I travel a lot for work and often times, I travel by myself. I’ll even travel by myself if I can’t find anyone to go on a trip with me, simply because I don’t want to miss out. While I prefer for someone to be there and keep me company, I learned how to travel solo.
My roommate complains that she needs a boyfriend because she’s embarrassed to do things by herself. Go to a movie? Nope. Eat dinner alone? No way. I always tell her that the more she does it, the easier it gets. Besides, no one cares that you’re by yourself!
Whether you’re going on a work trip, a solo vacation, or just going out by yourself on the weekend, here are my tips for travelling solo:
- Have a plan. Do your research beforehand on where to go, the address, time needed at each place and how to get there. My method once I map everything out is to put it on a google sheet so I can access it on my “sheets” app.
- Go with the flow. On the contrary, know that you’re in a new place and not everything is going to happen the way you planned. Learn to calm down and think of what to do next if something goes wrong.
- No one is watching you. No, not in a creepy way, but don’t feel like just because you eat alone or go somewhere alone that people are judging you. It’s very common and they’re most likely minding their own business. Don’t be embarrassed.
- Sit at the bar. If you eat alone, the best place to sit is the bar. Most “single” people sit there and you’ll get more attention from the bartender. If you’re worried about what to do while you wait for your food, read a book or go on your phone.
- Don’t always opt for the cheapest hotel. This may cost you money and time at the end if it’s the wrong place or you end up paying a lot just to get to your destination. It all adds up!
- Bring a battery pack. Since you’re by yourself, bring a battery pack for backup since you’ll be relying on your phone a lot to search things up and for directions.
- Ask for directions. Don’t hesitate to ask for directions or something you don’t know. Most people are willing to help, despite what city or country you’re in. Don’t drive yourself crazy if you really can’t figure it out yourself.
- Meet other people. Just because you go alone doesn’t mean you have to spend all your time alone! I’ve met people in hostels, tours, or simply just sitting at the bar. Introduce yourself and strike up a conversation!
Being by yourself doesn’t have to be scary or intimidating. Solo travelling can actually be pretty easy and fun. It takes a little bit to get used to, but once you go do it, you’ll be more confident about doing it in the future. So no co-workers or significant other to travel with you? You’ll be great by yourself!
