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Complete Solo Travel Guide: How to Travel Alone Like a Pro

Solo travel is one of the greatest experiences one can encounter in life. Relying only on yourself, facing the fear alone and enjoying the moments without any distractions are one of the perks of solo travel. However, travelling alone is not only roses. It can turn into a pretty frustrating experience for those who’re unprepared. Read this complete solo travel guide below to make sure your next solo adventure brings you nothing but pleasure and fun.

Check out everything you need to know before travelling alone, read my solo travel tips, safety instructions and find answers to all the curious questions about travelling alone. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

WHAT IS SOLO TRAVEL & WHY IT IS IMPORTANT

What solo travelling actually means and am I a solo traveller when I hook up with a bunch of people from a hostel? Before you decide on travelling by yourself have a closer look on how we can define ‘solo travelling’ itself and why it is actually important to make journeys without fellow companions. 

SOLO TRAVEL MEANING

The definition of ‘solo travel’ is simple – it describes all the trips and travels on which one embarks completely alone, without having a single travel companion . A person decides to travel single, chooses a particular destination or trip itinerary alone and books the flight or train tickets and accommodation on her or his own. 

There is nobody waiting for a solo traveller on the destination. He or she encounters all the trip independently and travels alone . A Solo traveller wanders the city alone, hikes alone and explores all the places alone until she or he decides to connect with other travellers in the area and get on a journey with them. 

There are no differences between solo travellers who prefer getting to a place alone and gad around completely unaccompanied; and those who like to socialize . The more sociable types can after spending some time alone hang out with locals, or do trips with people from the hostel or other solo travellers they met online.

Solo travelling is usually referred as well as: travelling alone, travelling by yourself, single travelling, single trip, solo trip, solo vacations (American), going on holidays alone and so on.

WHAT IS SOLO TRAVEL LIKE? IS IT GOOD?

It is very difficult to describe what is solo travel like as it is impossible to talk about experiences of other people in general. For each person solo travelling can bring varied feelings and emotions .

For many people travelling alone is about being free and independent . Other solo travellers take it as a form of a spiritual journey to find more about themselves, for others it is fun because they meet new people. Solo travelling can be as adventurous or as relaxing as you – the single traveller – make it. 

Of course, travelling by yourself can be sometimes lonely , but still offers such a diverse knowledge, experience and skills. You can rely only on yourself. All your senses are fully activated, and you can afford to do whatever you want.

Your experience is maximized because instead of focusing on finding an agreement with a travel companion and trying to fulfil his or her needs, you’re completely soaked in the sensations from the place itself. You can read more about the whole solo travel experience in my article ‘What Solo Travel Teaches You’.

SOLO TRAVEL TIPS: HOW TO TRAVEL ALONE

How to travel solo successfully? What should be a single traveller prepared for? How to plan a solo travel tip and what kind of budget to expect when travelling alone?

HOW TO PLAN A VACATION BY YOURSELF

Planning a solo trip is crucial. On one hand, you have all the freedom with choosing the destination of your dreams, selecting the perfect time, the way you travel and activities you plan to do.

On the other hand, for your safety and enjoying the trip to its maximum, you need to be extraordinary cautious with planning your solo travels into the tiniest details. 

We can divide the planning into choosing the destination, selecting the right time, the best transport, choosing accommodation, making an itinerary of the trip, list of activities and list of necessities to perfectly pack for the solo trip. 

1. CHOOSE THE DESTINATION

I believe that every single trip starts with choosing a destination. At least, every solo travel should! This decision is completely on you and your travel bucket list.

It very much depends on what you’re fond of, what you can afford budget wise, how adventurous and solo experienced you are and of course, where you can go Visa and restriction wise. 

Did I forget anything? You got me! What else could be more important for a solo traveller than the safety itself? I will talk more about safety in the section ‘Solo Travel Safety’ (in progress) and soon you will be able to read more about destination selection at the page ‘Solo Travel Destination’.

Meanwhile, I can briefly help you with the big decision on where to travel alone by stating a few questions you need to ask before travelling solo to a certain place :

• What are your motivations to see this place?
• Does the place really meets the purpose of the trip – in terms of nature, hiking options, culture, etc.
• Is it safe? Would you feel safe and comfortable there?
• How difficult is to get to the place or the city? Do you need a car? Do you drive?
• What is the infrastructure ? Can you safely hang around using only public transport?
• Can you afford to stay in this place?
• Are there any cool places around ? Or can you imagine staying there during all your trip?

2. SELECT THE RIGHT SEASON, DATE AND TIME  

You are travelling alone so avoiding disastrous weather, especially something serious like tornados and hurricanes, is essential. Research the best time to visit your dream destinations and avoid the ‘unpleasant seasons’. 

For example, the Atlantic Hurricane season runs usually from June to November. Therefore, if you can’t imagine handling with possible weather complications during your solo travels to destinations affected by Atlantic hurricanes, you want to select a different date.

Time of arrival in the destination is also critical. When I travel solo, I prefer to spend a few more bucks on planes or trains with a reasonable arrival time. Most of the city transfers have a very limited schedule during nights , and I, personally, don’t feel very safe by crawling through the city at 1am to find my accommodation.

The other thing I am aware of are bank holidays of the country where I am travelling to. In many lands all shops and services may be closed during these days, so your arrival might be very disrupted. You may have less intercity connections, or you end up hungry because all shops are closed.

To summarize, you want to make sure that you select the perfect:

SEASON – the weather you want, no hazardous weather conditions.

DATE – how run the things in the destination during bank holidays or Sunday?

TIME – avoid late arrivals for your safety. 

3: PLAN THE BUDGET

Lucky those who can travel without the expenses in their minds! The rest of us have to get prepared on how much money we can afford to spend for the particular trip.

How to plan your solo travel budget:

• Set up a total budget (What is the maximum you can spend?).
• Allocate expenses into categories : accommodation, travel, transport, food & drinks, entrance fees, souvenirs, etc.
• Follow the currency of your destination to get the best exchange deal .
• Think how much cash you want and check ATMs available at your destination. What are the fees to withdraw money there?
• Set aside some emergency money .
• Decide on which credit or debit cards to take with you. 
• Decide where you will store your cash, cards and emergency cash.

HOT TIP : if you have more debit or credit cards, take with you only the one where you have less but sufficient amount of money . In case of pick pocketers and other thieves you lose only one credit card, the second one is safe at home.

4. BOOK THE ACCOMMODATION & TRANSPORTATION

You know where you’re going, and you know how much you can afford to spend. The next step is selecting the best travel method and choosing the right accommodation. 

SELECTING THE BEST TRANSPORTATION

Look for the safest, most comfortable and most affordable means of transportation. Even if you’re on a budget, don’t make extremely ‘cheap choices’. The differences between prices are sometimes minimal and simple 10 euros or pounds can help you to reach your destination earlier and stressless.

Yes, travelling alone can be really stressful. Because there is nobody making the decision for you . You have to do everything to put yourself in a chilled mode. Hectic, chaotic and uncomfortable travelling can turn your solo trip into a nightmare. 

Once I booked a super early flights just to save around 20 euros. I ended up travelling exhausted, waiting for my next bus for hours and hours. Don’t waste money but mostly don’t waste your time . You can earn the money later, although you’ll never get back the hours you’ve lost. 

CHOOSING ACCOMMODATION WHEN TRAVELLING SOLO

This is very subjective and very much depends on your budget and preferences . I know many travellers who prefer hostels not only to save some money, but mostly to socialize and meet new people. 

I, personally, don’t need any of those. Furthermore, I prefer having my private bathroom, toilet and peace. One thing what can ruin my light night sleep is people checking in during super late or early hours, talking or partying directly in the room. 

So far, I was lucky enough to find hotels or hostels offering single rooms, or I found a double room for a very discounted price. You can also book only 1 place in a double room, but you will end up paying so-called single supplement. 

