Tips for Solo Travel

I am no longer single, and my days of solo travel are mostly over.  That being said, solo travelling was where I made some of the best memories of my life.  It can be overwhelming and a little nerve racking at first, but solo travel is liberating.  You have the freedom to travel to and do whatever you want and on your own schedule.  Travelling solo forces you to get out of your comfort zone and if you do something  stupid, no one you know will witness the debauchery. 

My first true solo travel experience, well sort of anyways, was when I went on a French exchange summer program, with the Explore Program in Montréal for 5 weeks.  I got my feet wet but wasn’t ready to go anywhere too far away alone so I went on Contiki Tours, a travel group, across 11 countries in Europe for a month.  I went on my own, but quickly met the rest of the tour mates.  I went back to Québec City on my own to learn more French.  I then reconvened with my Mexican friends, whom I met in Québec, in Colombia; I went there on my own, but was with them for most of the time.  I loved Colombia so much I went back, completely on my own again.  I then went to Panama on my own.  I made a lot of wild memories on these trips and learned a lot.

Here are some tips to get you going on your solo adventure, make the trip easier and to make the best of your solo vacation:

Go on a tour group like Contiki Tours, G Adventures or Exodus Travels

I have only done Contiki, which is excellent for young people who want to party (there is an age restriction of 18-35) but G Adventures boasts group travel on a budget and Exodus Travels has a wide range of tours to choose from and is highly rated.  Going on a tour group, gives you the freedom to choose a tour and countries that you want and gives you the freedom to let loose.  And if you are a bit hesitant to travel on your own, travel groups are the perfect way to pop your solo travel cherry, see a lot of tourist hot spots and meet other travelers along the way.

Go on a language exchange program

This tip is a continuation of the previous point and is another way to get your feet wet and try solo travel.  This can be done through a university, private programs or through government grants.  Not only will you meet people in your classes but there will be plenty of organized activities that you have the opportunity to participate in.  Learning the language is also beneficial for travel.   I have done this with the Explore Program in Montréal, Edu-Inter in Québec City and with Habla Ya in Panama.

Learn the language

Whether you are on a language exchange or travelling to a foreign country, it is always beneficial to know the language.  If you don’t learn much, at least learn simple greetings, how to order a coffee, a beer and a few basic ice breaker phrases.  Learning a language is fun and rewarding.  Also, if you know the language or at least show that you are trying to speak some basic phrases, the locals will open to you and you will meet a lot of local friends.  And use your liquid courage to continue to practice the language while partying the night away.

Talk to locals

Nothing is more fun than being in the street or at a local pub and mingling with the locals.  Get out there, experience the culture and meet the people on your vacation.  This is also a perfect way to practice your language skills. Also, if you get in some trouble along the way, it's nice to have a few locals to watch your back.

Stay in Budget Hotels or Hostels

Don’t stay in a hostel that is known for bed bugs or is run down, do your research and choose a nice hostel with good ratings and in a good location.  You can also do this with budget hotels.  When I stay in these accommodations, I always choose a private room.  It costs a bit more but is cheaper than staying in a hotel, you get the organized activities and the party atmosphere all without sacrificing your own privacy. 

Book an excursion/activities with your hostel or hotel

Take a salsa class at the hostel or go on a pub crawl… you will have a ton of fun with other like-minded travelers.  And of course, book an excursion; I have done things like a Pablo Escobar Tour in Medellín, hot springs in the mountains of Oaxaca, city tours and paragliding all with hostels I have stayed at.  Doing this I’ve had thrilling experiences and met other travelers along the way, some of which became drinking buddies for the rest of my stay.

Choose a good location

Again, do your research!  When booking your accommodation research thoroughly, choose one with the demographic and age group you want to mingle with.  But more importantly, choose a hostel or hotel with a good location.  A hostel with plenty of restaurants, night life and my favorite… plazas, within walking distance.  This is where you’ll be able to go out, mingle with locals, other travelers and have a lot of fun.  Be careful, sometimes the nicest location on paper isn’t the best location for you.  In Cartagena, I stayed in Bocagrande (on the beach and with luxury hotels) and also the hip area of Getsemani.  Getsemani wasn’t on the ocean, but was a lot more fun!  And in Puerto Rico, instead of choosing Condado or Isla Verde, I chose Old San Juan, which was more fun and a lot more interesting to explore and stroll through.

People watch

When you have some downtime, and trust me, you will while travelling solo, don’t get bored, embrace it.  One way I do this is by choosing a nice location to sit back, enjoy the weather, the scenery and observe the people.  Strike up a conversation while you’re at it or just crack a beer, enjoy the scenery, and a cigar all while observing the locals and how they behave.  Sometimes you’ll witness some crazy shit!

Enjoy a nice solo dinner

Unlike doing it in your own city where you’ll feel like a loner or a creep, eating a good dinner in a foreign country while alone and having a few beers is liberating.  You don’t have to worry what anyone will think of you, all you need to worry about is choosing the right item off the menu and getting a good spot.  In a tropical country, choose a restaurant with a good patio.  Here you can people watch too.

Just do it

What are you waiting for, if you’ve ever wanted to experience the freedom of travelling on your own get to researching and book the trip.  Sometimes the best experiences are just outside of your comfort zone.  Don’t worry what people will say, just worry about the memories!

My days of solo travel are mostly over, I may manage to squeeze another random solo trip down the road, if our work schedules don’t line up, but that doesn’t mean I won’t advocate solo travel for others who have the ability to do it.  Most of the stuff I have learned about travel came from solo travelling.  I’ve also made amazing memories and lifelong friendships along the way!