There is nothing like travelling with the perfect companion, but travelling solo has many personal benefits. People are often reluctant to travel alone especially to places they have never been to, due to safety concerns, boredom, loneliness and many more. Well, I have experienced these fears, nevertheless, travelling solo has become my preferred mode of travel and I will tell you why.
Travelling alone gives me the opportunity to indulge myself fully. I have the freedom to do what I really want to do, when I want to, make my own mistakes and figure nearly everything on my own. This creates independence and increases my problem solving ability.
However, to fully enjoy your trip, you should note the following:
Plan
I am a planner…. a chronic one, an unrepentant one. A typical example is me packing my bags for my trip 2 months to my departure date. Yes, I do this. 🙂 When you plan, you give yourself enough time to focus on your travel needs.
Read more: 11 Things You Should Never Travel Without
Know Your Destination:
Before you embark on your trip, it is important to obtain information about the place you plan to visit.
For instance, you do not want to arrive Dubai in the summer wearing a thick fur coat… Heat will kill you. 🙂
Google, find out about the top touristy things to do in your destination- transportation, accommodation, check reviews online and ask questions from people who have visited the same destination.
Have A Budget
Unless you plan to indulge in some luxury shopping, your ticket and accommodation will form your major expenditures so the trick is to book your travel tickets early and choose an accommodation that meets your taste.
If you are travelling alone on a budget, you have no business staying in a luxury apartment since you would be spending most of your time sightseeing. You will be bored.
Spend time on the internet and find out about tourist friendly accommodation near the places you would love to see and when you arrive at your destination, hit the ground running. Spend the first few days doing the touristy activities you plan to do. I always recommend the open bus tour or in most cases the guided walking tours for every first time visit.
As a solo traveller, you cannot afford to be stranded, therefore, it is necessary to have sufficient funds for your trip. This is relative depending on your lifestyle.
Read more: How to Save Money for Your Dream Vacation
Be Confident
Even when you are nervous, it is wise to look confident. Trust your instincts, observe the way people do things, never be in a haste, be polite and ask questions when in doubt.
Be ready to mingle, make new friends, and hang out with people whose first language isn’t the same as yours.
This is how you see the world.
Have you travelled solo before? Did you love the experience? Share your stories here.
You have made traveling solo look like fun. I will try it out sometime this year.
Roomie eh….happy new year! You should try it, the experience will be worth it.
Yeah! Nicely put. Travelling solo is fun. You do what you want to do whenever you want to do so. The part I like most…. You conquer your fears as a solo traveller.
I have never travelled solo before.. My fear of foreign land and safety overpowers my desire for adventure. Lol.. But sounds like fun tho’
Interesting piece! I have never traveled solo though. Sounds adventurous. On my to do list for 2016.
My solo travel in 2012 is still the best trip I ever made…
More so is easier to make new friends and learn more for ur self.. Article well written about solo travel
Oto!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very well done dear! Quite an Interesting read! I am so hooked to this blog!
Great! Stay loyal girl…lol
Well written and nicely put together. A perfect blog for newbees lol… “Solo traveler” the new hype… hahaha
Thanks. Stay loyal sis!
Have travelled solo before. My 1st & only time in Orlando ’twas fun then I crossed over to San Deigo & to Philadelphia all alone. I wish I can do more of solo travel.
You put it perfectly, I have traveled solo almost all the time, it’s been really fulfilling!
Great!
Yeah traveling solo is great. Did that June this year and i am hooked. Will do that a lot more time. I love it. And i like the part where you say, ‘If you are travelling alone on a budget, you have no business staying in a luxury apartment since you would be spending most of your time sightseeing. You will be bored’. i mean bored is an understatement. lol
Good stuff. About being bored, I know because I have experienced it firsthand. Now I diss luxury when doing solo travel. I even do hostels when I have to.
Travelling solo is always exciting and fun filled for me. I get to meet people in a strange land and communicate!
When a visit tourist sites or monuments, I ask lots of questions so I have tangible content for future blogposts. Travelling with friends can make my inquisitiveness seem overbearing. I also have this thing where I check Google Maps for near attractions. Works everytime.
Traveling solo has its own benefits. Well done.