If you find yourself single, you’ll likely be faced with the question of how to travel when you’re alone. It can be difficult to navigate the solo travel journey, but if you know what to expect, you can have an incredible experience that’s fun and stress-free. Take these five tips into consideration when planning your next trip—whether it’s just around town or halfway across the world—and you’ll go with the flow while traveling solo.
Leave Yourself Open to New Experiences
You are more likely to have a better time traveling solo if you are open to experiences that may not have been planned or expected. If someone invites you out, accept—you never know who you might meet. Or try something new, like hiking up a mountain or trying an exotic dish at an amazing restaurant. Let yourself be surprised! You’ll always have plenty of stories to tell when you get back. And remember, no matter how uncomfortable things get, don’t overthink it; just go with it, adjust accordingly and enjoy every moment.
Let Go of Expectations
Nothing can ruin a trip faster than setting unrealistic expectations. First and foremost, try not to have any preconceived notions about where you’re going or what you’ll do while you’re there. This might seem impossible, I know from experience how hard it is not to over-plan a trip before leaving home. You can plan some things—the itinerary is great—but remember that part of what makes travel so special is its spontaneity. Keep an open mind and a positive attitude! It will all work out great in the end, you’ll see.
Remember that part of what makes travel so special is its spontaneity
Go With the Flow
Things don’t always go as planned while traveling, especially if you’re on your own. If something goes wrong, trust yourself to remain calm and be flexible in figuring out how to get back on track. Realize that not everything can be controlled or that things won’t necessarily fall into place like they do at home; be open-minded and willing to make last-minute changes to your plans or at least roll with them. It may not always work out exactly as you expected, but often times these spontaneous deviations make for some of our most cherished memories—trust me.
Be Flexible
Know that things change at the last minute. If you make plans, realize that they may not go as expected. Of course, you should have some kind of plan to work off of, but don’t let unexpected changes deter you from enjoying your trip. Be open to spontaneous activities and change things up when you need to. Every time I am traveling I am able to meet new people through random chance occurrences. You never know what adventures could come of staying open-minded – it just might lead to a few travel memories that last a lifetime!
