If you had posed the question about solo travel several decades ago, there’s no doubt that you would have been met with several blank faces. After all, who in their right mind would want to venture away on their own?
As it turns out, particularly in this current day and age, there’s quite a significant number of people wanting to do so. In fact, it’s a growing number, with this being one of the key trends in the whole travel industry:
Location, location, location
Or specifically, the location of your hotel. Sure, we’re now in the age where we all love to save when it comes to travel, with the internet and comparison websites in general really assisting us with this.
However, when it comes to solo travel, be a little more cautious. Try not to go off the beaten track too much, and always choose a reputable hotel chain. The UK is a great place in this respect as many cities have lots of stylish hotel options which are both affordable and easy to get to.
Hostels are also perfectly fine, particularly if you can find one that is renowned for its social atmosphere and ultimately, bringing travelers together.
Make the most of your solo-status
Quite often, when we go away, some activities that form part of our trip aren’t necessarily what we would choose as a first choice. We cave into other’s demands, which is part and parcel of life.
Now that you are alone, this is all changing. The ball is in your court, and you need to make the most of your new status. Do things that you would have never “been able” to do in the past as trust us, you won’t be traveling alone for the rest of your life, so this is an opportunity you have to take advantage of.
Don’t give too much away (to start with)
This next point is all about safety. One of the big benefits of solo travel is getting to know people and ultimately, coming out of your shell.
However, during the early parts of a conversation with someone new, try not to give too much away. Make sure you introduce yourself with basic details, and don’t say where you are staying.
Of course, as relationships build, you can drop your guard somewhat. Unfortunately, at least when you first meet some people, you do need to be a little cautious and not give everything away though.
The difficulties of eating alone
One of the most difficult parts of traveling alone for a lot of people is dining out. A lot of us just aren’t comfortable with dining alone at a restaurant – we feel as though all eyes are on us.Granted, this is always going to be tricky, but there are ways around it. Try not to eat at a table, but instead eat at the bar which can provide more opportunities to be social. Then, just be obvious about being a tourist. Place your maps, camera and anything else on your table, just so others around you know what the deal is. Quite often, there will be others in the vicinity in a very similar position, and by the end of the meal you’ll have probably got talking to some.
