Solo Travel - Just Do It!

Jim and Lynette Romagnesi • May 11, 2017

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Single travellers don’t be afraid to go it alone. “They were the best 12 days of my life!” These are the words of a wonderful woman from NSW who had just hit 70 years old. Not only was she heading overseas for the first time in her life, she was going solo! We took her on our 12 day Treasures tour and she just delighted in Italy and the travel experience.

We get a lot of women asking us if we have many single travellers on our tours. In fact our tours are made up of 40% single travellers and more often than not, they are women. We take care of all your needs while on tour, but what happens when the tour finishes? All you need is a little confidence, planning and the ability to revel in the opportunity to indulge your whims. When you travel solo you can pick and choose what you want to see and do without regard to anyone else’s tastes. How liberating!

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I have a few practical tips for you to take into consideration while travelling solo.

Try to look like a local. If the locals dress well, then you will blend in a little more by taking extra care with your appearance. Carry a hand bag or small satchel, as a backpack screams ‘tourist’. Don’t walk around carrying a map or guidebook. It is best to check your maps and transportation schedules before heading out into the streets.

Key to solo travelling is to always look confident, even if you need to fake it. If you become fearful in a situation try to remain composed, assertive and attentive. There are many single women travelling around the world having a wonderful time. But it doesn’t mean that you can throw caution to the wind.

While we are on the subject of safety, it is important to always arrive at your destination before nightfall. In this way you can make sure the area you are in feels safe or you may want to move; you can get to know where things are; you get to buy supplies before it gets dark and walking the streets at night with a suitcase in tow also screams ‘tourist’.

Making copies of good identification and travel insurance documents and keeping them in more than one place is a good practice. It is also reassuring to leave copies with a friend or relative.

Leave a copy of your itinerary with a friend or family member at home, and stay in touch regularly via phone, text, video chat or email. If you are no longer making regular contact you will have someone that will chase it up.

Many places come alive at night, with families and friends meeting up after dinner in the squares, parks and bars. There is no reason why you should miss out on this companionship. But, if you are worried about being out in the evening then get an early start and make the most of your days. Also, a restaurant at noon feels cheerier than eating out at night. Being constantly on the go can make an early night in the hotel a blessing.

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Giving the impression that you are with friends can be prudent at times. Lie a little if need be. When asking for directions try saying “I am meant to be meeting my friends at the museum. Can you point me in the right direction?”

Just because you headed out solo doesn’t mean you will always be on your own. You will quickly realise that other travellers are very friendly people. Even if you are shy, chances are that they are not. Opening up to other travellers helps to prevent the solo travel blues. You will probably feel lonely at times or homesick but that is a part of the journey. Meeting new people has always stuck in my memory more than seeing new places. But both are wonderful and going solo is nothing to shy away from. Just do it!