Earlier this year I took 3 months off work to spend some time solo travelling, something I’d wanted to do for a long time! In October last year I did my first solo trip to Porto in Portugal for 3 nights to test the waters and had a great time, which gave me the boost to book some bigger trips. In February I spent 3 and a half weeks in Sri Lanka, then I briefly returned to Bristol before setting off again to spend 6 weeks in Europe throughout March and April. I travelled across Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia and Italy. I’m in the process of writing some other blog posts to cover these trips in more detail (so far I’ve written about Porto and Sri Lanka), but in the meantime I’ve collated some tips for solo travel in case it’s something you’d like to do yourself!

Central highlands of Sri Lanka

• Start small. If the idea of solo travel feels overwhelming, start perhaps with one night away in the UK or a couple of nights in Europe. If this feels too much then go smaller – start with an afternoon, take yourself out for lunch and then explore a museum or art gallery. Spending time solo will gradually feel more familiar.
• Stay in hostels. An obvious but simple way to meet people. Plus they often have activities on offer and can provide local recommendations.
• Book tours and activities. A food workshop is a great way to learn about local culture and meet fellow travellers, or perhaps there’s a local craft you can try (I hand painted a tile in Porto!). For most cities you can search online ‘free walking tour’ and be shown around a city by a local guide, with the option to tip the guide at the end. Websites such as Viator and GetYourGuide are also great for finding activities and day trips.
• Try a food market. I think for a lot of people, eating breakfast and lunch alone is a little easier but dining alone in the evening can feel more daunting. Eating at a more causal location like a food market can be a great way to ease yourself in!

il Mercato Centrale Firenze, Italy

• Bring some good books. I loaded up my Kindle with plenty of novels, a great way to pass the time and particularly useful when dining solo.
• Prepare. Research the countries you’ll be visiting to reduce unexpected surprises such as extra city tax fees or fines for not validating train tickets. I’ve written some more planning advice in my post 7 City Break Tips which you may like to read!
• Don’t rush. It’s natural to want to see as many things as possible, but make sure you take your time and soak it all in. Remember to leave space for spontaneity too.

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Tips for Safety

One of the most common questions people ask about solo travel is whether it’s safe, especially for female travellers. I would say it’s important to be on your guard and aware of your surroundings, but no more so than you would in London or other big cities. You can take a few extra precautions to help protect yourself and provide some peace of mind.

• Always carry a physical photocopy of your passport. Also save an online photocopy of your passport and travel insurance (eg to Google Drive).
• Withdraw cash before you go, and always keep some spare on you as a backup in case bank cards fail.
• Prepare for a scenario in which you lose your phone: write down local emergency numbers and family contact numbers.
• Check public transport routes from the airport or station to your accommodation so that you know where to go when you first arrive.

Naples, Italy

• Plan where to eat on your first night to avoid standing in the street staring at your phone.
• Carry a spare portable phone charger battery.
• Only post photos online once you’ve left the place you’re visiting.
• Avoid telling people that you’re alone.
• Be alert to tourist traps and scams. The more you travel the more easily you will be able to spot these.

Don’t let any of this put you off – as I suggested near the start of this post, start small and gradually build your confidence. You will soon be having wonderful experiences that will far outweigh any worries you might’ve had!

Lake Bovilla, Albania

I think it’s really important to be able to spend time alone and feel comfortable doing so. It’s empowering and liberating to truly connect with yourself and create opportunities to do the things that you want to do. Having said that I still love travelling with friends and family and creating shared memories! For the end of my Europe trip I planned for my mum and sister to join me for a week, and after that my boyfriend joined me for a few days. It was such a lovely way to round off my travels.

I hope these tips can be of some use to you – feel free to let me know if you have any questions about solo travel, I’d love to chat about it!

Alexa

P.S. Have you read these blog posts yet: Amsterdam Travel Guide, 7 City Break Tips and Edinburgh Travel Guide.

Header photo: Dubrovnik, Croatia