We always ask the solo travelers we feature on our social media what advice they would give others in their situation. Here’s what they’ve told us over the years — plus practical advice from our adventurous team.

Ease into solo travel

Do a trial run

Solo travel means you’ll regularly be doing lots of things alone in public, which can feel weird at first.

“To work up the courage to travel alone or check if it's really for you, it's good to explore your own city alone,” advises Clara Tortella, People & Operations Specialist at Polarsteps. “I took myself to two concerts alone in Amsterdam and afterwards felt more confident that I could be comfortable on my own and take that step.”

Polarsteps’ Copywriter & Concept Developer Lottie Coltman agrees: “Try a mini trip abroad,” she says. “I did a couple of days in Barcelona for my first ever solo trip (and three weeks in India for my second one).”

“I spent five days in Bulgaria before going on my big solo trip,” says Polarsteps’ Senior Product Manager Coline Dubaux. “It really reassured me that I could do this by myself and that it wasn't that hard to meet people.”

Most travelers who work up the courage to go it alone quickly learn that there are many benefits to being a solo agent. If you only have your own needs to consider, you can be completely spontaneous and spend your days however you choose — whether in a museum, in a hammock, or sketching on a quiet bench. You can also often skip queues, squeeze into a shared vehicle, or get the last ticket to an attraction on the cheap because someone is looking to fill just one space…

Omar Nok, who traveled overland from Egypt to Japan under his own steam, advises anyone wanting to travel alone to just do it. “The most difficult thing is the first step. You’ve gotta take that leap of faith in the beginning, and once you’re in it, everything will flow.”

Omar Nok / @omar.nok

Consider your budget and travel style

Unless you’re planning to pit yourself against the elements like long-distance solo cyclists Leoni Kolberg or Pierre Blivet, you’ll want your first solo trip to be a destination where it’s easy to connect with others and explore on a single budget.

Leoni Kolberg / @lazerleo_cyclonaut

Jules Goslinga, Managing Support Specialist at Polarsteps, has backpacked in 98 countries, mostly alone. “I look for destinations that have a good availability of affordable and sociable accommodation, without every stop being overwhelmingly touristy. That way I don’t have to worry about the costs too much, and I can stay flexible with my planning. Some places that really ticked these boxes for me were Turkey, the Philippines, and Colombia.”

Sometimes a country's shape can influence popular travel routes. For example, most people tackle Vietnam from north to south or vice versa — so it’s common to spot familiar faces as you move from place to place. If you keep bumping into the same backpackers, your shared experience of a previous destination provides the perfect conversation starter.

Once you’ve decided on a destination, book your first couple of nights before you leave home. Take time to find a place that suits your budget, but don't throw yourself into a 16-bed dorm if the thought is making you anxious — pick a place that will allow you to acclimatize comfortably.

Prepare to get social

Believe it or not, solo travel is anything but lonely, and there are many ways to connect with like-minded travelers. 

Hostels — especially ones that offer free city walking tours or pub crawls — are most travelers’ go-to social hub. “Be sure to read reviews before you book, as not all hostels are social,” says Lottie. “Look for hostels that have common areas, and a bar.”

Not clicking with anyone at your accommodation? Take to the internet to find meet-up groups in your area. “I recommend looking for Facebook groups for solo travelers,” says Lottie. “They're normally country-specific (or even city-specific) and you can ask for advice, but also find out whether anyone wants to meet up. I've met multiple people that way.” 

If you’re traveling solo on a budget, it’s more economical to team up with other people to share a fixed cost like car rental (plus, if you book a tour as a group, you’ll avoid waiting in empty buses while the drivers drum up more business). It’s fun to be spontaneous and join in with other people’s plans for a day or two when the opportunity arises, so make sure you don’t make rigid plans too far in advance.

“Be flexible,” advises Coline. “There are places that you'll love or where you'll meet tons of people and want to stay longer and some places which won't resonate. If you’ve already made non-refundable bookings for these places in advance, you’ll end up frustrated.”

