Solo Travel Tips

Do not call you crazy, traveling alone has nothing bad and yes a lot of good. In fact, everyone should travel alone at some point in their life, the perception of the trip is totally different to when traveling in company and in many ways it becomes much more enriching.

You have a world before you and a million new experiences to live, do you want to share them? Or do you want them just for you? Traveling alone means not having anyone else when you want and having everyone when you prefer. You will see that the planet is full of people traveling alone, many want to share it and many do not, but if you are one of the first, even if it is only when you choose it, you will not miss the following tips dedicated to travelers and the travelers who buy a solo ticket.

1. Hostels are the center of everything

If you want a little company to break your loneliness, you just have to look for a good hostel when it comes to staying. Not only will you share a room with other travelers, but its common areas are full of people eager to meet you and share their traveling experiences with you. In addition, in the hostels there are always a thousand and one group activities organized if you want to share your time with others.

A hotel to use is always the worst option if you want to meet people, if you want real contact with local people. 

2. Use the networks

And we do not just talk about Facebook, Twitter or Instagram that will allow you to find other travelers in your area, but other specific networks that can make your trip more productive. For example, the Couchsurfing itself has a section of traveling people looking for a plan to discover new sites, just as Tripadvisor has a forum for traveling alone . Do not stop looking at the groups that are proposed in MeetUp , maybe there is one of your interest to take advantage of.

3. Carry a free mobile for a local SIM

Whether you are going to spend a lot of time in the same destination as if you are going to jump from country to country, you may be interested in taking a free mobile phone with you in which you can use a local SIM card, it will be essential if you know people and want to make plans together.

The big cities are the best place for a first solo trip, you will find more travelers and numerous hostels.

4. Look for shared transports

Collective transport is always cheaper, perhaps also slower, but certainly a good way to meet people and travel without spending a lot of money . Transportation is often the start of great friendships among travelers as well as a great source of useful tips for your trip. 

5. Share a table!

If you want to eat alone do it, we all have our moments, but if you want to meet people the best thing you can do is look for bars and restaurants where you share a table. A “Hello, excuse me, I’m traveling and I’ve never been here, what would you recommend that you ask me?” Is a good way to start an interesting gastronomic conversation and … is not food the best way to get to know a country?

6. Sign up for the “free walking tours”

The “free walking tours” are those guided tours in which you only pay if you consider that the guide deserves it, they are very fashionable in all the cities of the world and how to charge depends on doing a good job, they are usually quite interesting and entertaining. These groups are full of travelers with whom to interact, take advantage of that opportunity.

7. Food courses

As we said, is there a better way to get to know a place than through its gastronomy? In many tourist destinations you will find cooking courses for travelers where you can learn to prepare local dishes and also meet other people with whom you share that same interest.

You are not crazy about wanting to travel alone, it is the first step to learn to travel in company.

8. Open yourself to the world 

One of the advantages of traveling alone is that it is much easier to get in touch with people and you will see that this is true both with other travelers and with local people. Let yourself be surprised by the hospitality that you will find in your step, suddenly maybe one day you will see yourself eating at a family house, traveling for free with someone who is on your way or, who knows, in the celebration of a baptism that you have just finished. invite. Believe me, those things happen.

9. Without fear, but with common sense

If you travel alone, leave fear and shame at home. You will see that the world is full of friendly people and eager to help, it is much more likely that you have a good experience that you have a bad one. Obviously, as you would do at home, do not get into trouble and find out which areas it is better not to frequent.

10. Tell at home where you are from

Family, friends … let someone know where you are. If something happens, they will know where to look for you. Nowadays you have it very easy, it’s as simple as taking your mobile phone out of your pocket and making a call, sending a message or sharing a location. Also, just in case, use the passenger registry of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

11. If you go out at night … leave a note

If you travel alone, chances are that nobody will wait for you anywhere, for good and for bad. If you go out at night it does not hurt to leave a note in your bed saying where you are going, with whom and when you return.

12. Do not arrive at your destination at nightfall

This advice is valid whether you are traveling alone or traveling alone, but going alone is even more important to keep in mind. Arriving at an unknown place at night can always bring some problem. Full accommodations, closed receptions, dark streets that give you a bad spine, every time it is done later, you get rushed … Most likely, that street that seemed gloomy with light turns out to be a totally normal street, if you arrive in the morning Maybe there are still no rooms ready and you have to wait. The best, therefore, is to arrive in the afternoon, but never at night.

One of the sales of traveling alone is that you choose when to be alone and when not.

13. Keep emergency numbers handy

Since nobody accompanies you, the best thing is that you have some important numbers by hand in case you have to resort to them. Police, emergencies, embassy, ​​travel insurance.

14. Beware of not overshadowing too much

It is not the same to party with your friends in your city than to do it in a place where nobody knows you, especially if there is alcohol involved. It sounds like a father’s advice, but yes, it’s real, you would not be the first nor the first one who does not remember the name of the hostel until he passes the potato.

15. Reading is your friend, but not a refuge

You’ll spend hours alone and maybe it’s just what you’re looking for. An electronic book can do you a good favor to not carry too much weight, you can also share books, you will see that many hostels allow the “book-exchange”, where if you leave a book you can take another, and so travel reading from the hostel in hostel Anyway … remember to look up from time to time, nothing like making eye contact with another person to start a new relationship.