Solo Travel – Common Misconceptions and Why Its My Favorite Way to Travel
Whenever I tell people that I’m primarily a solo female traveler, I get a few common responses: “Wow I could never do that,” “I would hate sitting at a restaurant by myself,” or they just look shocked. I would love to address some of the common misconceptions that people have about solo travel and explain why its my primary style of travel!
My first time crossing the Atlantic Ocean
Misconception #1 – It’s Dangerous
This is a common roadblock people face when thinking about taking a solo trip. l understand this fear, but I can tell you from experience that with a little research and a lot of self confidence, being solo in a different country isn’t as bad as it seems. Of course we all know those countries where we wouldn’t feel comfortable as solo females, but for the most part, traveling solo, in Europe especially, is safe and actually pretty normal. Over the years I’ve met so many other solo female travelers, which tells me that its more common than people think!
I’m going to be completely honest, the first time I traveled by myself, I was terrified. I boarded my flight, sat down, and that’s when it all hit me, that I can’t back out now, this was really happening. But you know what happened when I finally got there and started figuring things out for myself? I felt so empowered! Once the initial fear had faded, I felt great! I will say I did have extra peace of mind though because I had shared my location with my sister before I left, so she knew every time I left my airbnb, and she always knew where I was. I would 100% recommend you do this also with someone you trust. I’ve always felt very safe whenever I’ve been on solo trips, but with saying that, there are some precautions to consider. Walking by yourself at night is generally not a good idea. Have I done it before? Yes, many times, but it’s not something I would make a habit out of. If you really have to walk by yourself after dark, stick to well lit areas and be hyper aware of your surroundings. This may be common sense but it’s also not a good idea to walk around by yourself when you’re intoxicated, whether its night or day. I’m not saying you have to completely stay away from alcohol on your trips (I would never want to miss out on a good glass of French or Italian wine!), but be smart about your intake and its best to know your limits BEFORE you go.
Misconception #3 – Eating By Yourself is Awful
If I had a dime for every time someone brought up this point to me, I could travel for a year. I know that in concept it sounds uncomfortable and weird to sit at a restaurant and eat a meal by yourself, but from someone who’s done it many many times, its really not that bad! The first time it can feel somewhat awkward, but after being by yourself a few times, it’s not awkward anymore. I like to sit at an outside table and people watch, or sometimes I take a book and read, or if you really feel awkward you could scroll on your phone. I learned to find peace in sitting and eating a meal alone, taking in every bite and absorbing my surroundings. You’re on vacation, this is a perfect opportunity to take in the moment! And who knows, maybe you won’t be eating alone after all. On one of my last solo trips, I made a friend the first day and for the rest of my time there, we ate almost all our meals together!
Misconception #4 – Its Expensive If You Can’t Split Costs With Someone Else
I can really understand this way of thinking, but traveling by yourself doesn’t have to be expensive! Of course if you want to stay in a 5 star hotel that you are paying for on your own, then yes, it is expensive, but being by yourself opens up so many opportunities for cheap accommodations! Hostels, Airbnbs, or small hotel rooms that are outside the main part of the city can be quite cost effective. I love staying in spare room Airbnbs, where you stay with someone in their home. Usually these listings include single beds, so for a solo traveler, its great! I also love meeting the hosts because they are a wealth of knowledge since they live in the city you’re visiting, and they always have good recommendations and can answer any questions you have.
Another money saving perk with solo travel is that you don’t have to go to a restaurant every night if you don’t want to. Many times on my trips I have gone to the market, grabbed a cheap sandwich or something and enjoyed it in my room. Or I’ll often grab street food or pastries from the bakery and sit on a park bench or lay out my blanket for a picnic. When you’re alone, there’s no one saying that you have to go have a big expensive meal at a restaurant. If you’re wiped out from the day or you just don’t want to spend much money, you can have a simple, cheap meal and call it a day. No judgement, no one pushing for that certain dish they’ve been wanting to try, no one complaining that the meal isn’t big enough. Just you and your snacks from the market against the world.