WHERE TO STAY WHEN TRAVELLING ALONE.

Pros: comfort, safety, amenities, usually better central locations

Cons: price, hard to meet new people

Pros: budget, easy to socialize, mostly friendly and open atmosphere, kitchen,

Cons: sleeping next to a stranger, less comfort, no privacy, less safety (you never know who you share the room with)

AIRBNB SHARED ROOM / GUEST HOUSE:

Pros: home atmosphere, mingling with the locals, safety (AIRBNB takes their polices seriously), usually affordable

Cons: Less privacy, shared space; if you don’t connect with the host, it might be awkward

AIRBNB / VRBO / ENTIRE APARTMENTS

Pros: Complete privacy, home atmosphere, kitchen, comfort

Cons: Pricey, loneliness (when staying at a hotel you can at least bump into somebody or have a chit-chat with the stuff.)

COUCHSURFING

Pros: it is for free, mingling with locals, exceptional & intimate atmosphere

Cons: no privacy, again when not connected to your host it can be very awkward; shared space

5. CREATE A ‘WANT TO SEE’ LIST AND PLAN THE ITINERARY

One of my most common solo travel tips would be: ‘know where and when you go but leave some space for random adventures’. 

I believe it is vital for a solo traveller to make a proper research about the place that she or he is visiting. You want to make the best out of your trip, you want to spend your trip by exploring not by planning or getting lost in a dodgy area. 

Planning freaks like me will have no struggles by creating to do & see lists and scheduling their itineraries. The other ones can easily underestimate solo travel preparations and leave the trip to ‘go with the flow’.

I enjoy spontaneous trips and hang-outs too, but I am not a big fun of wandering without any purpose; or even worse, ending the trip with a misery of missed opportunities . 

Planning your solo trip itinerary is also important from the safety perspective . If you know where you’re heading you can’t get lost, and you don’t look like being lost. The first one causes stress and anxiety , the second one makes you an easy target for scammers and criminals.

WANT TO SEE LIST:

• Research the place.
• What do you want to see and do?
• What are the priorities of visiting these places? (must-see vs. nice to see)
• Do you plan to stay at one place or do you plan to travel from a city to city?
• Are those places safe for a solo traveller?
• Do you need to buy some tickets in advance?
• How can you get to the places you want to see?
• How much time do you need to explore the places?
• When is the best time to visit those places?
• Are those located in the same area? 
• Can you group these places or things according to the location or niche? (museum day, beach day, visiting the centre, suburbs…)
• What do you have to pack?  (hiking shoes, own food

6. MAKE A LIST OF ALL ‘TO PACK NECESSITIES’

It’s packing time! Once you know where you go and what your solo travel activities will be, making a packing list should be a piece of cake.

Pay extra attention to the weather forecast and, of course, required dimensions of your travel luggage!

Don’t forget chargers, first aid kit, medication and your passport . I’ll give you more insights in the next paragraph about packing. 

SOLO TRAVEL ESSENTIALS & NECESSITIES

How to pack for your solo trip? I usually travel on light , not only to save some money but mostly my energy .

Dragging a monstrous 20 kilo luggage which doesn’t fit basically anywhere, with +30 degrees heatwaves outside doesn’t sound like pleasing travel to me.

The secret is to know what you really need and what, on the other hand, might stay at the bottom of your suitcase during the whole trip.

What to pack when you’re travelling alone:

• Smart & light luggage
• Right clothes & shoes
• Enough funds
• Good insurance
• Reusable water bottle & food container
• First aid kit, medication & hygiene
• Chargers, adapters and other gadgets
• Personal documents & their copies
• Written cheat sheet with emergency contacts

1. SMART & LIGHT LUGGAGE

Once again, you’re not going to a catwalk (I guess). The fewer things you take, the fewer things you lose and the fewer things you carry. 

It is such a pain to wander around with heavy baggage. You may also grab much more unwanted attention than when travelling light. 

I prefer taking a medium-sized backpack or a tiny smart suitcase on wheels which I can fit nearly everywhere. Of course, the mean of your luggage depends on the destination.

If you’re about to have a city break , pick up a suitcase – it is more spacious, comfortable and in big cities you won’t look like a stranger. 

For more adventurous solo travels , when you visit further parts of the world, and you plan to change places often, then a backpack is the right choice!

2. RIGHT CLOTHES & SHOES

One more reason to have at least a tiny idea about what places you want to visit during your solo trip. Do you plan to swim ? Do you fancy a beach day ? Is the purpose of your solo travel hiking or culture hunting ? 

Once again, keep an eye on the weather in all your destinations. Always travel in the heaviest clothes to save some weight and space in your luggage. 

Is the destination conservative? Then pay extra attention to the norms of clothing of the place you head to. As a woman travelling to Muslim or other religious countries you will have to follow some rules like covering your legs, shoulders and head. 

You may want to avoid too sexy fashion as well at dodgier places. As a female solo traveller you don’t want to grab too much attention. 

HOT TIP: Check-out the fashion norms and trends of your destination to fit into the crowd and don’t look like a tourist.

3. ENOUGH FUNDS

We’re talking about money again.  Answer yourself these questions: 

• What currency you need, and what’s the current trend of its fluctuations? 
• Is it worth to exchange all the amounts before travelling, or can you find enough low fee ATMs / exchange agencies at the place? 
• Where do you want to store your money?

I usually have a higher amount of cash in the local currency directly in my purse which I carry with me everywhere (mostly in a vigilantly monitored backpack or a handbag). Then I have a debit card with a sufficient but not significant amount which I save in the hotel room, in a locker.

Finally, I have also a reserve amount of cash, hidden somewhere. This way when I get rob I can still rely on some hidden safety cash. 

4. GOOD INSURANCE

Don’t travel without insurance, especially during the corona crisis. You might be healthy and young, and you might be supremely cautious, but you never know what happens.

Insure both yourself and your journey . Double check if your current health insurance insures you also abroad and where. Are you insured against emergencies and accidents ? If not, do so!

My next tip would be – take the physical insurance card with you. Everything is online nowadays including insurance and other ID cards. I prefer to take my physical card and keep it together with my passport on a very secure place. This might be either the strictly monitored handbag or pocket of your trousers. 

I assume that thieves might be more willing to steal my phone rather than my insurance card. And when this happens, I still have my physical insurance card with a hotline number to call in case of emergencies and accidents. 

5. REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE & FOOD CONTAINER

Don’t make a single step without a reusable water bottle. Travelling takes lots of energy and the levels of hydration have to be filled frequently. 

With a perfect sized reusable water bottle you’ll save yourself some money, and you’ll use definitely less plastic. Many cities have a fresh source of tap water in parks, gardens and other public places. 

However, if you’re heading to a trickier destination where tap water is not really recommended, there you may need to spend more money on bottled water. A better solution would be to get one of those fancy water filtrating bottles. 

I like to take a small food container to have enough energy boosters on my trips. A little snack can save you from fainting during your hikes or unpleasant surprises when visiting cities where a daily shut down of all restaurants and shops is something completely usual ( siestas in Italy and Spain ).

6. FIRST AID KIT, MEDICATION & HYGIENE

Be ready for the best and be ready for the worst. Pack your regular medication, painkillers, medicaments for stomach, thermometer, plasters, bandage, tweezers, vitamins and immunity minerals like zinc and iron, energy boosters, pads , etc. 

Don’t forget sun blockers, sunglasses with high UV, lip protector, hat or a cap. FFP masks together with antibacterial gels are a must nowadays. 

Dental hygiene is important so pack yourself a toothpaste, tooth brush, floss and possible a small package of dental water. 

Moisturizing is not only for princesses! Especially when you travel to dry and windy destinations. Cracked skin aches! Take care of it before it’s too late. 

