12 Tips for New & Seasoned Solo Travelers
The thought of eating alone terrifies you and you’re worried about who will take insta-worthy pictures of you? We’ve got you covered.
Solo travel may be intimidating at first but you’ll quickly realize that your shoulder is enough to lean on. Here are 12 helpful tips for your next solo trip:
1) Plan to Meet a Friend or a “Friend of a Friend”
Thanks to Mikey, was connected to these amazing girls in Bali
Whenever I know someone from a particular destination I’m traveling to, I always ask if they can meet or connect me to a trusted friend. Whether it’s meeting for dinner or exchanging recommendations via whatsapp, this tip has benefited me the most as a solo traveler. Sometimes it saves money by crashing on a friend’s couch, sometimes it saves time learning local tips that I normally would acquire after hours of research, and sometimes it’s just nice to have dinner with a familiar face.
2) Stay at a Hostel Dorm
Rooftop at Beachfront Hostel
It may feel like sleep away camp but staying at a hostel dorm is the easiest way to meet people and automatically have company. Private rooms in hostels are always a bargain but it’s easier to meet travelers in shared rooms. Communal hostel areas are great, but sometimes it awkwardly feels like the first day of college where people won’t make eye contact with you until they have their first beer. When you’re sharing the same sleeping quarters, it’s hard to avoid introductions and small talk with your bunkmates . If you happen to connect, you may score a new travel buddy and sometimes a friend for life.
3) Then Splurge on a Nice Hotel
Treated myself to a lux hotel in Ubud, Bali
After slumming it in a bunk bed and sharing the same bathroom with 6 other strangers, splurging on a nice hotel is heaven. Hostel rooms can be loud and bunkmates can be serial snorers so sleep quality is unpredictable. It’s such a relief to have fluffy pillows, unlimited toiletries, and a good night’s sleep without ear plugs.
4) Sign Up for Group Activities
Beachfront Hostel’s Shabbatt dinner in Israel
I normally don’t participate in pub crawls back home, but I’m easily convinced to join while I’m traveling. It’s fun feeling like I’m 21 all over again - dancing till the break of dawn in a foreign country with like minded travelers who become best friends over night. If you’re not into pub crawls there are other group activities offered at hostels such as dinners or day trips. If you’ve outgrown hostels, you can join walking tours or other group tours on Viator or Airbnb Experiences.
5) Sit at Communal Tables
Surfing w/ my Bali soul sister at Berawa Beach
Instead of sitting at a table for one, sit at the communal table or bar. It’s an easy way to strike up conversation with other travelers and locals. If you’re lucky maybe you’ll even meet your travel soul sister while eating smoothie bowls at a cafe (true story). Plus take advantage of your party of 1 by finally skipping lines at restaurants with long waits.
6) Go to a Local Yoga Studio
Yoga to the People in Tel Aviv
To make the unfamiliar feel familiar, I always make it a priority to attend a local yoga class while traveling. My yoga practice is one of the only constant things in my life so why not feel at home no matter where I am. It’s an added bonus to be surrounded by fellow yogis who swear they have a connection to the moon just as much as I do. So whether your hobby is yoga or crossfit, find a local center to feel at home.
7) Join a Travel Facebook Group
Cute welcome notes at the Vera Hotel
If you want to expedite the process in meeting like minded travelers, post a message on a travel Facebook group to see if anyone is in the area. More and more people are traveling solo and Facebook is a great resource to find those fellow unicorns. Some Facebook groups I’m a part of:
+ Women Who Travel
+ Girls Love Travel
+ The Solo Female Traveler Network
+ Female Digital Nomads
8) Bring a Good Book to Read
My best friend during solo travels in Bali
For all your solo meals and nights alone, a good book will keep you company. Solo travel is a great time to enrich and captivate your mind. Some of my favorite travel reads:
+ The Alchemist
+ Four Agreements
+ Shantaram
+ The Big Magic
9) Or Gather Reading Materials About Your Destination
Light reading about Tel Aviv
One of my favorite parts of a flight is reading the airline magazine. Airline magazines shed many insightful tips and stories about destinations. If you normally sleep through flights, no worries - scope out the reading materials in your hotel lobby. Sometimes lonely planet guidebooks and custom detailed maps/ newsletters are up for grabs.
10) Download Useful Travel Apps
Tools of the Travel Trade
Since you’re the one steering the wheel, you'll need the best tools in case anything goes wrong during your solo travels (which will happen sooner or later). For directions, Maps.me is the best when traveling abroad with no wifi. Download your area’s map in advance, and you’ll be able to utilize the map for directions and recommendations even without wifi. Google Maps (as usual) is great for transit, walking, and car directions. Before loosing wifi I always screenshot directions beforehand or I won’t close the app so I can still track my progress. Useful Apps:
+ Directions - Maps.me, Google Maps
+ Language - Google Translate
+ Recommendations - TripAdvisor, Maps.me
+ Communication - Whatsapp, Viber
11) Put a Pop Socket Grip on Your Phone For Better Selfies
Only photo during a solo trip to the Keukenhof Gardens in Holland
For me, the biggest downfall of solo travel is never getting good photos of myself (either someone’s finger is in the way or my eyes are closed). Landscape shots and candid photos of locals are great, but sometimes I just want a flattering photo of myself in front of a bucket-list monument. But thanks to my pop socket phone grip, selfies and self timer are a lot easier to manage. Pics or it didn’t happen, right?
12) Join Organized Tour Groups
Yoga Teacher Training at AyurYoga Eco-Ashram
If you’re still questioning the jump into solo travel, an easier way to dip your feet in is by joining an organized tour group with other solo travelers. I’ve personally never joined organized tour groups as a solo traveler, but I know many travelers who have and loved it. There are many organized tour groups out there that are gender specific, age specific, and even interest specific. I prefer DIY solo travel since it saves money and it’s the “true” solo travel experience, but organized tour groups are extremely convenient and less of a headache.
Recommended below:
+ Contiki (18-35, average age 26)
+ Bus2Alps (Study Abroad College Students in Europe)
+ Under 30 Experiences (21-35 Millennials)
+ Women Who Travel (All Female)
Don’t get overwhelmed by solo travel. Trust yourself - you’re smarter, thriftier, and more resilient than you think. The hardest part is just starting. The world is yours, solo traveler!
For my seasoned solo travelers, what are your tips for solo travel?
