8 Tips for Solo Traveling
a picture of me at the gum wall during my last solo trip to Seattle, see tip 6
Traveling is something I’m very passionate about. People will say it’s because I’m a Sagittarius (but I don’t know what that means). But at some point once I entered adulthood I had a long list of places I wanted to go and a short list of people to go with. Coordinating taking time off post-college when it worked financially for my friends and myself was hard. But I didn’t want that to stop me from seeing the world. So I decided to start traveling alone. And it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for myself.
I’m currently on yet another one of my journeys. I’m writing this blog in my hotel in Portland on the Pacific Northwest leg of what will be a four month plan to see about a dozen places. While I know people in several cities and will have Shanny by my side for certain portions, I will be doing most of this alone. To this, I always get the response ‘I could never travel alone’. I assure you, you can. And if it’s something you’re interested in I have some tips on how to get started.
Do A Practice Run: The main reason people don’t want to travel alone is that they don’t want to spend time by themselves. Personally, I love it. But I can understand how it’s intimidating for people who don’t do it frequently. Try things in your hometown first. See a movie. Have lunch. Go to a museum. Still feeling uneasy about it? Make plans with a friend directly after the activity. Go to the theater alone then meet up with someone for dinner. It takes some of the pressure off. If you can go to a museum alone in your own town you can go to a museum alone anywhere.
Start Small: After you’ve worked your way through feeling comfortable in your own city, make a weekend trip somewhere within driving distance. Stay at a hotel for one night and experience a new town without the pressure of a long trip. Bonus if you know someone in the city. Similar to the prior tip: plan brunch on the second day to chop up the alone time.
Stay Close to Where You Want To Be: If you’re relying primarily on public transportation (rideshare included), you may have some hesitancies about being out too late if you know you have a notable trip back to your hotel or Airbnb. Even if it costs more it’s worth the peace of mind of being able to get home easily and quickly at the end of the day.
Go Back Once A Day: Another good reason to stay close to the city is so you can take breaks in the middle of the day if needed. Which I highly recommend. People underestimate how much more tiring it can be to travel alone. You have to do all the choosing, all the navigating, and will be the only person looking out for your safety. It can be draining (mentally, and on your phone battery). I think the best time for this is right before dinner. Relax, recharge (again, yourself and your phone), and get ready to enjoy your evening.
Make Concrete Morning Plans: Something with tickets or even just a breakfast reservation so you’re obligated to go. Some people have the self-discipline to not need this. But when you’re in a different place, especially a different time zone, and aren’t beholden to any activity, it can be easy to drag your feet in the morning. And if you’re alone there’s no one to hold you accountable for saying “let’s go to this museum at 10 AM” the night before. Definitive plans will make sure you’re up and going when you need to be.
Book a Session with a Professional Photographer: Hear me out. This is not vain. The most important part of a trip is the experience and the memories. But let’s be honest, if you’re alone you don’t have anyone to share those with. This also means when you’re back home you won’t have anyone to relive them with either. Pictures are not only good for helping share your experience with others, but for keeping the memories for yourself. Hiring a photographer will save time from sitting somewhere scoping out a person you’d think would do the best job. And using an established person leaves you less vulnerable to someone running away with your phone. In major cities, you will easily be able to find someone who will take you around to a few popular spots and it will use no more than an hour of your trip. Afterward you’ll have professional photos to commemorate the trip and can spend the rest of it without it on your mind. Plus, they often have great recommendations for things in town as they tend to be locals. I already linked a site but Airbnb experiences is a great place to look for this as well.
Pick Something Familiar: It can be a fun tradition to pick an activity that you do everywhere you travel. Not only is it interesting to see how it changes by location but it can bring a sense of comfort to the situation with that familiar activity. For me, it’s local stationery stores. I’ve always been a huge fan of paper products (as I’m a chronic list-maker and own 52 bajillion notebooks) so stationery stores bring me peace and happiness. I also like them because I send my grandma a post card from every place I visit and stationery stores usually have nicer quality ones than souvenir shops and they’re often made by local artists. For you, it could be hikes or yoga in a park or a particular type of museum. In a similar vein, don’t be afraid to stop in a place well-known to you. There’s a pressure to see and do new things while traveling but it’s okay to give yourself a break too. So don’t be afraid to grab Starbucks one morning or stop at a Chipotle between museums if it eases you through the day.
Most Importantly, Be Safe: I’ve listed 4 things to help.
Get a lock: This attaches to the door where you’re staying and will provide added protection and help you feel safer at night.
Portable Wifi: I especially recommend this for international travel. Nothing can feel scarier than being somewhere and losing service. Having this with you will assure you always know where you’re going and can contact people if needed.
Leave a Card: Are you used to carrying all of your cards in your wallet? Don’t. Getting it stolen is a concern but so is losing it (not uncommon if you’re worried about getting around somewhere new). And when you’re alone there’s no one to front you money for the rest of the trip. Leave a card (in a secure location) in your room.
Share your location: Most phones should have this capability. Share your location with someone and make a plan. My best friend Peyton has my location and Shanny has her number and they both are aware to contact each other if no one has heard from me in a while.
That’s all she wrote. I hope your sense of adventure takes you somewhere special and you don’t let fear hold you back from giving yourself everything you want. Be safe and have fun. And also, send me lots of pictures.