7. CHARGERS, ADAPTERS AND GADGETS TO SAVE YOUR LIFE

Do your research – again. Know what kind of plugs they use in the country you’re solo travelling to and try to get a suitable adapter before the journey (there are also some multifunctional variations, or multi USB adapters).

Of course, never forget your cellphone or tablet charger , and possibly the gadget itself (phone, camera, tablet, laptop, etc.). Make sure your credit is topped up or your roaming completely set-up for the country of your stay. 

Little example of a big fail : my friends and I managed to get to Morocco without previously checking on if our Spanish numbers and roaming were valid there. We split into 2 groups to get our rental card and guess what – none of our EU phones worked.

MUST HAVE GADGETS:

• Cell-phone or/and camera
• tablet or/and laptop
• Chargers & adapters
• Portable Powerbank

LIFE SAVING GADGETS:

If you plan a little crazier trip (like a solo wandering through an Amazon jungle or solo hiking in Iceland), I leave for you a list of hardcore gadgets:

• Portable Wi-Fi Hub
• Survival kit, 
• Pocket-Size washing machine
• goTenna Mash
• Automated travel vacuum
• Water Purified Bottle
• Tent & sleeping bag
• Compass or GPS
• High-tech foot warmers
• Female Urination Device
• Utility knife

(source: Travelaway )

 8. PERSONAL DOCUMENTS & THEIR COPIES

Make a copy of every document you take – ID, passport, insurance card, visa , etc. It may become handy in case you lose the originals. I have usually pictures of the most important documents also in a digital form – saved in Cloud, on Google Drive, or any software which is password secured.

9. WRITTEN CHEAT SHEET WITH EMERGENCY CONTACTS

Don’t rely on your phone only. It can get broken, it can be stolen, or it can be lost. Carry with you a paper cheat sheet with a list of all the necessary emergency contacts – telephone number and address of your hotel, telephone contact to your family and friends, your country’s embassy, local police, ambulance , etc.

Have those always with you, in a secure pocket or – a tip for ladies: in the back of your bra! This little piece of paper can save your life in case you get lost, your phone is having a bad moment, or in the worst scenario when it has been stolen or misplaced. Safety should always be the priority number one of your solo trip. 

Privacy Overview

How To Travel Solo Successfully: 31+ Tips For A Safe & Fun Trip

By Jessie Festa. This solo travel guide contains affiliate links to trusted partners!

Want to learn how to travel solo successfully ?

Then you’re in the right place!

Solo travel can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Not only does it allow you ultimate freedom over your itinerary, but it can also encourage personal growth. Quite honestly, I don’t know if I would have had the confidence to start my own travel business had it not been for my experiences traveling solo.

That being said, it can be intimidating to actually book that first solo trip.

If you have the desire to travel alone but need some guidance on how to prepare for solo travel and actually enjoy it, I’m here to help.

Keep reading for my top traveling solo tips as well as bonus resources to help you successfully travel on your own.

Quick tip: When traveling solo, it’s still smart to pack a few travel safety essentials . One top pick is the She’s Birdie Personal Safety Alarm , which is TSA-approved and can help scare away potential attackers. Other recommendations include Clever Travel Companion Pickpocket-Proof Garments and Speakeasy Travel Supply Hidden Pocket Scarves .

Table of Contents

Travel Solo With Confidence [Free Course]

But first, before we get into our guide to how to enjoy a holiday alone , I invite you to grab a seat in my  free Savvy Solo Traveler E-Course .

If you want to travel solo, this 6-day course is for you. It’s designed to help you feel confident about booking your first solo travel trip and exploring the world alone.

Lessons include:

• Common solo travel fears and how to overcome them
• How to choose your perfect destination
• How to tell loved ones you’re hitting the road solo
• Mentally preparing for your solo journey without losing your mind
• Essential steps for staying safe on a solo trip
• How to take amazing solo selfies

Once you’ve  grabbed your seat , read on to learn how to travel solo successfully and to snag the bonus solo female travel resources .

Is It Hard To Travel Alone?

No travel experience is perfect, though sometimes it seems like you can get pretty close.

There are both  pros and cons to traveling alone . While the experience can be both rewarding and empowering, it can get a little lonely and your safety risk is a little higher since you don’t have anyone watching your back.

I’m a firm believer that everyone should have the opportunity to experience it at least once, simply because there’s so much to learn about yourself while figuring out how to travel alone.

So, no, it’s not hard to travel alone — but you might come across different challenges you’ll need to overcome. That’s where this handy guide sharing my top travel solo tips comes in.

Tips For How To Travel Solo Successfully

On that note, I’d love to share some of my top pieces of advice for how to travel by yourself. My goal: that you feel confident taking a vacation alone and can enjoy this rewarding experience!

Before Taking A Solo Trip:

1. get clear on why you want to travel solo.

When it comes to how to start traveling alone, it really starts with mindset.

One of the main benefits of solo travel is having ultimate freedom over your itinerary. I recommend taking advantage of this aspect and really getting clear on why this solo trip is so important to you.

• What excites you about the idea of taking a trip by yourself?
• What prompted your desire to start traveling alone?
• When you visualize traveling on your own, what do you see?

In short, the best way to succeed at solo travel is to know what you want to get out of it in the first place and then plan your itinerary accordingly.

2. Set your solo travel expectations

Truth: the first few days of your solo trip will likely be hard. You’ll be diving into a completely new experience in an unfamiliar place, and you might feel lonely, homesick, and culture shock.

Also realize that as you begin exploring and immersing yourself in your destination, these feelings will subside. In fact, for many people they go away completely and turn into a love of traveling alone.

Once it really sinks in just how great traveling without needing to compromise is, your perspective can shift drastically.

And if it doesn’t and you truly hate solo traveling, know that you can always end your trip early and head back home.

3. Turn solo travel anxiety into excitement

Fun fact: fear and excitement are both arousal emotions — so when you’re feeling anxious, try to shift that toward exhilaration.

I’ve actually utilized this little mindset trick many times. Basically, if I’m feeling nervous I’ll actually visualize feeling excited — until I truly am!

4. Do your travel research

It can be fun to add a little spontaneity into your solo trip, but the best solo travel tip is to do your research and show up well-prepared so that you don’t miss anything you’re hoping to experience.

One personal travel research fail happened to me in Zadar, Croatia. I’d been really wanting to go to Plitvice Lakes National Park; however, as I was visiting during the off-season, the buses going there were way less frequent. In the end, the schedule didn’t align with my exact travel dates.

If I would have done my research, I could have easily figured this out. In fact, if I would arrived just one day earlier I would have been able to easily get there.

The worst part? The bus schedule was readily available online, but I just hadn’t bothered to look it up!

In short, knowing where you want to go and what you want to do, along with what areas you should avoid, will help make your trip enjoyable and memorable for the right reasons.

Now I may be biased, but in my opinion, one of the best ways to do research about your solo travel destination is to read blogs. These articles are typically written by people who have first-hand knowledge about the destination. You can even try reaching out to the blogger with any questions or concerns.

5. Be flexible

Curious how to enjoy a solo trip? The key is being flexible!

This is really true whether you’re traveling solo or in a group. Travel is not always the picture perfect experience Instagram leads you to believe.

There are missed trains, lost luggage, misplaced passports, and general mishaps that can pop up along the way.

But, it’s all part of the adventure.

If you avoid having a meltdown every time something doesn’t go according to plan, and instead see it as part of the solo travel experience, you’ll enjoy yourself a lot more.

Here’s an example:

While traveling solo in France on my way to Nice, the airline lost my luggage — for the entire time I was there!

And while I was frustrated, I decided that exploring and socializing in dirty jeans and an old t-shirt was better than holing up in my room and crying about something I couldn’t control.

I’m glad I did, because it ended up being a really memorable part of the trip. Not only that, but “Sorry for my appearance — the airline lost my luggage” is actually a great conversation starter among travelers, as everyone has their own version of that story to share.