View from my top floor Airbnb in Paris
My Why
I have a solo travel motto: if you wait for someone else to go with you, you’ll never go. If I didn’t have the courage to step out on my own I don’t think I would have ever seen the cities and countries I’ve fallen in love with, and I would have missed out on meeting a lot of great people. Every time I travel, without fail, I meet new people and make new friends. I don’t think I would have been as inclined to meet people if I had traveled with another person, but when you’re solo, it gives you the perfect opportunity to connect with others and learn about where they come from. While some of the friendships I made were short lived, others have lasted. I met one friend on my last international trip that I’m actually going to visit later this year, and another I talk to frequently. Solo travel has altered my life in a way I would have never expected. I have learned so much about myself and what I am capable of on my own, and through these experiences my self confidence has grown exponentially. I would encourage anyone to try traveling solo because you really get to sit with yourself and take in the present without any outside distraction. And when it’s just you, you get to plan your itinerary and activities however you want! I personally love going to as many gothic cathedrals as I can on a trip (I’m an architect by trade, I love an excuse to revel in the gothic style architecture), but I know that if I had a travel companion, I wouldn’t be seeing as many cathedrals as I would like because they would also have things they would want to see and do also, and I could definitely understand someone else getting bored from all the repetition. My point is, we all have our specific interests, and when you’re by yourself, you get to really dive into those interests. Another thing I cherish about solo travel is that you are the sole decision maker when it comes to how you start your day, when you end your day, and whether you want to skip an activity that you had previously planned. On my last full day in Paris, I had planned on going to Montmartre for the day since I hadn’t been to that part of the city yet, but I was tired, so instead, I decided to spend my day painting and reading in the park. I could cancel my plans without bumming anyone else out, and no one tried to convince me to stay with my original itinerary. Solo travel is so freeing and invigorating, if you’ve never done it, I really urge you to try it, even if its a short weekend trip to another city!
Extra Tips
Don’t be afraid to ask people to take a photo for you. Selfies are fine, but photos that others take always seem to be my favorites.
Don’t make long eye contact with strangers. Usually people see that as an invitation to come over and bother you.
If you do a little research on the general fashion of the country you’re visiting, you can bring outfits that make you blend in a bit better. Petty criminals like pickpockets will target people who they think look like they don’t know what they’re doing or look like they don’t fit in.
When a stranger asks you if you’re traveling alone, the answer is always no. Tell them that your friend is back at the hotel or that your waiting for your sibling to be done in a nearby shop, or whatever believable excuse you can think of. Never tell a stranger that you’re in a foreign country by yourself. Or if a random man comes up to you and tries to flirt, when he asks if you’re single, whether you are or not, the answer is no. You can even go as far to tell them that your partner is just ‘over there’. Strangers don’t need to know any vulnerable information, including your phone number, where you’re staying, or how long you’ll be traveling for. Usually if someone asks how long I’m staying I’ll tell them that I’m leaving tomorrow. Just be safe!
Always have a copy or two of your passport. If in the unlikely event that you lose your original, having a copy printed out will be very helpful.
Having your bank’s phone number and the numbers of your credit or debit cards is helpful if you lose your card or get locked out of your bank account. Always alert your bank or credit card company of your upcoming travel plans. Taking more than one means of payment is also recommended.
Its always smart to carry a little bit of local currency. I recommend withdrawing this currency from an indoor bank atm if you can find one. If you can’t and have to use an outdoor atm, just be very aware of your surrounding and cover the number keys when typing in your pin number.
Gather emergency phone numbers for the country you’re visiting, like the number for the hospital or the police, or your country’s embassy. It’s also smart to learn a few words in the local language to alert others if you’re in an emergency situation.
I know that the thought of solo travel can be overwhelming, but if you take the leap of courage, you won’t regret it! I hope that this guide has given you more confidence to get out and explore the world on your own, I know you can do it, you’re capable of more than you think! I’d love to hear about your solo travels in the comments if you feel inclined to share. Happy travels!
