Solo Stint: How to solo travel successfully

Solo travel is liberating. But it’s not always easy to travel alone. So here is a guide on how to solo travel successfully...

While travelling with friends and family can be fun, it’s hard to please everyone. There will undoubtedly be disagreements about where to go and what to eat. On the other hand, solo travel is freeing. You’re at the mercy of your whim and nothing else. But this total freedom can also make solo travel daunting. Therefore, it’s important to plan your trip carefully. Meticulous organisation will ensure you remain safe and happy while away. It’ll also prevent what I like to call “fear of the alone” – the scared feeling you get walking into a restaurant alone. This guide will help you decide where to go, what to do and, importantly, what to bring. So get ready for a successful solo trip.

Choosing where to go

Deciding where to go may be the most important choice you can make when planning a solo trip. There’s no denying that some countries are safer than others for solo travellers. Take your time when thinking about where to visit, the accommodation you’ll use and how you’ll transport yourself when it’s just you and the open road. 

Country and cities

Which country is best for solo travellers? Forbes lists the 15 safest countries to travel to alone in 2024, claiming that Canada is the number one spot. This means you can enjoy a trip to Toronto, with relative peace of mind. On the whole, Nordic countries are also ranked pretty highly on the list. Yay, a trip to Iceland is on the cards. This ranking is based on several factors, including personal safety, protection from unpredictable weather and the risk of conflict in a country. Additionally, it’s important to note that certain parts within the same country will be safer than others. Just because Beverly Hills is pretty safe, it might not be wise to traipse through downtown Los Angeles alone. You should always stay on top of any safety advisories from your local government and plan accordingly.

Accommodation

Once you’ve decided on which country and city you want to visit, it’s time to think about the type of accommodation you’re comfortable with. It can be expensive to book a hotel room just for yourself. Therefore, you might consider hostels or even staying with a host family. While these rooms don’t afford you much privacy and risk the safety of your personal belongings, they’re a backpacker’s haven. You might even have the opportunity to meet more solo travellers in shared accommodation. Wherever you choose to stay, check the building’s location and ensure it’s in a safe area full of amenities for solo travellers. 

Transport

You want to see everything on your holiday, but travelling alone can make using transport more challenging. You’ll have no one to split the taxi fare with, making your trip more expensive. Additionally, walking alone or travelling on buses and trains might not be a safe option. It’s important to research whether it would be worthwhile renting a car for the trip or whether you can hire a tour guide to transport you for a week. Furthermore, ensuring your accommodation in a prime location will save you from having to spend half your time travelling. Further yet, you could go all-inclusive and find a resort where the only transport you’ll have to manage is the trip to the airport. (Even this might be included in your resort’s booking policy). So think about transport and don’t rely on only your legs to get you around.

What to do

Motivation is your worst enemy during a solo trip. When you’re on your own it’s hard to force yourself out of bed to see the world. And while you don’t want to overdo it when you’re on holiday, you’d hate to miss out because of a lack of motivation. Therefore, here are some of the best recommendations for activities, eating and downtime to solo travel successfully.

Activities

There shouldn’t be anything to stop you from doing exactly what you want to do on holiday. But being alone can be slightly awkward sometimes. Imagine, booking yourself onto a couple’s cooking class and having to watch lovey-dovey duos fawning over each other while you’re baking. No, thank you. Instead, look for activities particularly catered for solo travellers. Sports and physical exercises, like surfing or horse riding, are great examples of activities which are perfect for a lone ranger. Sightseeing can be a great solo option. However, this is easier if you’ve planned out a route and know exactly what destinations to visit. To motivate yourself, it can be beneficial to book a tour. These outings are also a great way to meet more kindred spirits on your trip abroad. Be selective with what activities you choose to do, and remember it’s your holiday so you’re allowed a lie-in.

