The beauty of solo travel is that it’s a journey you direct yourself. Traveling solo offers a wealth of unique experiences and lessons that help you grow in different ways. Whether you're naturally inclined to travel alone or wish to give it a shot and see what you're made of, it's good to educate yourself about it, and that's what we cover in this solo travel guide.
Is Solo Travel Difficult?
With solo travel becoming more popular worldwide, you may wonder if it's a challenge you can take on. It can be scary to visit foreign places alone, relying on your strengths, knowledge, and intuition to get through. While this type of travel pushes you outside your comfort zone, it also fosters self-reliance, making you more comfortable making decisions and getting things done. The challenge comes with rewarding experiences and, sometimes, life-changing transformations.
Is It Safe to Be a Solo Traveler?
Traveling along can be an exciting new adventure. However, we live in a world full of risks and while some places present more challenges than others, real safety begins with taking precautions.
You must research your destination and learn about safety and security as a solo traveler where you are. Check out travel advisories, among other resources, to prepare yourself before leaving.
Where to Start Solo Traveling
There's no one-size-fits-all solo travel advice. Many factors come into play when traveling such as destination, budget, culture, and experience. As a solo traveler, you could go wherever you want. If it's your first time, you could start small to rack up more experience traveling alone — after all, experience is the best teacher.
You could begin your journey right here at home by visiting the farthest state you've ever been to. You could explore Alaska's enchanting wilderness before diving into the jungles of South America. By starting locally, you get to experience traveling alone as a first-timer and learn from it.
Still, if you can't wait to fly away to distant lands and immerse yourself in an authentic solo adventure, keep things like crime rates, accessibility, language and political stability in mind when selecting your destination.
Tips for Traveling Alone
If you've always traveled with someone, solo international travel — or even a local one — can be intimidating. But that doesn't have to be the case. These tips will help you kick off, enjoy, stay safe and make the most of your solo travel adventure:
1. Choose Your Destination
It all begins with choosing where you want to go and the experiences you want. You probably already have a dream destination. Start there because the foundation of a memorable journey is what's in your heart. If you don't have a specific destination in mind, try to visualize the things you want from the trip and narrow down specific places with the best chance of meeting those needs.
Alternatively, be spontaneous. Throw a dart on the map and see where fate will take you. Still, that does not mean skimping on research.
2. Start Planning
When traveling overseas, planning ahead is crucial, and since you're doing it alone, anything you can learn about the destination is precious. Researching will tell you how safe the destination is and what you can do to feel safer and comfortable.
You also want to understand local laws and traditions to know how to navigate different situations. Look up how the locals carry themselves, what they appreciate and what they find offensive. For example, maintaining eye contact while talking could be considered respectful in one country and rude in another.
If you're visiting a country where communication will be challenging due to the language barrier, learn a few important phrases to help you get by. And since you'll need to figure out how to get from point A to point B on your own, it'd help to ask those who have made that journey before for insight. Not sure where to begin planning a solo travel adventure? Take advantage of expert help from qualified travel advisors.
3. Be Aware
Traveling alone means relying on yourself to get things right. Learn to be extra aware of your surroundings to take advantage of possible opportunities and to steer clear of possible problems. Use your best judgment to gauge how close you get to strangers. While it's fun and super helpful to make new friends along the way, exercise caution with these interactions and maintain a strong radar for red flags.
As a solo traveler, you'll quickly realize there are others like you seeking similar experiences. Linking up, going to places together and parting ways again are all part of the experience. Just try not to lose track of your goals and it'll help you be a good judge of your surroundings. If, for example, your new friends want you to tag along or engage in activities that go against your safety measures, kindly decline the offer. Remember, the trip is all about you.
4. Don't Be Lonely
Traveling alone can get lonely. That doesn't take away from the rewarding experiences or the freedom to do what you want and when you want it. But loneliness is a reality for solo travelers just as it's one of the reasons to travel with someone.
If you set out as a solo adventurer and loneliness gets to you, try not to feel like things are not working out. It's normal to crave companionship sometimes. You can combat that feeling by striking conversations, joining group tours and using social accommodations.
5. Be Nice but Not Too Nice
A common solo travel advice is to be nice to people. You're alone visiting unfamiliar places, so it’s usually best to treat others — especially customer service workers and fellow travelers — with kindness. However, it’s important to acknowledge that not everyone you meet in your travels will be looking out for your best interests. You might encounter scams or unfair pricing, or you might just need to be more assertive than you would in your home country.
Review the local culture and get familiar with the area before you go so you can stay safe.
Plan Your Solo Travel Adventure With AAA
Traveling alone offers you a unique opportunity to explore the world your own way. It can be nerve-wracking, but if you don’t know how to plan solo travel, a AAA membership can provide you with the travel support and resources you need. From roadside assistance to full vacation packages, we’ll be there for you to make your solo adventure a memorable one.
Sit back and let AAA create a memorable solo travel experience for you!