6. Plan a (loose) solo travel itinerary

Now, this solo travel tip really depends on your travel style and the length of your trip. If you’ll be backpacking for a few weeks or months, I recommend booking the first few nights of your accommodation to give yourself time to settle in.

That being said, it’s smart to also leave some room to change up your plan.

When I backpacked Europe for three months , I pre-booked everything — which meant I couldn’t veer from the plan when I met fun people I may have wanted to travel with or when I learned about interesting new places I hadn’t heard of before.

Now, when I travel solo for longer periods of time, I leave room for adventure.

7. Research local customs & cultural norms

When traveling abroad alone (or in a group), it’s important to realize that not everywhere has the same norms as your home city.

Some of these differences may be small things that you’ll learn along the way, while others are vital to understand before your trip so that you don’t accidentally offend the locals.

One story that comes to mind is when I was volunteering in Thailand. The volunteers all stayed in a large dorm, and then there was a main house where we would eat and have meetings.

Before entering the house, you were supposed to take off your shoes outside and step over the threshold, not on it. Well, one volunteer missed the memo and stood on the doorframe — which deeply upset the locals running the program.

Why? Because in Thailand, it’s believed that a spirit resides here.

This is just one example of why doing this kind of cultural research is important.

8. Know how to stay safe

Building on the idea of doing research when going on a trip alone, you should also look up local scams and safety concerns to be aware of while traveling independently.

For instance, if visiting NYC solo you should be aware that there are unofficial cabs at the airport that will help you “skip the taxi line” by getting into their private black car — and then they’ll take the scenic route and you’ll end up with a hefty bill.

Being aware of these types of scams can help you stay safe and just have an overall better time taking a trip by yourself.

Additionally, I recommend packing a few travel safety essentials and keeping the usual practical safety tips in mind, like not walking alone at night and always keeping an eye on your drink if you’re at a bar.

If you’re a US citizen, it’s also wise to sign up for the free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program . This allows you to enroll your trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. When you do this, you’ll:

• Receive important information about safety conditions in your destination
• Make it easier for the embassy to contact you if there is an emergency like a natural disaster, civil unrest, or a family emergency
• Make it easier for loved ones to contact you if there is an emergency

9. Make an emergency booklet to stay safe

All of the important numbers we need on a day-to-day basis are stored in our phones, but what happens if you no longer have access?

It’s a little old school, but prior to your trip grab a small notebook from the dollar store and drop all of the important information you need in it. Go beyond the obvious emergency contacts and make sure you have:

• Your passport information
• Hotel name, number, and address
• Embassy and/or consulate address, phone number, and emergency contact
• Travel insurance policy number and contact information

Essentially write down anything you might need if you were in an emergency situation but couldn’t access your phone. Hopefully you won’t have to use it, but it could be a lifesaver if you do.

Personally, I also like to save a folder with this information, as well as copies of my passport, license, and credit cards, securely to the cloud. This way, even if I lose my phone, I can still access it from another device.

10. Read bad hotel reviews before booking accommodation

People tend to write reviews for two reasons: they had an awful time and want to make sure no one makes that mistake again, or they had an amazing time and want to spread the word. Rarely do they review about a mediocre time.

While standard solo travel advice tells you to pick somewhere with awesome reviews (you should!), also make sure you read the bad ones.

You want to overlook the personal bias and watch for consistency. If every review mentions bad WiFi and you need to get work done on your trip, you might want to skip that property.

Of course, also pay attention to any reviews that mention safety concerns. When it comes to solo traveling tips, nothing is more important than paying attention to personal safety. Nothing.

Oh, and bonus tip: it’s wise to opt for an accommodation near the city center so you can walk to as many attractions as possible to save on public transportation and taxi costs.

11. Schedule your flight to arrive during the day

One piece of advice for traveling solo is to schedule your flight so that you arrive when the sun is still shining.

You’ll feel a lot safer, especially if you’ll be taking public transportation to get to your accommodation.

Plus, it gives you some time to get acquainted with your destination and ease out of your comfort zone.

12. Get travel insurance

When it comes to solo travel tips, this is one of the most important. Travel insurance should be non-negotiable regardless of how you’re traveling so that you’re protected in case anything bad happens.

However, when you’re figuring out how to vacation alone, the travel insurance safety net is not only comforting but it can help you save money in the long run.

Just make sure you read the terms and conditions before choosing a plan, because some activities aren’t covered. For instance, many plans don’t cover extreme sports or activities that take place above a certain altitude.

Personally, my favorite travel and medical insurance is SafetyWing, as they’ve got a large network and offer both short-term and long-term coverage — including coverage if you’re traveling for months as well as limited coverage in your home country.

Additionally, SafetyWing is budget-friendly and offers $250,000 worth of coverage with just one low overall deductible of $250.

Click here to price out travel insurance for your trip in just a few clicks .

13. Download helpful solo travel apps

No guide sharing tips for traveling alone would be complete without mentioning apps. Tech can definitely be your friend during a lone travel experience. A few to download include:

• Google Maps – an invaluable app for getting around both at home and on the road
• CouchSurfing – this popular app for solo travelers allows you to stay on local couches for free and meetup with locals and other travelers in your destination
• HerHouse – this platform makes it easy for women traveling alone to connect with background checked female hosts for free homestays, house sits, and house swaps
• Meetup – meet people who share your common interests in your solo travel destination
• Facebook – join Facebook groups focused on the destination you’re visiting and see if people want to meet up
• SoloTrvlr – an online platform with trusted travel advice — by women, for women
• TripIt – keep your travel itinerary organized in one place
• Emergency App – one of my favorite travel safety apps
• Currency – quickly and easily convert local currency so you know how much you’re paying in your home currency
• Uber (or the local equivalent) – it’s smart to download a ridesharing app, especially since in some countries hailing a taxi off the street isn’t considered safe

One quick note of caution when meeting people in real life: while most people will have good intentions, there may be times where people try to turn your meetup into a date. I’ve had this happen a few times, though fortunately I’ve never felt unsafe.

My solo travel advice here would be to always meet in a public place and, if possible, make it a group outing. You might also mention that you have a partner back home — even if you don’t — in an attempt to weed out anyone trying to make things romantic (though of course some still might).

By the way, I actually have a crazy CouchSurfing story. Don’t worry, it ended up being totally fine and I’m a huge fan of this app:

14. Learn a few words in the local language

Language learning doesn’t come easy to everyone, but it does help to learn a few words in the local language .

Sure, you’ll pick up a few things as you go along; but, learning simple phrases can get you a lot further.

Some you might want to practice up on include:

• Where is the bathroom?
• How much does this cost?
• No — this is an important phrase for solo travelers, particularly when it comes to personal safety

Of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg — the more you know, the better.

Some great advice for solo travelers is to download Google Translate and a language pack, which allows you to use the app offline. Additionally, install a fun gamified language learning app, like Duolingo!

15. Plan for you

The only thing you really need to take away from any travel alone guide is that the experience is all about you.

You don’t have to get the prettiest pictures, have the best travel stories , and do what everyone else does. Your goal is to do and see the things that you want to.

If that means visiting the same museum three days in a row because you couldn’t get enough, eating at the same restaurant the entire trip, or skipping the Eiffel Tower because you’re not into touristy things — do it. It’s all fair game.

Basically, don’t feel like you have to conform to what everyone on Instagram is saying. It’s your trip, enjoy it however you choose.

16. Pack light but smart

You only want to pack what you’re going to use. It can be challenging to determine this on your first solo trip, but you want to minimize your packing list as much as possible.

Nothing sours a trip faster than losing your checked bag before you even get there — so if you can pack carry-on only , it’s a great advantage. This is especially true if you are destination hopping or if your flight has stopovers.