Eating

Eating alone can be one of the most traumatic events of a solo trip. On the other hand, it can be great to order exactly what you want and sit down to a meal in peace. Knowing where to eat and researching appropriate restaurants before your trip can help you out a lot. Try looking for a bistro dining experience or cafes that double up as a dinner destination. Plus, don’t be afraid to head to a fast food place when you’re stuck for ideas. Once again, an all-inclusive holiday can help you out here as you’ll rarely have to find new places to eat. But for the free-ranging traveller, it’s best to be prepared.

Downtime

What to do…what to do? There are a lot of hours in a day and it’s hard to fill them all when you’re alone. Luckily, you don’t have to be on the go every minute of every day. It’s a holiday so enjoy your downtime. However, without companions to talk to, this is easier said than done. You might even feel guilty about wasting all your holiday time sitting indoors. I’m here to tell you that it’s okay to only do one activity a day if you prefer. Or no activities for that matter! Have a lie-in, take a slow breakfast and spend a few hours binge-watching your favourite show. Don’t panic about going to every Instagrammable spot in a city. Being on your own can be exhausting, so make sure you factor in your downtime and don’t feel guilty doing so.

What to take with you

A caveat of solo travel is that you won’t be able to scrounge off your friends. Therefore, you’ll need to be even more prepared when you’re packing for a trip. Some essential items are key when travelling alone so that you don’t get stranded in an unfamiliar country. And, primarily, so you don’t get bored on your own. 

Documents and forms

Whether you’re travelling alone or with people, there are always some important documents that you should take with you. These personal papers and items are even more essential when you’re on your own and can’t rely on a friend to cover you. For example, you should always bring along two payment cards (as well as some cash) just in case one card doesn’t work. It’s a great idea to bring a VISA and a Mastercard, for this purpose. Additionally, have a couple of forms of identification with you – a passport and driving license will do. Last of all (a personal preference of mine) ask the lovely staff at the airport to print out your boarding pass. This saves you in a bind if your phone dies or breaks and you can’t pull up your electronic boarding pass. Just a free piece of advice for you there to help you solo travel successfully.

Safety

Better to be safe than sorry. So spend a little extra and buy a few items for your safety. First of all, a padlock is essential, especially if you’re travelling to shared accommodation. Keep all your possessions locked up nice and tight when you’re out for the day or sleeping. The last thing you want on your solo trip is to be stranded with no underwear. Next, slip some over-the-counter paracetamol into your bag. This will save you from dragging yourself out of bed to an unfamiliar pharmacy if you’re feeling rough. Finally, (you don’t have to pay for this one) write down your emergency contact information on a bit of paper and slip it in your day bag. Here’s to hoping you don’t need it, but this little slip of paper can help you and strangers in the most dangerous of situations.

Entertainment

I mentioned downtime (right here if you missed it). You might just want to relax in bed in these precious moments. But if you’re like me and you get angsty when you’re left to your own thoughts, you’ll want to bring some entertainment. Download your favourite movies and series onto your phone or tablet. This way if you ever get stuck without WiFi, you’ll have entertainment to hand. You could also bring a book along. This is a must-have item on the beach. It’s blissful to chill in the sun with a fantasy world in front of you. And if you’re a gamer like me, bring your entire console along. I’ll always slip my Nintendo Switch into my bag before a trip. It’s perfect for long flights and lightens up the dull moments when I’m alone in my room. Bringing along a source of entertainment is essential when conducting a rejuvenating solo trip.

Do you know how to solo travel successfully?

Research, research, research. Good planning is the be-all and end-all of a successful solo trip. Carefully discover the prime places to visit, the best activities to do and the smartest things to take with you. Travelling alone shouldn’t be scary. It should be about curating a holiday that is a perfect fit for you. But the fear of being alone and the added risk that accompanies solo travel can often ruin trips. Or put people off altogether. Be brave, read this guide, and book your next successful solo vacation. And if you need more proof of how fun independent travel can be, read about my recent solo trip to the Philippines.