Want to travel alone but not sure where to start? It may seem like a lot of planning when it’s solely your responsibility but the flexibility and the life skills you’ll learn can more than make up for that.
The benefits of solo travel
On a solo holiday, you call the shots. You can work to your own body clock and enjoy early mornings or lie-ins accompanied by late nights if you want to.
You can have action-packed days exploring every single day or you can break it up with a few slow days, and nobody’s going to tell you otherwise.
The research that goes into booking accommodation and navigating maps will become second nature after a while. And if you get lost, well, you can learn from your mistakes and (hopefully) become a better navigator! These skills are hugely transferrable. After this, you might find that other organisational tasks in your life become less daunting too.
Set a budget
The lack of accountability when you’re seeing the world on your own terms can sometimes lead to overspending. You might not even realise you’re doing it.
Decide how much you can reasonably dedicate towards your holiday. If you don’t have your heart set on a particular location, do a little bit of research into places where you can visit without breaking the bank. Setting aside the price of flights, destinations like Cape Town, South Africa and Sliema, Malta can actually be very affordable.
If money’s an issue, decide what you might need to compromise. Would you be happy to camp or stay in a hostel so you can put more money into other parts of the trip? Or can you get by quite happily with street food or self-cooking as long as you’ve treated yourself to nice accommodation?
Another trick is to travel off-peak. And when you’re not constrained by the availability of any travel companions, you might as well. Often, you can find a room in a lovely hotel or resort that you wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise.
Make friends on a singles’ holiday
Travelling alone but still want to forge new connections? Going on a walking holiday for singles might be the perfect way to do this. These are perfect for all solo travellers, whether or not you’re in a relationship right now.
There are several perks to an organised trip like this. Knowing where you’ll be going next can give you the sense of security that you may be looking for. It can also save you some time planning because your hotels can be included in the package.
It’ll give you a greater sense of structure, ideal if you’re a busy person who doesn’t have time to plan all aspects of your time away in detail.
And of course, it gives you a balance between opportunities to be social while still spending some time alone if you wish. Introverts and extroverts alike can thoroughly enjoy this type of trip. Meet a group to have a laugh with and maybe even a future friend, romantic partner or business partner. The unpredictability is all part of the fun!
Pack light
Lastly, do remember that when you travel alone you only have two arms. You can’t rely on having someone to help carry the bags, so you’ll be grateful to yourself later if you pack as light as possible.
Also, try to purposefully leave some space for any souvenirs you may want to bring home from your jollies.
Going solo is an enriching experience, and perhaps everyone should try it at least once. The freedom, exploration and opportunities to meet new people are all massive benefits!