost (within limits)

Solo travel is about discovery. Finding yourself, sure, but also finding something completely unexpected. A great way to discover something out of the ordinary is to get lost in an unfamiliar place. When you get lost, you’re forced to interact with people and places in ways that can take you out of your comfort zone and can give you experiences that you’d otherwise never plan for. Just practice situational awareness before you risk wandering into potentially dodgy parts of town.

Walk everywhere

Taxis, scooters, trains and other means of wheeled transit are excellent ways to get around a place with speed so you can optimize your vacation time. But sometimes, slowing down and looking at all the little things between points A and B is half the fun. Walking around a new city is one of the best ways to learn about its quirks, hidden gems and local favourites. And don’t sleep on the health benefits of walking after plowing through the local cuisine like it’s your last meal on Earth.

Drink responsibly

Never accept a drink from a stranger unless it’s in a sealed container (even then, think twice about it), don’t drink alone and make sure you stay within your limits so you can always keep your wits about you in any situation. As a solo traveller, you never know who you can trust when you’re always dealing with strangers. The more sober you are, the better your decision-making will be.

Avoid the single supplement

One of the more annoying parts of travelling solo is that you’re often charged extra by hotels, cruises and other accommodations looking to make more money off your single status. Luckily, the single supplement can be avoided in several ways. There are websites that can match you with a roommate if need be (if you don’t mind strangers) and specifically requesting single staterooms on cruises or booking at the very last minute can help you avoid the extra fee.

Find a guide

When you’re exploring a new place, one of the easiest ways to get immersed is to find a professional guide. Guides are excellent ways to learn about any place’s history, culinary traditions, events, and more. Not only that, many destinations have free walking tours that you can join, which is another great way to meet new people.

Utilize your solo status

Exploring while single has loads of advantages, especially in heavily touristed areas. Many museums, attractions, and rides have lines dedicated to singles, which allow you to waltz past the masses for a smoother tourist experience. Disneyland is probably the best example of this as the single rider line gets you to the front in no time. If you’re skiing, most resorts have single lanes for the chairlifts, so you don’t need to wait there either.

Always know your address

High-end hotels may have their address and a map on the keys they give you to your room, but most accommodations don’t, and this can prove problematic in a place where you don’t know the language. There are some obvious simple solutions that most people don’t think about. Open up the map of your location on your phone and screengrab the address and the map itself so you can show a driver where you’re going. Or simply ask for a business card which will always have the address printed on it.

Scout out events

Walking around and seeing random stuff is fun and all, but purpose-driven travel is tailormade for the soloist on the road. Wherever you’re going, make it a point of checking the calendar for sporting events, concerts, community events and festivals, all of which can make for some of the most rewarding experiences.

Leave the right tip

This really applies to all travellers, but tipping in foreign countries varies widely. In the U.S. and Canada, tipping at restaurants is usually 15 to 20 per cent. France, England Spain, and Scandinavia tip around 10 to 15 per cent, while Italy, China, Singapore and Japan eschew the practice. But as a solo traveller, a smart tip to the right concierge at the start of your vacation can go a long way to making your trip a whole lot better.

No jewellery, no problem

One important lesson of travelling solo is to try not to stick out in the crowd. One major way to draw the wrong kind of attention to yourself is to wear a lot of jewellery, like flashy watches, diamond rings or gold necklaces. Leave your valuables at home; it’s one less thing to worry about and helps keep your luggage light. If there’s a piece you simply can’t travel without, think about using the safe in your hotel room when you go out at night.

Stay sanitary

Nothing ruins a trip like getting sick, but there are many handy ways to keep yourself healthy. None of this is fool-proof but keeping a small bottle of hand sanitizer and a packet of anti-bacterial wipes in your luggage is a good place to start. Remember, the filthiest things you’ll encounter on your trip include the tray table, armrests, and seatbelts on the plane, the remote control in your hotel room, the luggage bins at airport security, any water fountain, and light switches and door handles. Wipe. Down. Everything.

Find the Wi-Fi

Many tips for solo travellers include using technology to your advantage. But if you can’t get online, most of those tips are moot. While mobile Wi-Fi devices can be handy, they can also get expensive for any long-haul travel. Apps like Wi-Fi Finder can help you discover free Wi-Fi spots around the world, and if all else fails, there’s usually a Starbucks or McDonald’s to be found.

Insure your trip

To buy or not to buy travel insurance, that is the very important travel question. Travel insurance breaks down into two main types: protection for missed flights and lost luggage, or those two things plus all medical emergencies. Many credit cards have built-in insurance for flights and luggage as long as you used the cards to purchase the trip. But it might make sense to buy insurance if you’re travelling to any areas with safety issues or if you’re doing adventurous outdoor activities.

Copy your passport

You’ve already sent a copy to your friends and family, but you should print out a hard copy of your passport ID page and keep it with you as well. If for some unknown reason you lose your passport on the road, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and headaches if you can prove to an official at your embassy you’re a citizen who just needs some help.

Keep a trip journal

Since you’re the only witness to your adventures while travelling alone, one of the best ways of remembering the moments is to write about your journey. A good notebook goes a long way, but if you don’t want to weigh down your bag, there are plenty of great journal apps that allow you to organize your thoughts right on your phone.

Make new friends

If you’d like to find yourself a short-term travel buddy, chatting up your fellow travellers while waiting for a bus or sitting around a hotel lounge can help you find yourself a potential dinner or museum companion.

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*** This article has been re-published pursuant to a CC BY-NC 4.0 License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/?ref=chooser-v1.