For many, the idea of travelling alone is clouded by uncertainty. Is solo travel safe for a female? What if I don’t make friends? Am I too old to travel solo? What if I get lonely? Before my first solo trip, I had all these questions swirling around my anxious brain and more. What made it worse was that many family members and friends who had never solo travelled questioned whether I should solo travel. Concerned parties would even send me news articles about a one-in-a-million case of a backpacker being murdered in a gruesome manner while solo travelling. If you’re at a pivotal crossroads wondering, “Should I travel solo?” this post is for you! I’ll discuss common myths about solo travel and whether there is any truth to them based on my personal experiences of solo travelling for the past decade.
Myth 1: Solo Travel is Dangerous
Truth: Solo Travel Can Be Safe with Proper Precautions
The notion that solo travel is inherently dangerous is one of the most persistent myths. While it’s true that travelling alone requires a heightened awareness of your surroundings, it doesn’t mean you’re destined for peril. In fact, many solo travellers feel safer when they’re alone because they’re more vigilant and proactive about their safety.
How to Solo Travel Safely
- Research Your Destination: Before you go, research the safety of your destination. Websites like your home country’s travel advisories can provide valuable insights (for Australians, you can go to Smart Traveller). You can also research using social media to hear accounts from recent solo travellers on whether they felt safe. A simple search on TikTok for “Is [your destination country] safe for travellers?” will bring up many experiences and anecdotes.
- Stay Connected: Regularly update friends or family on your whereabouts. Use apps like Find My Friends, Life360 or share your itinerary.
- Trust Your Instincts: If something feels off, it probably is. Don’t hesitate to remove yourself from uncomfortable situations.
Looking for more tangible safety tips for travelling solo? Check out my full guide here.
Myth 2: Solo Travel is Lonely
Truth: Solo Travel is as Social as You Make it
Another common myth is that solo travel is a lonely experience. While there may be moments of solitude, solo travel often provides ample opportunities to meet new people. Hostels, local tours, and social events are excellent venues for making new friends.
How to Make Friends While Solo Travelling
- Stay in Hostels: Hostels are designed for social interaction, with common areas and group activities.
- Join Group Activities: Participate in tours, classes, and events. Websites like Meetup can help you find local activities.
- Be Open and Approachable. A friendly attitude can spark conversations with fellow travellers and locals.
Want more tangible tips on making friends while solo travelling? I have a bumper guide with all my tips and tricks, which you can read here.
Myth 3: You Need to Be Extroverted to Enjoy Solo Travel
Truth: Solo Travel is for Everyone
There’s a misconception that only extroverts can enjoy solo travel. In reality, solo travel can be just as fulfilling for introverts. It allows you to step out of your comfort zone and grow personally. Solo travel can be as social or lonesome as you make it. Some people embark on solo trips and literally spend 0 days on their own, as they are constantly meeting and travelling with people they meet on the road. Other travellers spend the majority of time solo (and thrive from the independence).
Tips for Enjoying Solo Travel as a Non-Extrovert
- Set Your Own Pace: Enjoy the freedom to explore at your own pace without needing to accommodate others.
- Plan Downtime: Balance social activities with time for yourself. Enjoy solo activities like reading in a café or hiking.
- Use Apps to Connect: If you want to meet people but are shy about approaching strangers, apps like Travello and Couchsurfing can help facilitate connections. You can also post on travel Facebook groups for the region you are travelling in (such as the group South East Asia Backpacker) and see if any other solo travellers are in your location and want to meet up.
Myth 4: Solo Travel is Expensive
Truth: Solo Travel Can Be Very Budget Friendly
Many believe that travelling alone is more expensive because there’s no one to split the costs with. However, solo travel can be quite affordable. Without a travel partner, you can control your budget and make choices that suit your financial situation. Sure, there are sometimes hidden costs to travelling solo, which wouldn’t be so high if you were travelling with friends or a partner. For example, you feel the pinch more having nobody to share an airport Uber with or split the cost of a big restaurant meal. But honestly, I feel like it all evens out in the end. You save the extra money you spend on Uber and meals without having to compromise on expenditures purely because your travel partner wants to spend money on it.
