Solo travel has become my preferred way to travel for so many reasons.  I understand it is not for everyone but if you love to travel then you really should try it at least once.  What you can learn from a solo travel experience can be transferred into to many other areas of your life.  I have always be fine with doing things on my own but solo travel is not something I really experienced until my late thirties and now I love it!  

You might want to check out SOLO TRAVEL TIPS FOR THE FEARLESS FEMALE OVER FORTY 

MY FIRST SOLO ADVENTURE

My first real solo adventure was not so much a solo travel adventure but a solo outdoor adventure.  And it was a big one!  I hiked 500 kilometers from the top of New Zealand to Auckland following the Te Araroa Trail  over five weeks.  ON MY OWN!  I had quite a bit of hiking experience in New Zealand but I had not done so much by myself.  What I learnt quickly was how little time I would be completely ‘on my own’.  From the very first day I was meeting people, making new friends and I very rarely spent a night camping solo.  This adventure taught me a lot about connecting with people, knowing my limits and it gave me the confidence to take on the world.  If you want to know more about the Te Araroa Trail this is a great book – A Walking Guide to New Zealand’s Long Trail: Te Araroa   

The five weeks I spent on this journey gave me a new sense of confidence that I never had before.  Learning to live with the very bare essentials on my back and only myself to rely on for my safety and well-being, I felt like anything was possible.  

Confidence comes in many forms.  Maybe it is the confidence to talk to a stranger and make a new friend or be crazy enough go bungy jumping.  It may also be knowing that even if something goes wrong you know you can handle it.  Confidence offers a real sense of freedom and this is something you can gain from solo travel experiences.

COMPARING SOLO TRAVEL WITH COMPANION TRAVEL

About six months after my big hiking adventure I headed to Europe.  For the first two months I travelled with one of my best friends.  This is someone I have been friends with for over 25 years so we knew each other really well.  There is definitely something to be said about sharing travel experiences and I wouldn’t have changed our time together for the world!  We now have some amazing memories that we will share for the rest of our lives and that I will truly cherish.  However, it also gave me a chance to really compare travelling with someone to travelling alone.

After we parted ways I spent the next six months travelling solo.  It was during this time that I really discovered how much I loved solo travel.  Being solo means you get to what you want, when you want and how you want.  You can choose when you want to spend time with people and when you don’t.  You can make last-minute plans, change plans, have no plans or .  Travelling with someone else often means compromise and that you have to decide things together.   I love, as a solo traveller, that I get to make all the decisions.

MAKING NEW FRIENDS

I learnt very quickly how much easier it is to meet new people when you travel solo.  On the very first day in Europe that I was on my own I made a new friend.  An Australian who again I am still in touch with today.  The two of us met in Nice, France and spent the a week exploring Nice and neighboring places like Eze and Monaco.  I have since been to visit her in Australia.

Not long after that I settled in Zagreb, Croatia for a few months.  It was there that I attended my first InterNations event.  This is an online expat community that you can register with and connect with people in just about any major city in the world.  Because I was going to be in Zagreb for a while I figured it was a good way to make a few new friends.  And of course I did!  My next friend was from the USA and also staying in Croatia for a while.  For those few months we had loads of cool adventures together including a trip to Slovenia and the most amazing day at Plitvice Lakes.

Those two stories are not about being solo but what being solo has to offer.  I love to meet new people, I love the diversity it brings into my life and the new experiences it offers.  And of course the friendships I get to make.  Also, having friends all over the world is a big bonus!  Especially when it comes to a place to stay and having a local to show you around. 

While hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc I made a new friend from Bristol, we ended up hiking a whole day together.  It was the most amazing day and we had got to know each other pretty well having spent about nine hours walking in the wilderness.  The cool thing was I ended up in England about 4 months later and spent a weekend with her in Bristol.  She was a fantastic tour guide and if it wasn’t for her I probably would never have got to see and experience Bristol at all.

SAFETY AS A SOLO TRAVELLER

Safety is probably the biggest concern most people have about solo travel.  I haven’t been to some of the most dangerous places in the world but there are places I have been where people warned me not to go due to safety. My advice is not to listen to scaremongers and do your research.  In many cases common sense is key.  For my 500km walk my biggest concern was that I might injure myself and have no one to help.  I minimised that by not taking unnecessary risks and investing in a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).  

For most of my life I had always wanted to visit Jamaica and when I had the opportunity to do so I was adamant I was going to spend my time staying in Kingston.  I wanted to get among the locals and experience the culture.  Kingston has a reputation for being unsafe but not once did I ever feel unsafe there.  I had an amazing time, met some super friendly and helpful locals and was also completely out of my comfort zone. I loved it! 

Another place I am glad I went to was Tijuana, Mexico.  Again a place with a reputation for not being the safest.  However, I did my research from using public transport to avoiding certain areas.  Research is key!  Talk to others who have been or look at reviews online.  Then come to your own conclusions about whether a place is safe to visit or not.

Fear of travelling alone is more about the unknown that the facts.  There are many risks in life and we take them all the time but usually they are risks we are familiar with.  When it comes to something bad happening to us we are more likely to be in a car accident than be attacked in a strange city but we still get in cars without thinking twice.  We just make sure we put on our seat belt and drive safe.  Travel shouldn’t be any different, just make sure you know how to limit the risk.

A really good read is LONELY PLANETS – THE SOLO TRAVEL HANDBOOK

If you are not a solo traveller I hope you find the courage one day to give it a go.  Who knows, you maybe discover you love it as much as I do and enjoy many more solo travel adventures.  For those of you who already love solo travel I hope you enjoyed my perspective and experiences.  

SOLO TRAVEL TIPS

• if a city offers it, do a free walking tour as soon as you get there.  It’s a great way to get the local tips and advice and maybe make a new friend or two

• stay in hostels to meet people, you can do shared dorms or private rooms but either way you are guaranteed to meet people and make friends.  Best way to find a good hostel is with Hostel World – hostelworld.com

• When you want to swim at a crowded beach ask a trustworthy looking family/group to guard your minimal gear (because you would trust strangers with anything important) 

• join online communities like Facebook Groups, Couch Surfing, Meet Up,  InterNations

• keep in touch with friends and family back home, make sure they know of your plans and check in regularly

• don’t do drugs or have more than a couple of drinks if you are out alone or with strangers.  You should always have your wits about you.

• don’t be shy to ask a stranger to take that photo.

• do your research.  Safety is mostly common sense but for some places it pays to know the dos and don’ts of keeping safe.

• don’t be afraid to say no, if you are not comfortable with a person or situation then walk away

• ladies if you are worried about being hassled by men, wear a ring on your wedding finger

• smile often and learn to say ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’ in the local language

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