A few tips for solo travelers:

• Opt for garments that can be used for multiple purposes (like a large scarf shawl that can also be an airplane blanket or hidden pocket garments that function as clothing and a purse)
• Choose a color palette for garments that you can mix and match
• Opt for function over fashion — unless you’re traveling for a specific high-class event, you don’t need heels
• Use compression packing cubes to save space (I love these from Cambond )
• Only bring one week of clothes and do laundry if going on a longer trip

Even if you can’t narrow it down, make sure your baggage isn’t weighed down by unnecessary items and definitely leave your valuables at home. It’s just one less thing to worry about.

17. Bring a book along

Introverted? One of the best solo travel tips for introverts (and extroverts) is to bring a book along with you. 

A book can be the best companion, especially when dining alone or as a distraction if it’s your first time flying alone .

Popping open a book on the table and enjoying a solo meal is one of the pleasures of taking a trip alone that everyone should experience. It’s useful for when you’re waiting, eating, or otherwise have a little time to kill.

It can also indicate to other travelers that you’re alone and make for a great conversation starter.

Essential Tips For Traveling On Your Own During The Trip

18. ask your hotel for a few safety essentials.

These include:

• The hotel’s business card (or a piece of paper with the name and address)
• An annotated map letting you know where is and isn’t safe to wander alone

Even if you know the name of your hotel, that doesn’t mean the local taxi drivers do. In case you’re ever in a situation where you need to get away, it’s smart to have the address of your accommodation written down somewhere to quickly give to a driver in the event of an emergency.

Additionally, an annotated map is a great reference so you’re always clear on where and where not to go solo.

19. Share plans with a loved one

One of the most basic traveling alone tips is to make sure you share your plans with your loved ones. It’s important that someone knows where you are — even if that someone is back home.

Additionally, make sure you have an emergency plan in place. Your safety is important.

While traveling by yourself is an amazing experience, you want to make sure you can easily contact your loved ones if something unexpected occurs.

20. Start your day early

In most cases, you’ll find the smallest crowds and best chances for photo opportunities earlier in the day — think before anyone’s finished their breakfast.

This also tends to be the coolest time of the day to safely travel around. Try to stay inside or in the shade during peek sun hours if you’re traveling to a warmer destination, and don’t travel alone at night.

21. Bring the perfect solo selfie camera

One downside of traveling on your own is it’s tough to take your own photo — though it’s not impossible!

A few options for solo travelers include:

• Bring a small travel tripod ( like this ) and put your phone on a timer
• Bring a small but heavy duty travel tripod, like a Joby GorillaPod , and put your camera on a timer
• Bring an Insta360 camera with invisible selfie stick

The latter is how I capture fun travel photos with myself in the picture — even if I’m solo tripping.

Here is a sample video and here is an example of a photo:

22. Learn how to cook the local cuisine

When researching local things to do when traveling alone, make sure that some of the experiences revolve around food. One of the best souvenirs you can give yourself from a trip is the gift of local cuisine.

Cooking classes offer a great opportunity to learn how to make something new, meet the locals, and take something back home with you. You can use your new-found skills to share your experience with family, ignite special memories, and enjoy a delicious meal. Plus, the more you practice, the better you’ll get!

One platform to check out for food experiences while vacationing alone is EatWith , which allows you to dine in local homes, take cooking classes in local kitchens, and book food tours led by locals around the world. It’s a really great way to meet people and other solo travelers, too.

Of course, you can also dive into other facets of local culture when on a trip alone. Consider your own unique interests, and explore them locally.

For instance, if you’re interested in art, you might take a fresco-making class in Florence , a calligraphy class in China , or an Ikebana (flower arranging) class in Japan .

23. Make a solo travel scavenger hunt of it

Here is a creative addition to our list of tips when traveling alone. Building a scavenger hunt can be a great way to give you direction, even if you’re feeling a little lost.

There’s no right or wrong way to do this, but a few ideas for solo travelers include:

• Trying to check off all the best bookstores in the city if you’re a bibliophile
• Making a unique souvenir list and trying to hunt everything down
• Becoming the ultimate foodie by sampling all the top restaurants in the area
• Aiming to spend time alone on the beach in as many places as possible
• Booking an actual scavenger hunt in your destination on a platform like Viator

It’s a great way to edge yourself out of your comfort zone without jumping into the deep end. And who doesn’t love a little competition — even if it is against yourself?

24. Make friends while traveling solo

There’s no one right answer for how to solo travel, but I can tell you that going on holiday alone doesn’t need to mean  being lonely . In fact, for those that love to meet new people, there are ways to do this while traveling alone.

You can encourage yourself to meet people, including other solo travelers, by:

• Keep in mind, many hostels have private rooms, so if you’re hosteling later in life you can still keep your privacy and take advantage of common spaces for socializing
• Joining a local walking tour and chatting with those around you
• Checking out popular local digital nomad hangouts
• Using travel apps meant for socializing — like CouchSurfing , which has city-specific forums where you can meet up with locals and other travelers
• Eating and cooking in local homes through EatWith
• Meeting locals that share similar interests on Meetup.com

A quick story:

When spending my 25th birthday in Mendoza while traveling solo , I was worried I’d end up alone for the night; however, after posting a message on CouchSurfing asking if anyone wanted to celebrate with me, I ended up having 11 people take me out for dinner and dancing.

These complete strangers turned into friends, and to this day it is one of my favorite birthday experiences!

25. Watch your drinking

Speaking of nights out, one of the best solo trip tips is to curb your alcohol use.

As mentioned a few times in the previous travel alone tips, personal safety should be of utmost importance for solo travelers. You want to make sure you’re never in a position where someone can easily take advantage of you.

When you do opt for an adult beverage, watch it carefully and cover the top of the glass with your hand so that nobody can lace it when you’re not looking.

This solo travel advice isn’t meant to scare you. Almost everyone you meet while traveling on your own while likely be kind; however, the reality is you can’t trust everyone. Keep yourself safe.

26. Get a local SIM card

Unless you purchase an unlimited plan for your phone carrier, using the internet while roaming can be extremely expensive.

That’s where a local SIM card comes in. One of the best tips for solo travel is to ensure you have phone access in an emergency situation or when you need directions. I can’t tell you how many tours I’ve almost been late to because I couldn’t find the meeting point without the help of Google Maps.

Many countries have inexpensive SIM cards and budget-friendly pay-as-you-go plans. You can usually grab these at the airport or local convenience store and set them up with Wi-Fi.

27. Choose alternative meal times

Now let’s discuss solo travel tips for dining alone. One thing to note is that the best restaurants are often booked up around traditional meal times.

Instead of a nice evening dinner, try a lunch or even brunch — which allows you to savor the same food with less of a crowd.

Just keep in mind that typical mealtimes may be different than your home country, so research the local customs so you’re aware of when people tend to eat.

28. Sit at the bar when dining alone

When you go on vacation alone, one concern might be what to do during meal times. Is it weird for solo travelers to eat at a restaurant on their own?

First off, no, it’s not weird. I’ve eaten at tables on my own plenty of times, though I do think it’s less awkward to eat at the bar.

Bonus: if you’re in the mood to chat, you’ll have the bartender and potentially other bar patrons to talk to.

29. Focus on supporting local

Sustainable tourism refers to traveling in a way that positively impacts the people and environments of the places we visit — which also includes supporting the local economy.

And one of the best ways to do this is to shop local. The more you can purchase souvenirs, food, and experiences from local vendors, the more likely your tourism dollars are to stay in and benefit the community.

Plus, items are often much more meaningful when you can meet the people making them and learn their stories.

30. Listen to your gut

When traveling the world alone, realize that your gut will be your best guide.

Your intuition is almost always right. This is especially important in situations where you feel uncomfortable. Even if it means being impolite, always trust that feeling in your gut.

31. Strengthen your relationship with yourself

Traveling solo to find yourself is very common. This makes total sense, as one major benefit of traveling alone is you learn to be with yourself — and enjoy your own company.

Get to know yourself better, allow time for self care, and slow down to just enjoy the moment as much as possible.