How to Save Money While Solo Travelling
- Choose Budget Accommodation: Hostels, guesthouses, and Airbnb offer affordable options.
- Cook Your Meals: Opt for accommodations with kitchen facilities to save on food costs.
- Use Public Transportation: Instead of taxis, use public transport to explore your destination.
- Consider Your Money Management Habits: I’ve got a full guide on managing your money while travelling to maximise funds, which you can read here.
Myth 5: Solo Travel is Only for the Young
Truth: There’s no Age Limit For Solo Travel
Solo travel isn’t just for twenty-somethings on a gap year from uni. People of all ages embark on solo adventures. Whether taking a gap year, on a sabbatical or enjoying retirement, solo travel can be an enriching experience at any stage of life. In my travels, I’ve met solo travellers ranging from just 17 years of age to travellers well into their 70s. While how you travel may change depending on your age group (but it absolutely doesn’t have to), solo travel is an experience people of all ages can enjoy and thrive in.
Tips for Solo Travel as a Non-Twenty-Year-Old
- Choose The Right Accommodation: Choose accommodations that meet your comfort needs. This may look like a private room in a hostel or a cozy guesthouse. If you’re staying in hostels, check reviews and the average ages of travellers and consider which hostel is best for you. Many hostels cater to young demographics (and partying with a bunch of people half your age may not be your cup of tea, or it might be no shade). Some hostels even have strict age restrictions and will cancel your booking or deny your check-in if you don’t meet the age criteria, so check this before booking.
- Know Your Limits: One of the biggest differences between how I used to travel as a 20-year-old and now is I prioritise health and listening to my body. I can no longer party all night every night, be socially on for weeks at a time and travel super fast-paced. Consider what you need for your body to travel while staying healthy and happy. This might be a weekly self-care night, eating regular salads or even wearing supportive footwear to protect your knees.
- Stay Open-Minded: While it’s easy to avoid different age demographics or to eye-roll when you meet people born after 2000 who are super Gen Z-coded, try to keep an open mind. Solo travel is all about meeting people from different walks of life and cultural exchange. Why not befriend someone from a different age group and learn something new about how their generation views the world?
Myth 6: You Need to Plan Everything in Advance
Truth: Flexibility is One of the Best Parts of Solo Travel
While having a rough plan is good, one of the greatest joys of solo travel is the freedom to be spontaneous. Overplanning can sometimes limit your ability to take advantage of unexpected opportunities. With every destination, there will be some things you have to book or plan a little in advance, like booking tickets to the Colosseum in Rome or a ferry to the Full Moon Party in Thailand. But for most things, you can allow yourself ultimate freedom. Feel like getting a bus to a new country today? Go for it. Want to spend the whole day journalling and napping at the hostel? Totally free to do this. Want to change your travel plans on a whim and meet a travel fling? I mean, I wouldn’t recommend this based on past experiences, but sure, hun, enjoy the flexibility!
Tips for Travelling with Flexibility
- Book Initial Accommodation: Ensure you have a place to stay for the first few nights, but leave the rest flexible. I usually ensure I sort out my visa, insurance, flights into a country, and two nights’ accommodation in the city I arrive in. Then, I wing it from there based on what I feel like doing and recommendations from other travellers I meet in my first hostel.
- Stay Open to Change: Be willing to change your plans based on new information or opportunities. Sometimes, the best plans are the ones you come up with after a few drinks at the hostel bar with a random German guy named Niels, who you met 5 minutes ago.
- Use Travel Apps: Apps like Hostelworld and Booking.com make it easy to book accommodation on the go. Often, you can cancel accommodation if your plans change, too, which is a game-changer if you want flexibility in your travel plans.
Myth 7: Solo Travel is Only for the Brave
Truth: Solo Travel Builds Courage and Confidence
Starting a solo journey can be daunting, but you don’t need to be fearless. Courage grows with each step you take. The first few days might feel challenging, but your confidence will soar as you navigate new places and situations. Taking the plunge and booking my first solo travel trip back in 2016 was one of the best decisions I ever made, as I’ve gained so much confidence from solo travelling. Everyone is scared before their first trip, but it will be a great character-building and confidence-building experience. And if it’s not? The worst thing that happens is you book a flight home and learn an important lesson about yourself and whether you enjoy solo travel.
