Solo Travel Tips for First-Time Adventurers

Are you considering traveling solo for the first time? Unsure about what it’s like or how to do it? I am a proud and happy solo traveler. Visiting 49 countries (and counting!) has taught me a lot about being a solo traveler. I have definitely learned and evolved along the way.

A smiling woman, wearing a black jacket, a black beanie hat, and a black and gray leopard print scarf, stands in the basket of a hot air balloon with other people. The balloon is brightly colored, and a large flame is blowing up into the balloon. — The sky’s the limit for solo travelers!

Solo travel is a fantastic way to see the world and do what you love along the way. There is so much freedom to do as much or as little as you want. But being on your own may seem a bit daunting. If so, try a few small things first and see how it goes. You may quickly learn that solo travel is not for you. But, you may also discover that solo travel is perfect for you! Either way, I wish you happy and safe travels.

Six Tips for Successful Solo Travel

Read about some of my experiences and tips below and see if solo travel is right for you.

A smiling woman, wearing a gray shirt and dark sunglasses, is standing on an overlook with a view of downtown Kansas City behind her. A large, green grassy area is in the foreground, and many city buildings are in the background. — Exploring in my own backyard when I moved to Kansas City

Try It Out First

For anyone considering solo travel, I recommend trying it out first on a smaller scale. Setting out on a long, international trip for your first solo adventure may not be the best option. Instead, try some things closer to home first to see how it goes.

See what it is like to do things solo. This will give you a hint about what it will be like to do a full trip by yourself. Once you start getting comfortable in your own back yard, try venturing out and do a long weekend trip. All of these things will help acclimate you to being a solo traveler.

Try doing a few things around town by yourself
Go to an event such as a movie, concert, or game
Eat dinner in a restaurant
Spend a day being a tourist in your own city – check out some local attractions

A group of three women and two men, all smiling, stand in front of a body of water with a series of glaciers behind the water. — Snapping a quick selfie of the group I toured the South Coast of Iceland with

Travel Solo – In A Group

Another option for solo travel is to do it in a group. Sounds a bit counterintuitive but hear me out! I enjoy the freedom of being a solo traveler. But sometimes I don’t necessarily want to be completely solo for the entire trip. This is where group travel can be a great option. Being in a group allows me to meet others and participate in activities with others if I want to. But also allows me to venture out and be on my own if that is what I prefer. A group gives you that flexibility.

My sweet spot is to do a cruise and book a few days pre- and post-cruise on my own. While on the cruise, I often switch between venturing out on my own and joining a group for excursions. It’s the best of both worlds for me!

Cruises or group trips are a fantastic way to travel solo but still be part of a larger group.

Legs, dressed in blue jeans and brown socks, are crossed and laying on top of a bed covered with a white comforter. In the foreground, a hand holds a white mug filled with a foamy liquid. In the background, a large series of sliding glass doors is covered with a filmy curtain, with a view of a river and some buildings on the opposite river bank. A black arm chair and a side table with some bottles is set in front of the sliding glass doors. — Sipping coffee in bed with a view of the Rhine River on my Avalon Christmas Markets cruise, made even better knowing I did not have to pay a single supplement fee!

Pricing Challenges

Perhaps the largest challenge solo travelers face is the dreaded solo supplement. On cruises, a solo traveler is often charged a supplemental fee (up to 100% or more!) to book a cabin. So, you may end up paying double for the privilege of staying in a cabin by yourself.

More and more cruise lines are recognizing the popularity of solo travel. Many offer some nice options, including reduced or waived solo supplements and having dedicated solo cabins. These are the first things I look for when booking a new cruise. However, even if the cruise line doesn’t have these options, they often offer 2-for-1 pricing or other deals. These deals can help reduce the cost of the solo supplement. Solo travelers need to be more diligent when researching and booking travel to fully understand what your total cost will be.

A smiling woman, wearing a bright pink shirt and dark sunglasses, sits inside an enclosed boat on a river, with the river seen directly behind the windows behind the woman, A few buildings and boats are seen in the background. — Heading out on the easy-to-use and reasonably priced Hop On/Hop Off boat to explore Stockholm, Sweden – there was a convenient stop one block away from my hotel

Hotels – Location and Dining

Ensure your hotel is within walking distance of either the sights you are interested in visiting, or to public transportation options. When traveling in a group, the cost of private transportation (taxis or rideshares) can be divided amongst the group. But when you’re on your own, you are paying that total on your own! If it is just one or two rides, this may not be a huge issue. But if you need to use private transportation repeatedly over a few days, this can add up quickly.

But walking is a great free option! Public transportation such as subways or buses can be a great option as well, as these fares are typically much less than a taxi or rideshare. Other options like Hop On / Hop Off bus tours can also be an inexpensive way to get around the city by yourself.