This is also a great time to bring a travel journal to really dig into your thoughts and feelings from the trip. Very likely, you’ll learn something new about yourself!

Packing Essentials For Solo Travel

Now that we’ve covered some top tips to travel alone, it’s time to discuss packing.

Along with any clothing, accessories, and toiletries you’ll want for your holiday by yourself, you should also pack a few travel safety essentials and practical items for solo travelers like:

• She’s Birdie Personal Safety Alarm
• Your personal medications
• Jase Case Emergency Antibiotic Kit (snag $10 off with code JESSIEONAJOURNEY10)
• Clever Travel Companion Pickpocket-Proof Garments (I’m never without mine when I travel alone!)
• Speakeasy Travel Supply Pickpocket-Proof Scarf ​​
• Pacsafe Anti-Theft Bag
• Door stop with alarm (to help keep your hotel room extra secure)
• Sunscreen and sunglasses (I love Rheos Sunglasses as they’re eco-friendly, lightweight, and they float)
• Passport, ID, and any necessary tickets
• Copies of all your documents (I save these to the cloud in case)
• Credit card, debit card, and money

Best Solo Trips For Women

If you’re wondering “Where should I travel alone?” this list can help! A few of the best solo travel destinations include:

Merida, Mexico

Mexico has a reputation as being an unsafe destination, but that’s not an accurate picture. In fact, there are many great places in Mexico to travel alone — like Merida.

Merida is the bustling capital city of Yucatan state, and is widely considered to be one of the safest cities in Mexico.

It’s an affordable destination that offers you the hustle and bustle of the city as well as an idyllic Mexican beach experience in nearby Progreso.

If you’re solo traveling as a digital nomad , Merida is home to a thriving community of expats living and working abroad and there are plenty of ways to make friends. 

Dublin, Ireland

Solo travel in Ireland can be an incredible experience, and no trip to this island would be complete without some time in Dublin.

Home to friendly locals and a gorgeous cityscape, it’s an ideal destination — especially as Dublin boasts a plethora of cultural and historical sites for solo female travelers to explore.

On a solo trip to Dublin , make sure to visit Dublin Castle, shop along Grafton street, and peruse art, history, and archeology in the National Museum of Ireland.

This city is particularly known for its pub life, so you can expect a lively scene after dark, especially in the famous Temple Bar District.

In terms of timing, there is a lot to do and see, so it’s recommended to spend 4 days in Dublin or more to really take it all in.

Don’t forget to bring your camera since Dublin offers a lot of photo opportunities. It’s truly one of the most memorable places to travel solo in Europe !

Victoria, Canada

Canada has a lot of beautiful places to explore as a solo female traveler, depending on the time of year you visit; but if Pacific island life piques your interest, Victoria is the place.

You’ll want to visit in the spring or summer to take advantage of the gorgeous greenery and warmer weather.

There are many fun and unique things to do in Victoria . Stroll through the gardens at Hatley Castle, watch the boats come in from the wharf, and grab a delicious seaside bite to eat.

When you’re done, you can take a ferry ride to Seattle or Vancouver!

Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto is considered to be the cultural capital of Japan , offering a little bit of everything for the female traveling solo.

Not only does it offer gorgeous gardens, delicious food, and rich cultural experiences, but you can take a peek at some truly amazing Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines.

Take in the jaw-dropping architecture and bask in the lush greenery and wonderful mountain backdrops.

March and April are especially beautiful months to visit as the city’s stunning cherry blossom trees are in full bloom.

Bali, Indonesia

Traveling solo in Bali is a dream. One of the world’s most sought-after destinations, it’s also affordable, safe, and fun.

There is so much to do and see for solo female travelers. Relax in a Bali flower bath , explore the stunning rice fields, relax on beautiful beaches, and visit the many temples that help give the destination its nickname “Island of the Gods.”

If you have at least 7 days in Bali , you might also choose to hire a guide to do an epic sunrise hike like Mount Batur or Mount Agung.

Quick tip: if visiting this incredible place, do a bit of research into when to go to Bali . For instance, if you’ll be doing a lot of outdoor activities or riding a motorbike to get around, you may want to avoid the rainy season.

Other Top Solo Travel Destinations

A few other great places to visit on your first solo trip abroad include:

• Tulum, Mexico
• Istanbul, Turkey
• Copenhagen, Denmark
• Rome, Italy
• Vienna, Austria
• Prague, Czech Republic
• Guadeloupe, Caribbean

You can check out this solo female travel guide for a full list of recommended solo trips and tips.

Solo Travel Planning Resources

While the above tips for traveling solo are a great starting point, here are some bonus solo travel guides:

• 7 Ways To Have A Blast Traveling Alone
• 13 Powerful Solo Hiking Tips For Women
• 17 Safety Tips For Solo Travelers
• 25 Important Tips For Flying Alone For The First Time
• 12 Tips For Convincing Loved Ones To Let You Travel Solo
• 20 Pros & Cons Of Traveling Alone
• How To Overcome Loneliness When Traveling Solo

You can find additional resources in this in-depth guide to traveling solo . Read it, and soon enough you’ll be a pro at taking trips alone!

Final Thoughts On How To Travel Solo Successfully

The most important piece of advice in any guide to solo travel is that you plan the vacation YOU want, and feel comfortable and confident along your journey.

Learning how to enjoy going on a vacation alone might come quickly, or it might take a few days. There’s no right or wrong answer.

Whether you’re pushing through a series of solo USA road trips or flying across the world, making sure you plan ahead and go at your own pace will ensure you have the best experience. When it comes to tips on traveling alone, this is the most important one to remember.

What would you add to this guide on how to travel solo successfully?

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Single Travel: Essential Tips for Planning a Solo Trip

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We are the editors of SmarterTravel! Together we have appeared in countless travel publications including ABC News, Huffington Post, Travel + Leisure, USA Today, and more. We dedicate our days to creating and producing expert travel content, including packing tips, general travel advice, destination inspiration, and helpful videos. Follow us across social media on YouTube , Pinterest , Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter or drop us a line to say hi at [email protected]!

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People who have never traveled alone often describe their first solo trip as an almost religious experience. To take in new surroundings unfiltered by the prejudices, tastes, or preferences of a traveling companion can be heady stuff. Solo travel gives you the chance to indulge yourself fully.

Of course, traveling alone has its perils too—such as safety concerns, loneliness, and the dreaded single supplement. But a little preparation and common sense can save you money and get you through the rough spots.

Why Travel Alone?

How to travel alone safely, how to travel alone as a woman, avoiding the single supplement, tips for solo dining.

• When You’ve Had Enough of Solo Travel

The Best Solo Travel Websites

Solo travel can be the ultimate in self-indulgence; you can rest when you want and pour it on when you’re feeling ambitious. Another benefit is that your mistakes are your own, and your triumphs all the more exciting. There’s no worrying that your insistence on trekking all the way across town to a museum that was closed ruined your partner’s day; it’s your own day to salvage or chalk up to a learning experience.

Also, you can do exactly what you want to do—all the time. Always wanted to try surfing? Sign up for a class and go for it; there’s no one sitting on the beach feeling bored while you have the time of your life. Have no desire to see Niagara Falls? Just drive right by. For more benefits of solo travel, see 11 Reasons Why You Should Travel Alone at Least Once .

The 13 Best Places to Travel Alone

It’s perhaps the foremost question of the solo or single traveler: “Is solo travel safe?” Without a companion to watch your back, you are more vulnerable to criminals and scam artists, as well as simple health worries. But the saying “safety in numbers” isn’t always true—a solo traveler can blend in more easily than a group, and not drawing attention to yourself as a tourist is one way to stay secure.

Here are a few safety tips for traveling alone:

Do your homework before you arrive. Know how long it takes and how much it costs to get from the airport to your hotel or to the city center. Solo travelers are more likely to be “taken for a ride,” so ask the taxi driver for an estimated fare before you leave. If it’s considerably different from what you know to be true, take a different cab (or opt for a rideshare instead).