Whenever I tell people that I’m primarily a solo female traveler, I get a few common responses: “Wow I could never do that,” “I would hate sitting at a restaurant by myself,” or they just look shocked. I would love to address some of the common misconceptions that people have about solo travel and explain why its my primary style of travel!
My first time crossing the Atlantic Ocean
Misconception #1 – It’s Dangerous
This is a common roadblock people face when thinking about taking a solo trip. l understand this fear, but I can tell you from experience that with a little research and a lot of self confidence, being solo in a different country isn’t as bad as it seems. Of course we all know those countries where we wouldn’t feel comfortable as solo females, but for the most part, traveling solo, in Europe especially, is safe and actually pretty normal. Over the years I’ve met so many other solo female travelers, which tells me that its more common than people think!
I’m going to be completely honest, the first time I traveled by myself, I was terrified. I boarded my flight, sat down, and that’s when it all hit me, that I can’t back out now, this was really happening. But you know what happened when I finally got there and started figuring things out for myself? I felt so empowered! Once the initial fear had faded, I felt great! I will say I did have extra peace of mind though because I had shared my location with my sister before I left, so she knew every time I left my airbnb, and she always knew where I was. I would 100% recommend you do this also with someone you trust. I’ve always felt very safe whenever I’ve been on solo trips, but with saying that, there are some precautions to consider. Walking by yourself at night is generally not a good idea. Have I done it before? Yes, many times, but it’s not something I would make a habit out of. If you really have to walk by yourself after dark, stick to well lit areas and be hyper aware of your surroundings. This may be common sense but it’s also not a good idea to walk around by yourself when you’re intoxicated, whether its night or day. I’m not saying you have to completely stay away from alcohol on your trips (I would never want to miss out on a good glass of French or Italian wine!), but be smart about your intake and its best to know your limits BEFORE you go.
Misconception #3 – Eating By Yourself is Awful
If I had a dime for every time someone brought up this point to me, I could travel for a year. I know that in concept it sounds uncomfortable and weird to sit at a restaurant and eat a meal by yourself, but from someone who’s done it many many times, its really not that bad! The first time it can feel somewhat awkward, but after being by yourself a few times, it’s not awkward anymore. I like to sit at an outside table and people watch, or sometimes I take a book and read, or if you really feel awkward you could scroll on your phone. I learned to find peace in sitting and eating a meal alone, taking in every bite and absorbing my surroundings. You’re on vacation, this is a perfect opportunity to take in the moment! And who knows, maybe you won’t be eating alone after all. On one of my last solo trips, I made a friend the first day and for the rest of my time there, we ate almost all our meals together!
Misconception #4 – Its Expensive If You Can’t Split Costs With Someone Else
I can really understand this way of thinking, but traveling by yourself doesn’t have to be expensive! Of course if you want to stay in a 5 star hotel that you are paying for on your own, then yes, it is expensive, but being by yourself opens up so many opportunities for cheap accommodations! Hostels, Airbnbs, or small hotel rooms that are outside the main part of the city can be quite cost effective. I love staying in spare room Airbnbs, where you stay with someone in their home. Usually these listings include single beds, so for a solo traveler, its great! I also love meeting the hosts because they are a wealth of knowledge since they live in the city you’re visiting, and they always have good recommendations and can answer any questions you have.
Another money saving perk with solo travel is that you don’t have to go to a restaurant every night if you don’t want to. Many times on my trips I have gone to the market, grabbed a cheap sandwich or something and enjoyed it in my room. Or I’ll often grab street food or pastries from the bakery and sit on a park bench or lay out my blanket for a picnic. When you’re alone, there’s no one saying that you have to go have a big expensive meal at a restaurant. If you’re wiped out from the day or you just don’t want to spend much money, you can have a simple, cheap meal and call it a day. No judgement, no one pushing for that certain dish they’ve been wanting to try, no one complaining that the meal isn’t big enough. Just you and your snacks from the market against the world.
