Story by María Garcia Juanes📍Utrecht
Over the past few years, I’ve been asked for reasons why I choose to travel solo. I feel tempted to oversimplify my answer by claiming that I’ve always been captivated by the idea yet, in truth, it didn’t start as a choice right away. Before I decided to travel solo for the first time, I had reached out and tried to coordinate with friends to travel together, but it was rather difficult to align our priorities and timelines.
I couldn’t get rid of or delay my unrelenting desire to explore the world and, on occasions, a plain yearning to escape routine. Initially, I felt unsure that solo traveling was something for me, but ultimately my drive to do so was greater than my concerns. I found myself faced with two choices: either count days in the calendar waiting for someone to join or click the “reserve” button on the airline’s website.
The moment I booked my ticket, I realized that the freedom to do whatever I wanted to do had always been within me, waiting for me to act on it. It felt empowering.
I have enjoyed every trip I’ve taken with friends and loved ones, and recognize the bond that’s created through shared experiences and memories. But traveling solo can be rewarding and fulfilling in a whole different way.
If you’re considering the idea of embarking on your first solo adventure but your fears are keeping you from it, here are some useful tips to encourage you to take the leap and make the most out of that thrilling adventure.
Appreciate the time you spend in your company.
This point is trite, but it’s the most important lesson you can learn. If you struggle with it in the beginning, here are some ideas to start.
Treat yourself to a nice night in a hotel or Airbnb apartment. You’ll be able to retreat from the weariness and hustle of the day to do whatever you fancy. Pick up local food and eat it while you plan for the next day, take a dip in the pool (if the place has one), or simply have a warm shower and lay in a comfortable bed. Think about what you normally like doing in your free time: writing, painting, exercising, listening to music; and then make some space for it in your routine to keep a sense of familiarity.
A pastime that helps me in particular is journaling. Usually, the night is the moment to gather with your travel companions to discuss what happened during the day. It’s important to keep memories alive and vivid, so make sure you pack a notebook and pen to record them on paper as if you were talking to a friend. It’s your writing, so it doesn’t have to look or read in a certain way: let it be poetry or prose, coherent or not, perhaps simply ramblings or feelings. It’s for you only.
One of the activities that I irrationally feared most to do on my own was eating. I used to think that there was nothing worse than sitting by myself at a restaurant, but once I got past this limiting belief, I came to enjoy it.
One night in Siem Reap, Cambodia, my friend wasn’t feeling well and decided to stay in the hostel room napping, but I didn’t feel like it. Street 08 was fairly close by, buzzing with crowds of people coming in and out of pubs, loud music, and dazzling lights. I went for a walk, sat down at a random bar’s terrace that offered cheap beer, and enjoyed the parade of drunk tourists for a while before heading back. It felt good. Since then, I’ve had meals on my own in many street markets and restaurants while traveling. I use those moments to treat myself to local food, make strategic stops, or plan what’s ahead. If you find yourself struggling with self-consciousness, carry a book with you and it’ll be easier.
Try new things.
Being abroad brings a great opportunity to engage in new activities, try different food, and discover places. Whether you’ve always wanted to try surfing, learn how to climb, or study a language, you’re in the right place to start. Keeping yourself busy with exciting projects will help you quickly get over low moments while on the road, and it’s also a good way to meet fellow travelers.
Hostels usually offer an array of activities and excursions organized by local businesses or guides. At the very least, they’ll be able to orient you and offer advice on what to do. If you’ve rented a room or Airbnb, go for a walk and search for tourism offices or agencies in the area.
Reach out to locals to ask for food recommendations in the city, read about cool places or nature spots that can be reached by renting a motorbike or car, or head to the coast and look out for surfboard rentals. Most of the time, you’ll find so many options for what to do that you won’t have time to realize you’re on your own.
Stay in hostels or use Couchsurfing.
One of the best ways to find temporary or long-term travel buddies is staying in hostels with common areas or shared rooms. Although it’s almost always possible to have a private room, I prefer to spend most nights on my solo trips in shared ones, as it’s a great way to save money and interact with like-minded people. Apps like Hostelworld ease the process of searching for hostels with lively, easygoing atmospheres due to their reviews, and there’s a big chance to find fellow solo travelers who are looking for someone to share a few days with. Even if social interactions are fleeting, engaging in conversation with others will provide a sense of connection and bring you interesting ideas to continue your trip.
