How to Travel Alone? Everything You Need to Know

Although traveling on your own can seem daunting at first, it’s an experience that gives you many opportunities to grow—become more organized and independent. However, in order for all this to happen, first you need to learn how to start traveling alone. That’s why, in this article, we’re going to give you some tips on traveling alone… but before that, we’re going to tell in more detail why you should try this experience in the first place. Interested? Keep reading

Why Should You Start Traveling Alone?

There are many advantages to solo travel, including the opportunity to meet new people and explore new places without the constraints of travel companions. It’s not surprising that for many travelers, it’s the preferred way to discover new places and experience other cultures. But this doesn’t exactly answer the question. So, why should you travel alone in the first place?

You’re Free and Flexible

Have you ever quarreled with your friends or family over the accommodation? Maybe you just love a different type of attraction than your friends? Or, you may like slow travel without much planning, unlike your friends? Well, if you travel solo, neither of these is a problem—you’re completely flexible!

While friends are undoubtedly fun, sometimes their travel goals and yours are completely different, and it might be better to experience new countries the way you like, at least occasionally. After all, when you travel solo, you do whatever you want, every time you want.

You Can Leave Your Comfort Zone

Is traveling solo easy? No, it isn’t, especially at the beginning. It will quickly bring you out of your comfort zone, so you might feel anxious at the start. But, in the long run, you’ll get used to it and your comfort zone will expand—you’ll feel comfortable in more types of situations and places, whether when traveling or when at home.

You Can Balance Your Travel Budget

When you travel with other people, you’re bound to experience one of two scenarios:

• you’ll miss out on some attractions since not every companion can afford it,
• you’ll feel obliged to participate in expensive attractions because your companions have more money to spend.

In the end, this creates a lot of conflict or anxiety. Some people prefer luxury accommodation and an all-inclusive holiday; others want to cook themselves and count almost every penny—that’s fine. What’s not fine is that if you travel as a group, you have to take a single stance on that, inevitably leading to someone feeling uncomfortable. It’s not a problem if you travel solo, which is yet another reason why you should try it!

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You’ll Meet More Locals (or Foreigners!)

As a solo traveler, you don’t have other people to talk to. This means that you’ll be much more likely to actually engage in conversations with the locals (or even make new friendships!). What’s more, it also increases the possibility that you’ll build a connection with fellow travelers at your accommodation or one of the attractions—traveling solo is a great way to meet new people from all over the world!

You’ll Learn More About Yourself

Finally, solo travel doesn’t take you only to the destination of your choice; it also takes you on a journey within. When you travel alone, you have to navigate a foreign country yourself, overcoming challenges and managing every aspect of your trip. This will give you great insights into your strong and weak points or activities that bring you the most joy. You’ll grow as a person and even develop new skills!

6 Tips for Traveling Alone

How to travel alone in a safe way to make the most out of your journey? Follow these solo travel tips!

Do Your Research

When you’re planning a trip, make sure to do your research on the destination. This includes reading up on the culture and customs, as well as finding out what attractions and activities are available. Check out the recommendations of other travelers, and create a map of interesting spots. For this purpose, you can use the free YouMap social mapping app.

Why does it matter? When you travel with friends, they can always help you—provide you with key information that you forgot to check or verify. Simply said, even if there’s a designated person responsible for planning the trip, you can support them with your own knowledge. But when you travel solo, you’re completely on your own. That’s why you need all the information there is about the destination and you have to collect it into a single source from which you can access it whenever you need it.

Maps are great for this purpose since they enable you to put all your research into perspective—link the information about a specific attraction with its location on the map, estimate how much time you have to reach other attractions if you’re late on your schedule or even and key “things to do/see” lists to each place. They’ll help you organize your research and use it in practice, especially since social mapping apps like YouMap are available on mobile devices!

Be Prepared

Before you leave, make sure you have all the necessary documents and items in order. This includes your passport, visa (if required), travel insurance, and any other items you may need. Double-check if you’ve got everything before departure.

Stay Safe

When you’re traveling alone, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and take precautions to stay safe. Keep an eye on your belongings, don’t walk alone at night, and don’t accept rides from strangers.

If you have cash, keep it in multiple places. If you pay only by card, make sure you’ve got a backup plan if you lose your card or it gets stolen.

Have a contact person who knows your location—it’s the most important safety tip for solo travels. Ask your friend or family member to track your location on a regular basis and react if something unusual happens (for example, if you don’t reach out for a previously determined number of days). You can let them know where you are by sending regular texts, sharing a pin with your location, or giving them access to your personalized travel map, where you record all your adventures!

Be Respectful

When you’re in a new country, it’s important to be respectful of the local customs and traditions. Don’t be too loud in public. Don’t take photos of people without their permission, and don’t wear revealing clothing if you plan to visit places of worship. If you’re solo, there’s a larger chance that someone will react if you’re disrespectful, and this won’t be a pleasant encounter.

Make Connections

Traveling solo doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be alone all the time. Use available social apps like YouMap, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to make connections and find local friends. This will allow you to explore places and customs even more.

You should also learn some key phrases in the local language. This will help you get around and communicate with people. Even just knowing a few basic expressions can be a real lifesaver, showing the local community that you’re respectful. Plus, it’s a great way to start a conversation with the locals and maybe establish some long-term relationships!

Embrace Yourself

Traveling alone gives you a chance to focus on your own emotions and experiences. Just roll with it, and learn to enjoy your own company. It’s a great adventure that can help you expand your horizons, understand your needs, and set priorities, so take the bull by the horns.

The Takeaway

How to travel solo? Plan your trip well in advance, think about sites you want to visit, find a contact person, and pack appropriate clothes. Don’t forget helpful apps, like YouMap or Facebook that’ll help you plan your trip and stay safe during it. Still unsure whether you should go? Don’t let the anxiety eat you—we promise you’ll have a great time, having fun and growing as a person!

Want to be 100% sure that you’re safe on your solo travel? Read our article on creating a trip tracker map on YouMap and discover how you can keep your friends in the loop about your whereabouts!