View from my top floor Airbnb in Paris
My Why
I have a solo travel motto: if you wait for someone else to go with you, you’ll never go. If I didn’t have the courage to step out on my own I don’t think I would have ever seen the cities and countries I’ve fallen in love with, and I would have missed out on meeting a lot of great people. Every time I travel, without fail, I meet new people and make new friends. I don’t think I would have been as inclined to meet people if I had traveled with another person, but when you’re solo, it gives you the perfect opportunity to connect with others and learn about where they come from. While some of the friendships I made were short lived, others have lasted. I met one friend on my last international trip that I’m actually going to visit later this year, and another I talk to frequently. Solo travel has altered my life in a way I would have never expected. I have learned so much about myself and what I am capable of on my own, and through these experiences my self confidence has grown exponentially. I would encourage anyone to try traveling solo because you really get to sit with yourself and take in the present without any outside distraction. And when it’s just you, you get to plan your itinerary and activities however you want! I personally love going to as many gothic cathedrals as I can on a trip (I’m an architect by trade, I love an excuse to revel in the gothic style architecture), but I know that if I had a travel companion, I wouldn’t be seeing as many cathedrals as I would like because they would also have things they would want to see and do also, and I could definitely understand someone else getting bored from all the repetition. My point is, we all have our specific interests, and when you’re by yourself, you get to really dive into those interests. Another thing I cherish about solo travel is that you are the sole decision maker when it comes to how you start your day, when you end your day, and whether you want to skip an activity that you had previously planned. On my last full day in Paris, I had planned on going to Montmartre for the day since I hadn’t been to that part of the city yet, but I was tired, so instead, I decided to spend my day painting and reading in the park. I could cancel my plans without bumming anyone else out, and no one tried to convince me to stay with my original itinerary. Solo travel is so freeing and invigorating, if you’ve never done it, I really urge you to try it, even if its a short weekend trip to another city!
Extra Tips
Don’t be afraid to ask people to take a photo for you. Selfies are fine, but photos that others take always seem to be my favorites.
Don’t make long eye contact with strangers. Usually people see that as an invitation to come over and bother you.
If you do a little research on the general fashion of the country you’re visiting, you can bring outfits that make you blend in a bit better. Petty criminals like pickpockets will target people who they think look like they don’t know what they’re doing or look like they don’t fit in.
When a stranger asks you if you’re traveling alone, the answer is always no. Tell them that your friend is back at the hotel or that your waiting for your sibling to be done in a nearby shop, or whatever believable excuse you can think of. Never tell a stranger that you’re in a foreign country by yourself. Or if a random man comes up to you and tries to flirt, when he asks if you’re single, whether you are or not, the answer is no. You can even go as far to tell them that your partner is just ‘over there’. Strangers don’t need to know any vulnerable information, including your phone number, where you’re staying, or how long you’ll be traveling for. Usually if someone asks how long I’m staying I’ll tell them that I’m leaving tomorrow. Just be safe!
Always have a copy or two of your passport. If in the unlikely event that you lose your original, having a copy printed out will be very helpful.
Having your bank’s phone number and the numbers of your credit or debit cards is helpful if you lose your card or get locked out of your bank account. Always alert your bank or credit card company of your upcoming travel plans. Taking more than one means of payment is also recommended.
Its always smart to carry a little bit of local currency. I recommend withdrawing this currency from an indoor bank atm if you can find one. If you can’t and have to use an outdoor atm, just be very aware of your surrounding and cover the number keys when typing in your pin number.
Gather emergency phone numbers for the country you’re visiting, like the number for the hospital or the police, or your country’s embassy. It’s also smart to learn a few words in the local language to alert others if you’re in an emergency situation.
I know that the thought of solo travel can be overwhelming, but if you take the leap of courage, you won’t regret it! I hope that this guide has given you more confidence to get out and explore the world on your own, I know you can do it, you’re capable of more than you think! I’d love to hear about your solo travels in the comments if you feel inclined to share. Happy travels!
Pursuit of Happy Travel 
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