Solo Travel 101

About Nicole Pajer

Nicole Pajer is a Los Angeles-based freelance published in The New York Times, Woman's Day, AARP, Parade, Wired, Glamour, People and more.

Are you a travel junkie, but your friends and family are more homebodies? Or maybe you just like traveling alone with the option to meet new people along the way? While traveling with others can be fun, there can be many fun perks to taking a trip on your own. For starters, you get to pick your own daily itinerary and don’t have to compromise with another person on what type of hotel you stay in, what restaurant you dine at, or even which destination you head to. You’ll also likely have the opportunity to meet new people and may be able to better immerse yourself in the local culture.

Thinking about taking a trip on your own? Here are some things to consider when planning it.

Book a spot with a tour company

Want to travel solo, but also meet up with others? Many tour companies offer travel packages for people to join in on. You can sign on to these packages and meet up to tour with other families and groups of friends who are traveling together. Some of these tours will allow you to book as a single person, while others will take another single person and give you the option of having a roommate. And there are even companies that specialize exclusively in solo travel. A quick Google search of “solo travel packages” will give you many different options of companies to choose from. You may find some geared specifically towards seniors as well. Just remember to do your research and read reviews to help determine if a company is trustworthy.

Talk to others before you go

Want to visit Italy? Ask around to see who has gone there. Chances are someone in your network - friends, family members, a colleague, or even a stranger in a social media forum that you’re a part of – has been to Italy. Get these people’s recommendations on all the things to see and do. Ask for hotel suggestions. You may want to see if anyone you trust has other friends overseas that you can connect with while you’re there. What better way to explore the city than to pair up with a friend of a friend who can show you the ins and outs?

Start small

If it’s your first time traveling by yourself, you may want to tiptoe in. Sure, you can book a trip to a small town in another country where nobody speaks English. But why not first take a solo trip somewhere closer? If you live in Southern California, for example, plan a trip to Northern California and check out wine country. If you live in South Carolina, take a solo excursion to North Carolina. Traveling solo but staying somewhere near your home will give you the chance to see how you do on the road sans company before you dive in and really commit to a bigger trip with more cultural differences to navigate.

Book some excursions

While it can be fun to not overbook yourself on your trip – and to leave in some downtime to relax – it’s also a good idea to do your research ahead of time and book a few things. If you are going to Hawaii, for example, set up a few activities ahead of time, like a snorkeling trip and maybe a luau. This will give you a few things to look forward to that you’ve researched (Pro tip: Check Yelp and Travelocity reviews ahead of time to make sure other travelers liked their experience). These activities may offer opportunities for you to meet other travelers at your destination. Then, you can leave some time open to embrace anything else that comes up.

Practice being social

Traveling by yourself means you’ll likely have the opportunity to converse with different people throughout your trip. If you’re not super social, you have plenty of time to practice before you hit the road. Try having a conversation with someone on the bus next to you during your morning commute. Ask the cashier at your local grocery store how their day is going. Take a chance at a party and say hi to someone you don’t know. These are skills that will likely help you out on the road. If you’re going to another country, spend some time before the trip learning some key words and phrases so you can converse with the locals enough to get around.

Budget ahead of time

Keep in mind that solo traveling can be pricier, as you’re not splitting hotel rooms, rental cars and ride shares two ways. Make sure that you create a budget before you go, factoring in things like room and board, meals, excursions, entertainment and transportation. Consider ways to cut down on costs like packing snacks in lieu of purchasing them on the go, stocking the fridge where you may be staying, taking public transportation instead of renting a car if you feel comfortable doing so, and booking things like museum tickets online where it can sometimes be cheaper than doing it in person.

Travel safely

Before heading out on your own, make sure you tell a friend or family member where you are going. Give them a copy of your itinerary before you go. Also make sure they have the contact information for every hotel or rental you are planning on staying at.

You’ll also want to make sure that you have a way for people to contact you while you’re out. For instance, if you’re overseas, you may want to purchase an international phone plan for the duration of your trip. Make a point to check in with a point person daily or every few days so that they know you are okay.

Tell your credit card company you are traveling ahead of time so that they make sure to approve charges that are occurring out of state or out of the country.

Once you are at your destination, use street smarts. For example, try not to wear flashy jewelry when you’re walking around by yourself or holding a map, which makes you look like a tourist. If you’re traveling to areas with pickpocketers, you may want to wear a money belt under your clothes instead of carrying a designer purse that calls attention to yourself. Instead of walking down an isolated street by yourself, book an excursion with a reputable tour guide or consider taking a safe cab or car service.

Call your insurance company and ask about travel insurance before you go. This could help you in the event of a cancellation from your airline or a tour package.

Stay alert on your solo trip. For example, enjoy a glass of wine, but don’t overdo it so that you’re walking around tipsy. Be aware of your surroundings. And if anything feels off, trust your gut.

SOURCES:

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/senior-travel/senior-travel-mistakes-to-avoid

https://solotravelerworld.com/travel-alone-tips/