Tips for Solo Travelling

Solo travelling is a type of excursion people will look at on the face it as a daunting, challenging and unconventional experience.

Some people may fear the possibility of going to another country and struggling with surroundings that is not home to them. If you’re as young as I am you’ll likely have an older relative who’s going to be apprehensive wondering whether I’m okay and surviving out on foreign soil and will want an update from you when you get up, get home from a long day exploring and whether you’re feeding yourself well enough (probably mums based on that description haha)

Understandably, though travelling alone has its positives, it’s not an easy experience. Although it can be made an easier experience providing you follow some helpful tips and stick to a well-thought out plan and having been to three countries on my own I feel that I am qualified sufficiently to lend a few tips to you all on the subject.

Plan, Plan and Plan!

As just mentioned it’s very difficult arriving in a new country and expecting to know the deal as soon as you leave the arrival bay of the airport. You’re going to need a rough form of guidance to follow.

Research the best tourist sites to check out, which activities you can do in the area, the amount of money you’re roughly going to spend each day on food and shopping. Schedule what time you’re going to be back in your accommodation for or what time you’re going to wake up for.

Although do keep in mind that sometimes circumstance gets in the way of following plans to the exact detail. On one day the weather may not up to scratch so some locations may not be ideal for visits or the restaurant you planned to dine at on one particular evening might have closed its doors earlier for the day so use common sense and tweak your plans around changes

Learn the country’s language

Being able to communicate Reduce the communication barrier between you and the locals. This can help ease any racial tension that exists and if they know you’re a foreigner they will perhaps appreciate the time and effort you have taken to study something from their culture. As mentioned in a post on my blog about, it is a good opportunity to learn something new and enhance your personal skillset.

Some people may find learning another language more challenging than others whether it’s due to motivation, time, dependence on a friend or family member who speaks a particular language. With hard-work and and commitment picking up another language is doable for anyone.

I recently read a guest post from Nicola of (@nicshealthylife) that gives tips, be sure to give it a read.

Stay on busy, public roads

When solo travelling safety is a paramount. It’s likely you don’t know the local area that well in terms of shortcuts, the traffic system and which neighbourhoods are to be avoided.

Things such as abuse or remark you may suffer is highly unlikely to escalate if you are surrounded by a bunch of people who can potentially be witnesses. Make sure you steer well clear of alleyways or quiet areas, and routes you’re not familiar with, particularly at night

At the pre-departure stage of your travel, downloading maps of the city you’re visiting from Google maps is a must just to double up on your knowledge of the area you;re going to be staying in.

Discuss with your fellow solo travellers

Everyone is different and everyone has all had unique experiences abroad that we can all learn from. Engage with your family, other travel bloggers and vloggers about your upcoming trip and gather their tips and tricks to ensuring you stay safe and have an enjoyable trip.

Meet and interact with fellow travellers

This is a privilege a lone wanderer has. It’s a chance to make new friends and connections from another part of the globe, and you have one thing in common before even entering a conversation: travelling. Communication when you’re alone in a foreign is something you’re going to need to step up rather than solely scrolling on your phone for.

Another way of meeting other travellers is through group tours. Topdeck and Gap360 are two popular websites for group travel. It and has multi-trips packages covering accommodation, tourist excursions and most deals so you end up saving money. This is something I’m definitely looking at and is an easier way of getting the solo travel experience without feeling entirely alone.

Final Word

Nonetheless solo travel can be rewarding and self-satisfying if done right. It is an opportunity to test yourself in terms, or can be an opportunity have a break where you have your own privacy and can determine what you do and when without a passing thought about what others want to get up to. If you’re an avid traveller I’d definitely recommend doing it at least once.

That’s all from me folks! Keep up with my latest activities by following me on Twitter and/or Instagram

Johnny | The Travel Connoisseur