Apart from hostel stays, you can also download and try Couchsurfing, which allows you to connect with locals who offer rooms or beds for free with the aim of experiencing a cultural exchange. If you feel wary about the idea, take a look at the host’s profile reviews and read about other guests’ opinions. The app also features a space to arrange immediate meetups with locals and other travelers: a user proposes a plan and others reach out and ask to join. I tried it while in Penang, Malaysia, and spent a great day exploring the city’s street art with a French-Vietnamese girl and an American girl who were exploring the country solo as well.
Volunteer or work abroad.
If you plan to embark on a long-term journey, you may consider joining platforms like Workaway or Worldpackers so you can spend more time at a specific location on a budget. It’ll allow you to take root in a place for a while with no lodging expenses in exchange for some hours of work. From gardening or helping with children to art projects or taking care of animals, there’s a variety of skills hosts look for, so you can choose depending on what you like doing. The main idea is not for parties to profit on monetary terms from the arrangement, but to motivate a cultural exchange between them. While bartending at a hostel or helping out a local family, you’ll have a unique chance to submerge yourself in their everyday life and be in touch with their culture.
I had a similar experience in Bali with friends, where we would spend two weeks in a sumptuous villa owned by Australian expats in return for taking care of their chickens, dogs, and cats. Most days it would hardly feel like a job.
Wherever you plan to stay and whatever you choose to do, you’ll surely be able to learn from the experience and receive insights and guidance from hosts on activities to do around the place and inspiration to continue your journey.
Get rid of limiting fears.
It can be tricky, especially when you’re by yourself, but you won’t be able to enjoy your trip fully if you don’t start here. Great opportunities present themselves when you begin to say “yes” and when you reach out and interact with others. You are now in a different place, so allow yourself to be a new you and do whatever you feel like — within the limits of common sense, of course.
Learn to discern which ideas are adventurous and fun and which ones are best to avoid for safety concerns, and then take the plunge. Unfortunately, traveling solo entails more risks than doing so with a group, especially if you’re a woman. Being perceived as an easy target can be a double-edged sword, as most people will try to help you, but others will try to take advantage of it.
While some situations traveling by myself have freaked me out a bit (I remember an especially tense 3-hour bus ride from Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur in which I was alone with a driver who constantly shot looks at me), I’ve felt safe for the most part.
Intuition isn’t foolproof, but I turn to it many times for advice, and it’s a good starting point. As I listen to it long enough, it gets sharper and I feel more comfortable taking risks. It’s important to remember that people with bad intentions are an exception out there. Inform yourself properly before your trip and learn which areas are best to avoid; after that, don’t fuss about what can go wrong and focus on enjoying and absorbing all you can from the place you’re in.
Get inspired.
As stated above, it’s essential to do some research about the place you’re going to visit, especially if you’re traveling there on your own. Respect local customs and traditions, remember each country has its own rules and regulations, and, most importantly, let yourself get excited in anticipation of what you’re going to see.
Be curious. It is said that a journey is enjoyed three times: before it takes place, during the trip itself, and afterward, in the form of memories. Take as much as you can from the initial planning phase and look forward to what’s ahead.
It’s always an option to borrow a tourist guide and go through the must-visit spots and landmarks; maybe even turning to Google for that. However, remember that beyond the mainstream attractions every city is full of hidden local gems waiting to be discovered too. Ask people you know who have been there before and can give you an impression of what to visit, or rely on local’s recommendations through blogs and other platforms.
Apps like Unfound can provide a source of inspiration and ideas both from travelers and locals who share their favorite spots; it’s a great opportunity to get off the rutted path into one less traveled.
Enjoy your freedom and independence.
The truth is, sunsets will be magical regardless of if you’re sitting there with someone or not. Life underwater is unaltered, indifferent to whether one person is watching or two. The beauty of the places you visit will be witnessed in full.
Solo traveling doesn’t have to feel lonely, as meeting people while on the road is quite easy. There are substantial advantages to traveling with a companion, but some drawbacks can be avoided when setting off by yourself.
Every decision, itinerary detail, and everyday minutiae will be entirely up to you. You may wake up feeling energetic and fancy a day of trekking; you just have to pick up your backpack and go for it. If you fall in love with a quaint small town, you can choose to extend your stay for a few nights and explore it in detail. If you feel like having this or that food, there’s no need to adapt to anyone’s choices.
Bask in the sun, try that impossibly spicy local dish, hike to the top of a volcano, join a meditation class, and drive your scooter at dawn. Get on the boat without knowing where it’ll take you. Allow yourself to take life a bit less seriously. Remember that wherever you go, there you are, and that’s all you need.
Relish your freedom and have a taste of the satisfaction that comes from depending on no one but yourself.