Choose the right accommodations. Book a hotel with a 24-hour front desk if you’ll be arriving late, so you don’t end up sleeping in your car or worse.

Trust yourself. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it.

Carry good identification —in more than one place. If you choose to wear a money belt , use it for storage and not as a purse. Constantly reaching under your shirt for money draws attention to it and defeats the purpose. Instead, keep your passport, extra stores of money, and other important documents tucked away, and use a theft-resistant bag or purse for carrying daily spending money.

Stick to open and public places , especially at night.

Exude confidence. Whether you’re on a street at home or 7,000 miles away, walking confidently and with direction is an effective technique for deterring unwanted attention, since appearing lost or confused can make you vulnerable. If you are lost, walk into a shop or restaurant and ask for directions there.

Avoid appearing like a tourist. Ditch the Disney T-shirt and don’t walk around with your face in a guidebook. (See 10 Things Not to Wear Abroad for more thoughts on this one.)

Leave valuables at home. Don’t draw attention to yourself by wearing flashy clothes or jewelry.

Lie a little. When asking for directions, don’t let on that you are alone: “Can you direct me to the museum? I have to meet a friend.”

Check your maps and transportation schedules before leaving your hotel/train/rental car/tourist office. A solo traveler who’s too absorbed in their phone can be a mark for unsavory types.

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.

Register with the State Department. For U.S. citizens traveling internationally, consider signing up for the free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) , which could help the State Department assist you in case of emergency. If you’re from outside the States, see if your home country has a similar program.

Arrive during the day. Areas around bus and train stations can be scary and/or deserted, and small towns tend to shut down early. Veteran solo traveler Mara Rothman of San Francisco notes that plenty of beautiful towns can appear eerie at night, and locals who are genuinely trying to help you can appear unnecessarily threatening. Arriving during the day means you’ll be able to find a place to stay and get your bearings before dark.

Trust everyone and no one. One of the best reasons to travel alone is to meet new people, but this also makes you more vulnerable. It’s okay to hang out, travel, and share with new friends, but you might not want to ask them to hold your money. Scam artists can often be the most charming companions you’ll find; you want to be open-minded, but keep your guard up enough to ensure your safety.

10 Travel Safety Mishaps (and How to Avoid Them)

Though some tips apply to just about every solo traveler, women traveling alone have their own set of safety concerns that most men don’t have to face. Here are a few tips to help you protect yourself.

Exercise hotel safety. At check-in, consider asking for a room near the elevator so you won’t need to walk down long, potentially ill-lit hallways to reach your room. When filling out guest registration forms, consider using your first initial instead of your name, and skip the “Mrs./Miss/Mr.” check box. Additionally, make sure the clerk writes down your room number instead of saying it out loud. This will prevent anyone in the vicinity from knowing where to find you later. Consider packing a door stop to wedge under the door in case the lock is unreliable.

Dress to blend in. To avoid attracting unwanted attention, dress as conservatively as the women you see around you. This doesn’t necessarily mean donning the traditional dress, but a good rule of thumb is to dress modestly. Think knee-length or longer skirts. Bare arms, shoulders, and legs are considered risqué in some countries, so do the research before you go and once you’re there. Note which body parts the local women cover and do the same.

Know when to buddy up. Seeking out company can help you have a safer and more enjoyable experience. Smaller hotels and hostels are great places to find like-minded travelers to explore new places with. And even when you can’t find someone to buddy up with, there are often ways to associate yourself with others so you’ll be less likely to be bothered. In some countries, there are women-only sections in trains and women’s waiting rooms at train stations. Sticking close to families on public transportation and in unfamiliar public markets is another technique some women use.

Combat harassment. Having a repertoire of harassment deterrents can be as important to women travelers as a sturdy pair of shoes and a passport. Not engaging with people who are bothering you can make you a less interesting target. If you want to avoid being approached during lulls in activity, such as while waiting for a train, carry a novel or keep your eyes on your phone to make yourself look busy and involved.

If a situation of harassment escalates, making a scene can sometimes be effective. Many societies place a high premium on respecting social norms, so drawing attention to harassment in a loud and clear manner may solve the problem. The sentence for “leave me alone” is a handy one to learn in the language of your destination.

What is the Safest Hotel Floor to Stay On?

Frequent solo travelers are all too familiar with the single supplement, which tour operators and cruise lines often tack onto your bill to make up for the fact that they’re not making money off a second occupant. The supplement can range anywhere from 25 to 100 percent of the trip cost, meaning that you could end up paying twice as much as someone traveling with a partner.

There are several ways to get around the single supplement. You can avoid it altogether by booking with a tour operator that doesn’t charge single supplements on most trips, such as Overseas Adventure Travel .

Many other tour operators, including G Adventures , Intrepid Travel , Exodus Travels , REI Adventures , Adventure Women , and Road Scholar , offer roommate matching. By finding you a roommate, the company maximizes its own profit off each room and saves you the single supplement. The catch is, of course, that you’ll have to share a room with a stranger. If you’re concerned, contact the tour operator and see what kind of procedures it uses to match roommates. Some pair people off at random, while others will try to put travelers of similar ages together.

Several cruise lines offer single staterooms on select ships, including Royal Caribbean , Norwegian Cruise Line , Cunard , and P&O Cruises .

You can sometimes save money by booking at the last minute. Tour operators eager to sell out their last few places may be willing to reduce their usual single supplement. Insight Vacations and Road Scholar are two companies that regularly discount or waive single supplements.

It’s not for everyone, but you may also want to consider staying in a hostel, which charges per bed rather than per room. Hostelling International properties tend to be reliably clean and secure, and they’re open to travelers of all ages. You can find more hostels and read reviews at HostelWorld.com .

3 Ways for Solo Travelers to Avoid Single Supplements

Eating alone isn’t so bad. Many solo travelers (and frequent business travelers) hate dining by themselves, worried that they appear like some worn-out Willy Loman of the road. There’s even a name for it: solomangarephobia. (Occasionally the fear is justified—see Terror at the Table for One .) The following tips can help you overcome what for many travelers is the most unpleasant aspect of going it alone.

Chat with the service people. Waiters and waitresses are some of the best local color you’ll find.

Choose the right eatery. Cafe or outdoor dining is often attractive to single travelers; sitting alone with a book in a cafe isn’t as unusual as a table for one at a fancy restaurant. You can also opt for a counter seat or a seat at the bar. A restaurant booth can also provide some privacy.

Bring reading material. If you start to feel uneasy sitting alone and staring down at your food, you can crack open a book, whip out your phone, or read a magazine.

Eat in. If you don’t want to endure yet another public meal alone, use room service or order carry-out from a restaurant nearby.

Eat well. Just because you’re alone doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take time for sit-down meals, a leisurely cup of coffee, or a decadent dessert.

When You’ve Had Enough of Single Travel

The constant sensory input and vigilance of traveling alone can wear you down. If you feel your attention or your body flagging, don’t be afraid to back off your ambitious itinerary, slow the pace, and kick back for a bit.

When traveling abroad, seek out an expat bar—locals will often know where these are—where you can hang out and speak your native tongue with some fellow expatriates and travelers. When traveling in more familiar locales, a hot shower and a night in front of the tube in a nice hotel room can often give you enough of a reprieve to send you out eagerly the next morning.

How to Meet Other People When You’re Traveling Solo

Best Single Travel offers vacations, cruises, and weekend getaways for solo travelers of all ages.

Flash Pack leads small-group trips of single travelers in their 30s and 40s.

GAFFL , which stands for “Get a Friend for Life,” lets you find travel buddies to meet up with in your destination.

Intrepid Travel has dedicated solo trips as well as a roommate-matching program on the rest of its offerings, so you never have to pay a solo supplement if you don’t want to.

