It’s happened before. You see a great deal on your dream vacation, you post about it on your social media, and family and friends say they want to come too! A group chat is created, and you provide dates, flight and hotel info, itinerary, and the costs and fees. And gradually the group chat messages start to dry up…….

At this point you have a choice, wait and hope somebody will go with you OR go alone. If you choose to go alone, here’s some tips and things I’ve learned on my solo trips.

What to Expect

• You will be a little (or a lot) anxious or nervous. This is normal and perfectly ok especially if it’s your first solo trip. I’ve been on several solo trips and I’m still a little anxious before traveling.
• People might try to convince you to cancel because of their own fears or misconceptions about solo travel. This is especially true if you’re a woman and/or traveling to lesser-known destinations.
• You may feel awkward or lonely at times. This is most likely to happen when you’re out to eat or when it’s time to take your pictures and you’re stuck taking selfies.
• You might be more reluctant to explore or feel less safe in an unknown environment.
• Solo travel means your expenses are higher because you’re not splitting the costs with others. (Cruises are notoriously more expensive for solo travelers)

But here are the good things to look forward to on your solo journey.

• You will truly learn about yourself and sometimes step out of your comfort zone. Solo travel allows you to see what you’re comfortable with and what your boundaries are.

• You don’t have to compromise. You choose your hotel, your flights and transportation, and you set your own budget. 
• You create your own itinerary and schedule. You do things in your own time and based on your own interests without having to consider anyone else’s to-do list or schedule.
• Solo travel allows you to meet more people. I’m an introvert but I’ve found that when I travel alone, I’m more open to meeting and talking to people than I am when I’m with friends. 

Here’s some tips and lessons learned from my solo travel:

• Let someone know the basic details of your trip. Provide screenshots of flights and hotels and some general information that will be useful if something goes wrong. Email a copy of your passport to yourself as well as a trusted friend or family member so you will have access to it should you lose it while traveling.
• If you’re traveling internationally, check out the State Department’s website about your destination. There you can learn about your destination, see any safety and security messages (including the nearest US embassy location), travel advisories and enroll in the STEP program which will help the government reach you in an emergency abroad. 
• Use the same safety precautions as you would in your hometown. Remain vigilant of your surroundings, do not drink too much or do anything that will impair your judgement, and do not disclose your solo status to strangers.
• There are thousands of travel groups on social media where you will have access to limitless posts on destinations, recommendations for tour guides, excursions, restaurants to try, and hidden gems.
• Trip Advisor, Airbnb Experiences, Groupon, Viator, and Expedia are all great resources for finding and scheduling excursions. I recommend paying for the more popular activities to ensure that it’s not sold out once you reach your destination. 
• Excursions are great opportunities to meet other solo travelers or group travelers to hang out with. I’ve been on solo trips and met other solo travelers and we ended up hanging out even after the excursion or tour.
• Buy a tripod or selfie stick. If you’re the type of traveler who likes pictures of everything and at every angle, then these will come in handy so that you don’t have to rely on strangers to take your pics.
• Get travel insurance. Traveling, regardless of whether it’s solo or with others, can be unpredictable. Having travel insurance will help safeguard against travel interruptions due to illness or weather, mitigate personal liability in the event of hospitalization or evacuation, and helps avoid the loss of funds spent in the event of a cancellation.

Solo travel is all about you. What you want and don’t want and achieving your own personal objectives whether it’s relaxation, crossing things off your bucket list, or immersing yourself in a new environment or culture. Solo travel is also not for everybody and if that’s what you discover after it’s all said and done then that’s ok too!