Another hotel tip for solo travel is to ensure that your hotel has an onsite restaurant and/or room service for dinner. While traveling solo, it is not always completely safe to venture out on your own after dark. I find it easier and safer to eat dinner at the hotel. So, I always check to see if the hotel I’m booking has an onsite restaurant or room service that serves dinner…many have restaurants, but they only serve breakfast. If there are no onsite options, my second step is to check to see what may be available next to the hotel or at least on the same block. If there are not great dinner options in the immediate area, then I tend to avoid booking that hotel.

A smiling woman stands in a very large crowd, overlooking a brightly colored Carnival Samba Parade float and performers. The woman is wearing an elaborate headdress with green and yellow feathers, a sparkly green eye mask, and a colorful flower lei around her neck. — Joining the group excursion to the Carnival Samba Parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, instead of trying to venture out on my own in a large and rowdy crowd!

Trust Your Gut

When it comes to solo travel, whether in your own backyard or across the globe, my best piece of advice is to simply trust your gut. In other words, if something doesn’t seem quite right, then trust your instincts and choose something else.

Walking through a new city and see a sketchy looking but convenient alleyway? Maybe it would be best to take a few extra steps and stick to the main roads – it may take a bit longer, but it will likely be worth it.
Sitting on a bench at a park and get approached by someone offering to take you on a personal tour? Probably not the best choice – stick with known tour sights/companies or the referrals of friends or concierges.

A smiling woman, wearing a gray fleece jacket, pink hooded sweatshirt, and dark sunglasses, sits on a red Adirondack chair with a green house in the background. The woman holds up a plate with a lobster roll and French fries. — Stopping for my favorite – a cold lobster roll – while visiting Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia

Do What You Like

The bottom line, and perhaps my favorite part of solo travel, is that it means that you get to do exactly what you want to do, whenever you want to do it! If you’re an avid planner, go ahead and plan out every minute of your trip and fill it with the places you want to see. If you’re more of a “take it as it comes” traveler, as a solo traveler you get to choose your own adventure at every step along the way. When you travel solo you have full control to change things up at any point, whether planned ahead of time or not.

Common Questions

Do you ever get lonely while traveling solo?

Personally, I rarely get lonely while traveling. I am an only child, so I am very good at entertaining myself! Group travel can help combat any loneliness you may encounter. You can always try striking up a conversation while out and about – you never know which interesting characters you may meet. I also bring a few things to occupy any ‘down time’ I may have on a trip…a good book, a puzzle app, and a small cross-stitch kit are always in my carry-on.

Do you ever feel subconscious about eating alone in a restaurant?

Yes, it may feel like all eyes are on you when you dine solo. However, I have learned through the years that most people generally don’t even notice you (or don’t care!). I do see more and more other solo diners when I am out and about, so I think the overall stigma is lessening as it becomes more of the norm. However, if you do feel subconscious, try eating at the bar instead of a table. Or, bring something to keep yourself occupied…a book or a magazine are great ways to avoid having to just sit and stare at everyone else!

How do I know if I am being charged a solo supplement?

Cruise lines typically advertise their rates as ‘per person, double occupancy,’ meaning the fare you see is for one person and will be doubled for two people sharing that cabin. Many cruise lines now offer the ability to search for solo fares on their websites, and that will show you the fare for one person in one cabin. When you search these fares, you will generally see that they are more than the ‘per person, double occupancy’ rate – the difference between the two is what they are charging for the solo supplement (this may or may not be specifically called out in the fare breakdown). If you are working with a trusted travel agent, they will also help you understand the fare breakdown.

I am intimidated by public transportation – it all seems so overwhelming! How do you manage it?

Large, complicated public transportation system maps can definitely be overwhelming! But I have learned over the years that they almost all break down into smaller, more easily understood parts. Focus on where you are starting and where you are trying to get to – understand the general direction you are traveling, or familiarize yourself with the start and end station names. This will help you confirm you are on the right bus/train/boat. Map apps like Google Maps are also becoming more detailed with specific station names, route names/numbers, etc, which also helps making planning public transportation easier. If all else fails, though, find a friendly face in the station and ask for help…more often than not, people will be willing to help point you in the right direction.

Do you ever feel unsafe while traveling solo?

I do my best to avoid any unsafe conditions when I travel solo. I limit my time out after dark, for example. Doing some basic online searches ahead of time will help better understand if there are any areas of town that are a bit sketchy and should be avoided. The best way to help reduce yourself as a potential target is to avoid looking like a lost tourist…be confident in where you are going and walk purposefully. Small things like listening to directions from a map app in ear buds instead of staring at your phone screen map while walking can also help.