Traveling. It's a lot of fun with the right company, but not everyone can match your travel stamina. Sometimes you just have to embark on your own journey. I moved to Europe by myself in 2010 and traveled America this year, also alone. Come to think of it, every trip I have been on but one (shout out to Robby!), I have been by myself.
Here are my 7 suggestions when flying solo:
1. Photography Equipment ↱ You don't need to spend a bunch of money, but I would at least recommend investing in a tripod. Constantly having to ask strangers to take pictures of you gets old really quick. Even though I don't mind taking someones picture, I don't like asking someone to do it for me. Not to mention the fact that if you choose to go somewhere more remote with less people, you will find yourself with no one to ask anyway (not that a well positioned rock or tree hasn't worked for me lol). You can connect a digital camera to a tripod or get a tripod that will hold your phone. Some also come with Bluetooth remotes > These are the best! If you hate 'posing' for pictures, I'd recommend putting your phone on a tripod in video mode and just screenshotting anything you like later. A model in the making!
2. Airbnb ↱ This is great for solo travelers because it gives you a chance to meet someone local to the area. They can usually offer you really great insight on places to eat and things to do/see. Most Airbnb hosts are super cool and will help you if they can. An Airbnb host I had in California even offered to teach me to surf! Cool stuff. You will also notice that most Airbnb hosts are pretty well traveled themselves. The stories are abundant!
3. Share Your Location With Someone Back Home ↱ Even though traveling is relatively safe, things can still happen. It would be wise to allow someone to track your location through an app if possible. That way if something DOES happen, they know where to find you. Especially important if you are a solo female traveler.
4. Sign Up For a Tour ↱ This is really good for solo travelers, especially if you're more on the introverted side or terrible at planning ;) A tour allows you to be around other people (maybe make some friends!) and see what sites your destination has to offer. Unless you're super into reading and research, this will give you an opportunity to really learn about your destination.
5. Online Forums/Facebook Groups ↱ Lets face it, there are some activities that are better with company. Do you have a particular hobby that you indulge in that you want to enjoy with others? Try finding/joining forums and Facebook groups that show other solo travelers who want to do the same things. This is how I met all of my friends in Amsterdam!
6. Minimal Packing ↱ I definitely recommend this. I actually never pack more than a carry-on when I fly. I simply don't want to deal with checked luggage. This will prevent you from wasting time, the airlines losing your luggage, plus having to lug all of it by yourself. Keep things minimal and simple. Only pack the essentials.
7. Enjoy Being Selfish ↱ Ever traveled with someone who hates museums? Yeah, not cool! Guess where you're going to eat? Where you choose. Guess what you're going to do? What you choose. The world is your oyster. Gone are the days of having to debate over what to see next. You make your schedule and you see exactly what you want.
I hope this list was helpful. Traveling solo can be nerve-wracking at first, but you'll soon learn that it boasts a lot of really great benefits. Not only do you get to see the world, but you gain independence, strength, creativity, and funny private memories to look back on.
HAPPY TRAVELS ✈
I envy you!
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