Tips for Building Confidence While Solo Travelling
- Start Small: Begin with a short trip or visit a nearby city to get a feel for solo travel. Even just going out for dinner solo in your hometown will get you used to the idea of doing things alone in public. Make sure you acknowledge and celebrate the small victories, like navigating public transport or making a new friend.
- Fake It Until You Make It: Living in a city where you know nobody can feel daunting. But remember, the opposite is true. You’re in a city where nobody knows you. You can be whoever you want and reinvent yourself. Imagine you’re a confident, extroverted person who makes friends easily and go out and be that person at the hostel bar. If you fail? Move on to the next place to fresh faces and experiences. You’ll probably never see these people again.
Myth 8: Solo Travel is Boring
Truth: Solo Travel is Only as Boring as you are
Some people think that solo travel will be dull without a travel buddy. On the contrary, solo travel allows you to pursue your interests fully and participate in activities you enjoy without compromise. Sure, there may be long solo bus rides from one destination to another, which some may find boring. I see this as an opportunity: an opportunity to catch up on sleep after partying the night before, an opportunity to learn more of the local language on Duolingo or an opportunity to binge-watch the newest TV show on Netflix.
Practical Tips for Having a Fun Solo Travel Trip
- Create Your Own Adventures: Plan activities that you find exciting, whether it’s hiking, diving, or exploring hidden gems in the city. Maybe mix it up with activities you’ve never tried or been too afraid to try by taking a surfing lesson or learning to play guitar at the hostel.
- Engage in Hobbies: Use your travel time to indulge in hobbies like photography, writing, or sketching. If you don’t have hobbies, think about what you used to like as a child or list new hobbies to try. All the downtime while travelling provides the perfect opportunity for perfecting a skill or learning a language.
Myth 9: Solo Travel is Not Safe for Female Travellers
Truth: Safe Solo Female Travel is Common.
While women might face unique challenges when travelling alone, many women travel solo safely and have the time of their lives doing so. It’s estimated that around 85% of solo travellers globally are women, meaning hundreds of thousands of women travel solo every year. So, despite all the fear-mongering around solo travel not being safe for a female, ask yourself: if solo travel wasn’t safe for women, why would so many women continue choosing to solo travel?
Tips for Safe Solo Female Travel
- Do your research on destinations: Are there any safety precautions to be aware of? Are there certain cultural norms for women that are recommended to follow (e.g., covering hair in certain Middle Eastern countries)? Try researching on TikTok and other social media. A quick search such as “is [your travel destination] safe for solo female travellers?” will help you find other travellers retelling their experiences.
- Trust your gut: If a situation feels dicey, get yourself out of there. At best, you’re just being overzealous and misread the situation. At worst, you have avoided an unsafe situation.
Want more tangible tips on how to practice safe solo female travel? Check out my full list of tips here.
Myth 10: Solo Travel Means Being Alone All the Time
Truth: Solo Travel is as Lonely or as Social as You Make it
The beauty of solo travel is that you can choose when to be social and when to enjoy solitude. You’re in control of how much interaction you have with others. If you want to socialise, book a social hostel, participate in group tours and hang out in hostel common areas. If you need to recharge your social battery, book a private room and take yourself on solo adventures.
How to Balance Loneliness and Socialising While Travelling
- Mix Solo and Group Activities: Balance your itinerary with time for yourself and group activities. Have nights where you practice self-care and recharge your social battery and other nights where you socialise at the hostel bar and make new friends.
- Embrace the Solitude: Sometimes you may be alone. Use the alone times to recharge your social battery, revel in feeling like a mysterious solo travel girly in a foreign city or practice self-care.
- Know That This Too Shall Pass: Many solo travellers will feel lonely at some point. It can feel super isolating to be alone (and lonely) in a foreign country, away from your support network and things that feel familiar. An antisocial hostel or a quiet tour group where you don’t meet anyone are often just one-off experiences. Don’t let one lonely experience spoil a whole trip.
Ready to start solo travelling? Check out my guides on everything related to solo travel, from what to expect when staying in a hostel to how to plan a trip in 2024 and everything in between.
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