Solo Travel
Get advice and information for planning, selecting a solo travel destination, budgeting, health & safety, and the basics for traveling alone from a female solo traveler.
I was almost 30 years old when I took my first solo trip to Southeast Asia to backpack around Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand for 7 months. And ever since then, I realized I love to travel alone! Certainly it can be challenging to travel by yourself, but for me the rewards far outweigh any negative aspects of solo travel.
So far, I’ve traveled to over 25 countries, lived in 4 countries, and spent 7 years living a nomadic lifestyle while roadtripping around the US and Canada by myself.
Solo Travel for Beginners
There is no right way or wrong way to travel solo. Not everyone should become a nomad. Although I do think everyone should give solo travel a try at least once in their life!
Even if you just get out and explore your current city alone, that too could be your start to solo travel, my friend :)
You are never too old to start traveling solo. I was already 30 years old when I took my first overseas trip alone. Actually, I was 29 years and 300+ days old; I celebrated my 30th birthday while in Singapore.
There was a time when I was afraid to travel at all, never mind travel alone. I thought about all the things that could go wrong. But I changed my mindset to instead focus on all the fabulous places I wanted to see around the world. And I know I always figure out a solution whenever things don’t go exactly as planned.
Sometimes you just have to embrace uncertainty. I had to get over the awkward feeling of traveling by myself. Things like dining alone may still bring on anxiety at times, but there are steps you can take to ease the feeling of discomfort while dining solo.
Solo Travel Posts for Beginners
How to Overcome the Language Barrier While Traveling
How to Cope with Getting Lost While Traveling
How to Avoid Jet-Lag on Long Haul Flights
Even if you fear traveling solo now, Solo Trips and Tips travel blog is here to help you overcome the fear of traveling alone. One of the best things you can do to overcome any uncertainty about solo travel is to read stories that inspire your desire! And then you can start taking steps towards your own solo travel adventures.
READ NOW: Quotes About Solo Traveling
Local Solo Travel
Before you leave on your first solo journey, you may want to practice your solo travel skills closer to home.
- Take day trips in your own city or town by yourself
- Take different modes of transportation, such as a bus trip or train ride
- Practice driving alone and finding your way around new neighborhoods
- Go to a movie or attend a concert or theatrical event by yourself
- Try eating alone at restaurants
You will become comfortable with taking day trips, then try a weekend solo trip. You can plan something within your budget and comfort zone and see how it goes. Maybe you love it, maybe you are not crazy about solo travel.
There is only one way to find out whether or not you like to travel alone—you just have to give it a try. You will build up your solo traveler confidence each time you go it alone.
Budgeting for Solo Travel
Do you have a budget for your monthly expenses? If not, there’s no better time to start than now. Do you have enough money for your dream vacation? If not, think about ways you can save money (and make more money) so that you can afford to travel, and think about how much you want to spend on your trip.
Southeast Asia is an excellent location for solo travelers on a budget. And because it’s so beautiful and budget-friendly, you will find it’s easy to meet other travelers in Southeast Asia.
One summer I wanted to escape the heat of a Texas summer, but I didn’t want to spend a lot of money. I traveled to Sao Paulo (and took a bus to/from Rio de Janeiro) using my frequent flyer points during shoulder season and stayed at hostels. All of these things helped to keep my travel costs down and I had an amazing time in Brazil!
I completely understand if you’re not sure that you’re ready to stay in a hostel. Perhaps you are thinking you’re too old to stay in a hostel? Read my article about staying in hotels versus hostels, where I detail my stay at the Ritz-Carlton one night and a 4-bed hostel dorm the following night. I haven’t stayed in a hostel for years now, but I’m glad there is the option if I ever need to cut back on my travel spending.
Solo Travel is Life Changing
Travel is education.
Solo travel is one of the master’s programs at the University of Life.
Travel is life-changing and extraordinary in so many ways. I returned home from my first solo trip only because the money was running out. But all I could think about was how much I wanted to travel again, to see more of the world.
I discovered that I prefer to collect experiences rather than things.
Stuffing everything I owned into one bag carried on my back, it was an amazing feeling of freedom. I’ve been a minimalist ever since.
Solo female travelers are not fearless, nor do I think solo female travelers are brave.
We are curious. Because we want to know more about the world, we go out and explore.
