I recently did a solo trip at the ripe old age of 30 and I cannot recommend it enough! I think solo travel has been distorted by social media into something that only 20 year olds can do OR you must make it your entire life and personality by becoming a travel content creator.
I’m here to tell you that there is another way!
Solo traveling doesn’t mean backpacking across several countries in a span of 2 weeks but it doesn’t mean an extravagant “treat yourself” vacation either. There is a happy medium!
For someone who never traveled alone before, I am now determined to make it a part of my lifestyle. Before, I used to wait for group trips or special occasions. Now, I realize it’s a way to get out of your comfort zone while also remaining within your limits at the same time.
It is up to you to figure out everything – logistics, meals, budget, etc. which can feel overwhelming. But then you get the luxury of simply choosing to sit down and do nothing or run around like a maniac and there is no one to hold you back from doing one or the other!
I did 4 cities in 3 weeks I stayed out all night and slept in until noon in some and woke up early and went to bed promptly by 9pm in others. I chose to be social most days but then chose to not speak a word to anyone on some.
Here are my “normal person” solo travel reccs as someone who isn’t 21 or a travel influencer:
- Decide on what kind of trip you want to do
- Mine was NOT a relaxing trip. I wanted to feel like I was living in each city I visited so I knew I wanted to knock out touristy things first and then just blend into the vibe. I actually didn’t do every single touristy thing and I don’t feel bad about it so you shouldn’t either!
- I chose to stay in hostels to save costs but then chose to eat out for almost every meal. I didn’t need to sleep anywhere nice but I definitely wasn’t about to cook for myself!
- Don’t feel the need to document every part of your trip and don’t feel bad about it
- I barely got any solo instagram worthy pictures of myself. I thought I would regret it but I’m not an influencer so it actually didn’t impact me in any significant way!
- I had to save my battery for the important sights and mapping my way around.
- I’m sitting on so many photos and videos I will probably never post so don’t worry about not taking enough “content”. You will always take more than you need.
- Don’t go into a solo trip with the expectation of finding yourself or coming back with lifelong friends
- I didn’t come back a new person…I just came back more confident and with better stories. I also now have more foreign instagram followers who I may or may not ever speak to or see again but I have fond memories and MAYBE a free place to crash in Hamburg or Oslo!
- Pack so light that it makes you uncomfortable
- I thought I packed light and I still overpacked. Options are nice to have but really not necessary. I did 4 very different climates and made it work and no one but you will care about repeating outfits.
- You will be able to do laundry somewhere, at some point.
- You will want more room to shop!!!
- You will get tired – accept it.
- I was traveling for 3 weeks – as much as I am mind over matter, I knew that even I could not be “go, go, go” the whole time.
- Choosing to not do anything is perfectly okay. Solo travel isn’t an r&r vacation so you do need to allow yourself rest days.
- I slept in most days because by being alone, I realized I could do a lot of things quicker. I did a lot of excursions within a span of a few hours so I chose to sleep in until late morning and stay out later to enjoy the nightlife instead.
At the end of the day, traveling is a privilege so don’t wait on anyone to go do it. I encourage any kind of person to do what they want alone and traveling is just one of those things.