A Complete Guide to Solo Travel
Why You Should Travel Solo
Solo travel can and will change your life.
In my view, everyone needs to learn not just to rely on themselves, but to be satisfied with their own company. Solo travel, for me, isn’t just about exploring new places and taking photos, it’s about being able to count on myself and be truly, happily, alone.
Recent Video: How Solo Travel Changed Me
How to Travel Solo
Alright, let’s get down to it.
When you’re traveling solo, you’re forced to handle everything independently: navigation, language barriers, finances, planning, food, safety, and even the small things like remembering sunscreen or snacks.
The list goes on and on. It can be daunting, to say the least, but the skills and independence you’ll gain are invaluable.
Here are my rules for a successful solo travel expedition- whether you’ll be 100 or 1000 miles from home.
1. Plan EVERYTHING
This is especially important for you if you’re the type to get task paralysis or executive dysfunction- that’s to say, stuck, mentally and physically when it’s not clear what should happen next…
I’ve been there too. Plenty of times.
So I plan everything, writing down every little detail in a Google doc, for each and every day of the trip.
Note flight times, when you need to leave for the airport, where you’ll eat, where you’re staying, and what you plan to do. Everything.
Now, I’ve toned my planning down a bit in recent years, and for the more spontaneous among us, this may not apply quite so heavily.
After all the solo travel I’ve been fortunate to do, I’ve come to love days with a looser agenda, or no agenda at all, BUT planning can still play a role in making sure you get to see everything you want to see and do everything you hope to do.
From a solo day trip in Todos Santos, B.C.S. where the only thing on my itinerary was… “show up”.
2. Pack Light
One of the tough things about traveling solo- no one to help you with your luggage, or watch your bags while you use the bathroom at the airport. You need to have a handle on your belongings and be able to easily maneuver them and yourself through each step of your journey.
So pack as light as you possibly can.
3. Check-in With Someone
For safety reasons, and just to have someone to show cool things to, you should have a designated contact or two who are expecting to hear from you regularly and know when you’ll be back.
I am aware of my heightened privilege being a male traveler with a US passport, and the ability to order food in a handful of languages. I don’t mean to gloss over the extra caution that female solo travelers need to exercise.
I know that I have fewer personal safety concerns when traveling, but I still make sure my location is shared with a loved one and check in periodically with them as well.
4. Start Small
If you have never traveled solo, you probably don’t want to go ahead and book a plane ticket across the ocean. Start by going to a concert on your own, seeing a museum, grabbing some food by yourself, or even taking a road trip to another city for a weekend.
My first solo travel trip was from Denver to Columbus, Ohio. If I didn’t have that foundation and experience, I probably wouldn’t have felt as confident about heading to Mexico, Guatemala, Portugal, New York, Vancouver, Montréal, etc.
Recap of my 2024 Trips & Experiences (If You’re Interested)
5. Educate Yourself
Have a handle on local customs, language basics, etc. if you are going a significant distance from home. Now, I know that sounds obvious, BUT the reason I suggest this is that it’s a ton of fun to make friends or chat with people abroad, especially when you’re doing everything on your own.
Enabling yourself to connect with new people while traveling solo will eliminate some cultural worries and make it easier to feel less alone.
6. Enjoy It
Traveling solo means you’ll experience life on your own terms. When you’re out there alone, every decision is yours. Where to go, what to see, and when to leave. Don’t focus on the negatives, and be sure to embrace the complete autonomy you have over your schedule and how you spend your days.
From a solo trip up the West Coast - A long road trip to make by yourself, but one where I enjoyed taking my time stopping at each viewpoint and getting some of my favorite film photos I’ve ever taken.
As a street photographer, I LOVE being able to take my time in a spot where others may not have wanted to sit around and wait for me to get a shot I like.
Eat when you get hungry, stop where you want, and enjoy being selfish with your time!
Where to Solo Travel: Choosing Your Next Adventure
One of the most exciting parts of solo travel is choosing your destination. Here are a few tips to help you decide based on my experience:
Consider Safety and Accessibility
We touched on safety briefly, but I’m hitting it again, this time with some more practical tips:
Some destinations are safer & more welcoming to solo travelers than others. Do your research on local customs and safety tips.
I usually start with Reddit threads and “travel reports” from other solo travelers, but please beware that the news and the internet can make certain places sound MUCH scarier than they are. Keep an eye out for red flags, but take these forums and their contributors with at least a grain or two of salt.
Go Where No One Else Will… Or at Least, Where Your Friends Won’t.
What’s a place you’ve always wanted to go, but can’t find a travel buddy to accompany you? You don’t need to!
Don’t wait for a partner. Maybe it’s possible to check that spot off your list all on your own!
These often make for the best solo travel destinations because you’re less likely to end up repeating them with a partner down the line!
Live Like a Local
Don’t be afraid to explore places that are off the beaten path. Sometimes, the best locations are the ones you’d least expect. What do I mean by that? Some of the best solo travel experiences I’ve had were not touristy or as touristy as others.
One of my absolute favorite things to do, and a luxury I have as a result of traveling full-time, is staying for an extended period somewhere and living like a local- getting groceries, working from cafes, and so on.
It’s so much fun to visit high-travel destinations, and they’re popular for a reason, but lesser-known locations can have their charm and be more welcoming to a stranger for a few weeks.
Find Friends
Occasionally I’ll tack on a destination where I know I’ll have either new friends to make (in the street photography or YouTube scene), or have friends already!
That may sound like the antithesis of “traveling solo”, but building a web of connections around the world can make the idea of sitting down on the plane by yourself a little less daunting.
Solo Travel - What We’ve Learned
Traveling solo is not just about seeing the world it’s about proving that you can rely on yourself.
You’ll learn to trust your instincts, make executive decisions for yourself, and most importantly, appreciate your own company.
Every solo travel adventure is a step towards becoming a more independent, confident, and self-reliant person, and I can’t begin to describe the sheer amount of positive developments I’ve observed in myself in the years I’ve spent traveling alone.
Not every trip has to be a solo travel expedition, but I firmly believe that people who do make a point to set out on their own learn SO much about themselves.
In a world where we often wait for someone else to share an experience with us, just don’t let the lack of a companion stop you from ticking off those bucket list items.
Safe (solo) travels!