Tessa Doucet, who hitchhiked from France to Australia on her own, agrees. “Stay open and go with the flow. Travel isn’t always about the destination; it’s about enjoying the journey and the surprises along the way. The world is full of beauty, and it’s worth taking the time to appreciate it.” 

Tessa Doucet / @la.ptite.reporter

And if all that socializing is becoming overwhelming, that’s a natural part of the experience, and it’s OK to take time out. “Hostelworld has a functionality that shows how many people have booked a certain hostel,” says Coline. “It allows you to avoid empty hostels — or pick empty ones if you need time alone.”

Adjust your mindset

You can’t leave your feelings at home when you set off on your travels, and it’s natural to miss your family and friends after a long time on the road. Travel fatigue is also real — as a solo traveler, you will at some point either tire of meeting new people and asking each other the same questions, or (conversely) become deadly bored of your own company. 

“After not meeting any people for a week in Puno, I was feeling so burnt out that I needed to just lay down and watch films with no guilt,” photographer Connor Mason told us about his 100-day solo trip to Latin America. “Once I realised that I could just go relax, it changed the dynamic of the trip.”

Connor James Mason

Even though social media might imply otherwise, every solo traveler also experiences uneventful, unsuccessful, or downright unpleasant days. For Renee van Brakel, who traveled solo in South America last year, the turning point came when she learned to ignore the pressure she was putting on herself to do something amazing every single day. “Some days are more exciting than others,” she told us. “But there’s always something special to appreciate, whether it’s an excursion, a breathtaking view, or a conversation with a stranger.” 

It’s also a good idea to be realistic about what your travel experience might entail — and the fact that you’ll have to manage everything yourself. 

Steef Duijn hitchhiked from Morocco to South Africa alone, tracking each of the 14,000km he covered using Polarsteps, and sharing his experiences. “I caught malaria, got scammed more times than I can count, and crossed the Sahara on the legendary iron-ore train. Managing visas was a constant struggle, and I often found myself pitching my tent in some of the most inhospitable places imaginable. There were endless hours of waiting for a car, truck, or even a scooter to give me a lift, and days where proper food and drink were hard to come by. It was tough, but also unforgettable.”

Steef Duijn / @steefduijn

Stay safe 

The concept of safety depends on who you are and where you’re traveling — that’s why your number-one friend when traveling solo is your gut. “Always trust your instincts and do what feels right for you, not just what others recommend,” says avid traveler Luara Malina, who dove into solo travel while in Southeast Asia. 

Luara Malina / @luaramalina

Women’s safety is an issue that lots of businesses have responded to — many hostels offer dorms exclusively for women, women couchsurfers can filter for female hosts, and women-only meet-up groups abound. Traveling as a lone woman can even have its advantages — as Marijke van der Kruijt found when she motorcycled all around South America for two years. “People were often more helpful because I’m a woman, and they easily invited me to their house because I was no threat to them,” she says. 

Marijke van der Kruijt / @papillon_biker

Tour guide and avid traveler Alessandra Rufini agrees. “Being alone also makes you more approachable and more open to spontaneous adventures. For me, solo travel is the purest way to experience freedom.”

Alessandra Rufini / @passport162

By all means take precautions when traveling — we’ve written a whole article with tips for staying safe while on the road. But don’t ever let anyone deter you from making the trip. 

“Don’t wait until you’re not scared to start traveling,” advises Polarsteps Explorer Joanna Moss, who’s traveled alone in 41 countries. “Start scared! I think the biggest misconception is that strong female solo travellers are fearless. They’re so not! I actually had a fear of flying for so long, even now — but I still boarded.”

Joanna Moss / @joanna.explore

“People are generally kind by nature and want to help,” agrees Omar. “As long as you have a positive mental attitude and keep an open mind, things work out. And even if they don’t, they make for a good story.”

Cover image: Pierre Blivet / @lablivamerica