5 Tips for Solo Travel

One of my greatest passions in life is travel. Ever since I was a child and my family vacationed, all of my greatest memories were from the trips that we took together. As I got older I sought new experiences in travel. After graduating University, I gifted myself with a backpacking trip to Europe. It was there where I discovered my love for solo travel and since then I've never gone back. If you are a lover of travel like me, I highly suggest taking a trip alone because you just may love it!

The Benefits of Solo Travel

As much as I enjoy travelling with my loved ones, there is so much more freedom in travelling alone. It also pushes me out of my comfort zone, which is important for me to do every now and then. As P.T. Barnum says in the Greatest Showman, "comfort is the enemy of progress." I love that quote and I love that movie! I think that travel is an excellent opportunity for self development. It allows you to try new things  and without the familiarity of your friends and family around, your reaction to them is completely up to you! 

I am someone who is very easily influenced by other people's moods and ideas. When I travel this can lead me to some amazing places but it can also hinder my experiences. This is definitely something that I'm working on and it has everything to do with boundaries, however when I travel alone, I avoid this altogether! It's like a short escape from reality into the great unknown. It is very exciting!! That's not to say that I do not still check in with my loved ones while abroad but I am able to truly experience a city as just me and only me. It's quite exhilarating.

Medieval Streets of Gamla Stan, Stockholm

Enjoying the bright Swedish sunshine

5 Tips for Solo Travel

1. Find a Great Hostel: I suggest this because the atmosphere in a great hostel can be very inviting to solo travellers. Hostels are accustomed to this type of traveller which is why they offer cheap accommodation, a common area open to all guests, usually a fully equipped kitchen and a list of tours, events and excursions around the city.  Websites like hostelworld.com and hostelbookers.com  are excellent for sifting through the hostels in your city and you can read thousands of reviews on them as well as find the right one for you. My experience with hostels is that you are almost always surrounded by other travellers who are in a similar situation as you, so once you get past the somewhat awkward introductions you may have found a travel companion for the day! Which means that you usually have the choice to explore alone or with others. 
• The hostels also often host events for socializing and can give great information about free tours nearby. My personal favourites are the free walking tours where your guide tells you interesting facts about a historic area in the city.
2. Safety: I have made this mistake in the past, and I have learned from my mistakes. As a young woman travelling can be a bit dangerous at times. So it is necessary to do the proper research about the city that you're in. Find out if pick pocketing is common there, and the areas of the city which you should not be visiting at night. Make sure to have a lock for your valuables and mostly trust your gut. Your body will guide you out of dangerous situations if you listen to it. 
• I highly recommend staying sober on nights out if you are alone, because once you are under the influence your well being and common sense are a bit compromised. I have definitely made this mistake in the past and I am grateful that nothing too horrific happened to me, but I don't recommend it! Plus, who wants to explore a new city the next day hungover?!
3. Stay Open: This is so important when it comes to travel. I like to apply this to my schedule and my self. For some, the preferred schedule is one filled with many events so that they can see everything and more in the city that they are in. I understand this logic, but for me that is not how I like to travel. I like having an open schedule, that way if I meet someone going somewhere that interests me I am free to join them. Or if there is an event or festival happening in the city during my stay, I can head there for a while! I like to keep an open schedule because I am also on vacation.  Everyday life can get pretty routine especially when working a 9-5 job (which I kind of do..), so travel is an opportunity for me to relax and keep a loose schedule. 
• Keeping an Open Mind: This is so important because every city has a different culture which means I have no idea about many aspects to the culture there. For example, the language barrier, or the social norms. So if I go into travel with a close minded view of things, I can become very ignorant to the world outside of me and potentially have a very negative experience altogether. Keeping an open mind, helps me to understand and appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of humans all over the world. It has helped me immensely in my life abroad and I highly recommend it to you because otherwise, you may not be able to enjoy your trip!
4. Try Something New: You've come this far, might as well right?! This is a great opportunity to try something that you have never tried before, especially because no-one is there to see if you fail or have a bad experience. It is more likely than not, you will enjoy yourself. I've had the best times stepping out of my comfort zone while travelling: renting a motorbike and driving through the mountains in Vietnam, getting a bamboo tattoo in Thailand and wandering down unknown streets in Portugal to name a few.

   

   A deserted beach in Lagos, Portugal

   These moments created for wonderful memories that I will always cherish and they are mine and only mine which is very special. 
5. Stay True to Yourself: This is the time to explore not only a new city but who you are. You are alone, it is just you and your suitcase, which means that you don't have to follow anyone's schedule and ideas. This can feel slightly terrifying at times, and it is such a great opportunity to do some introspection. What is it that you truly want to do today? What interests you the most in this city? If that is grabbing your book and heading to the nearest cafe for the day then by all means, go for it! Some of the most unique experiences during travel happen in quaint little cafes where you can people watch and experience local culture. At the end of a trip alone, the best feeling is knowing that I did exactly what I wanted to do and had an absolute blast doing it, that is why I wish solo travel for everyone! It can be very self-empowering and gratifying. 

As I write this, I am sitting in a quaint little bakery in Stockholm (photo above), feeling unbelievably grateful for the travel opportunities that I have been afforded in life. I am aware of how blessed I am to be able to travel to a new country and explore. It is really something special.