One Traveller is a U.K.-based company leading trips for the “mature single traveller” (aged 50+) to destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

Singles Travel International offers trips for solo travelers with an average age 50+. If the company can’t find you a roommate by the time you make your final payment, you can have a room to yourself for free.

Solos is a U.K.-based company offering a wide variety of solo-only trips around the globe.

Solo Traveler offers tips, resources, and destination guides for solo travelers.

Women on the Road offers tips and advice for women traveling alone.

Women Traveling Together is for women travelers, most of them age 50+ and unaccompanied, who prefer to be with a group of like-minded women. The company offers tours, retreats, and other getaways, complete with roommate matching.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2017. It has been updated to reflect the most current information. Sarah Schlichter and Christine Sarkis contributed to this story. All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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15 Travel Vlogging Tips for Beginners (from a SOLO FEMALE Travel Vlogger)

Last Updated on January 8, 2024 by Christine Kaaloa

This post may contain affiliate links. I never leave home without travel insurance. Here’s an tirip insurance finder tool  to find one that matches your budget. I use World Nomads as it covers adventures . I also get the plan that covers gear and travel theft. 

Being a  solo female travel vlogger on YouTube and freelance camera operator, I love shooting stories in exotic and new destinations both, at home and abroad.  The one important rule to acknowledge with travel is that there is no do-over once you leave a destination. You need to get your shots and shot list checklist complete so you can tell the story. Thus, being thoughtfully prepared and packed for my shoot is most important to me. I’m sharing travel vlogging tips to prepare you for shooting a destination .

Read Benefits of Travel Vlogging on YouTube

Table of Contents: 15 Travel Vlogging Tips for Beginners (from a SOLO FEMALE Travel Vlogger)

• 0.1 Travel Vlogging for Beginners: Is travel vlogging for women different from men?
• 1.0.1 1. Never pack your main camera gear in your checked luggage
• 1.0.2 2. Decide on the right gear to pack and which to leave behind
• 1.0.3 3. A wide-angle lens is a must for making travel videos.
• 1.0.4 4. Keep travel camera backpacks compact
• 1.0.5 5. Are you planning vacation or a film shoot?
• 1.0.6 6. Choose the right travel camera bag for solo travel
• 1.0.7 7. Do not assume you can “buy replacement gear” when you arrive.
• 1.0.8 8. Invest in an SSD
• 1.0.9 9. Capturing the details is key to a good story.
• 1.0.10 10. Ask permission to shoot locals
• 1.0.11 11. Prepare for all outcomes
• 1.0.12 12. Prepare for the weather
• 1.0.13 13. Insure your camera gear
• 1.0.14 14. Remember to wipe your lens
• 1.0.15 15. Check camera settings
• 1.0.16 Conclusion
• 1.0.17 What recommendations would you add to this guide on Travel Vlogging tips for beginners and how to start a travel vlog?

Travel Vlogging for Beginners: Is travel vlogging for women different from men?

Being a solo female travel vlogger brings unique challenges compared to male counterparts, even though our camera gear and YouTube styles may be similar. I strive to be authentic with my audience, but sometimes, I hesitate to share my struggles as a woman in a male-dominated industry, fearing I might be perceived as “whiny.” However, being a female vlogger on a solo travel journey presents distinct hurdles.

Safety is a top concern. Navigating unfamiliar territories while being a female traveler demands constant vigilance, especially in societies with traditional gender norms. Cultural differences and societal/dress codes can make it more challenging for me to blend in and stay safe. Additionally, carrying my gear around adds a physical and emotional burden, and dealing with touts and travel scams can feel overwhelming.

Read How to make travel videos for youtube

Each new destination requires me to adapt to a unique set of rules and customs while ensuring my storytelling remains informative for my travel audience. Speaking to my camera in public spaces can attract unwanted attention, leaving me feeling nervous and self-conscious.

Despite these challenges, I’m determined to overcome them and share my amazing experiences with the world. As a travel vlogger, I believe in inspiring other women to embark on their own solo adventures and break through the barriers. Here are some tips that have helped me along the way:

See my conference slides on How to Make Money with YouTube

15 travel vlogging tips for beginners, 1. never pack your main camera gear in your checked luggage.

A rule of thumb is that you never want to separate yourself from your main camera gear because it is both, essential to your film trip and valuable. Your flight can get delayed or your luggage can get tossed, lost or stolen.

So what can you pack in checked luggage?

• Cables, adapters and backup chargers (I always keep one for my main gear bag in case luggage gets lost and I have to charge things).
• Pocket light panels, gorilla pod, tripods and selfie sticks.
• If I pack valuable gear I’ll pack a short lens and wrap it up in my clothes or tuck it away in a shoe or cup.

Avoid packing camera and external batteries. You may carry a lot of batteries like me, but it’s against airlines regulations. I like to pack my accessories in my luggage (although I take mostly carry-on luggage so i’m never far from my gear period).

See my packing list for travel vlogging

2. decide on the right gear to pack and which to leave behind.

When you travel and film, you need to choose the right gear to bring with you, because you’re carrying it for the entire day. It’s like a marriage that has to last for the day.  Pack the wrong stuff – underestimate your shooting needs or the weather– and you’re kicking yourself for hours.

Think about the shots and content you want to capture first and then the weather. Then plan your packing around it.

I know photo journalists who carry two DSLRs, so they do not have to switch out lenses when they shoot for an event or red carpet. But solo travel run and gunning is a beast when you’re sightseeing, walking crowded markets and doing outdoor activities like hiking. It also takes mental preparation when your day spans into a long day of navigating public transportation, taking Uber or rickshaws and getting lost on foot!

Your camera backpack weight, the miles you’re walking, the obstacles of filming the shots you want and the climate…  they all add to the challenge.

• Leave some gear at your hotel or home. Although I pack gear for my trip, I also repack my gear for the day’s itinerary and shooting needs.
• For hiking, landscapes, I leave my heavy 70-300mm zoom lens at home and use my everyday cameras: GoPro , vlog camera and/or mini DSLR .
• For food content, I pack my vlog camera and/or mini DSLR with my camera shotgun mic.
• If filming a safari or street crowds, I’ll pack my zoom lens.
• For travel portrait days (I don’t really do portraits), I might bring a 50mm lens.

3. A wide-angle lens is a must for making travel videos.

A wide-angle lens is a must of travel content creators; you’ll be glad when you make that investment. Other camera lenses will not be able to capture the landscape as you experience it and even your wide lens will not capture the epic greatness you experience.

I’m typically the type of film coach, who advises that it doesn’t matter what gear/brand you get, but this is one piece of glass you will find the most use with.

The 11-24mm ultra wide angle lens offers stellar, high-quality performance and is great for architecture, landscape and weddings. The con is that it can be pricy and a bit more on the heavy side. It is a solidly built camera lens with heavy glass.

These two wide-angle lenses are the best bet to capture your landscape before the image begins to distort.

4. Keep travel camera backpacks compact

When you solo travel, you carry your all your camera gear and luggage with you. You want to have a light and maneuverable equipment backpack , as you’ll be wearing the weight on your shoulders and back within the course of your travel-film days. Check out my camera backpack (I absolutely love it for solo filming)

• Avoid large camera backpacks. I’ve had to fit my camera gear on anything from train lockers, plane cabins to maneuvering small and crowded buses in developing countries. Large backpacks also tempt you to want to pack more than you need.
• Adaptability. You want to comfortably transport your valuable gear on flights (laptop included, if you take one). But you also want to be able to downsize and strip down to the travel-film essential you need, during long haul sightseeing days when you spend a lot of time on your feet.

Being light and nimble helps you move quickly and fit into tight spaces.

See top carryon convertible luggage for solo travelers

5. are you planning vacation or a film shoot.

If your goal is to grow a successful YouTube channel, then plan your trips around your film shoot ideas. Each day is an expense, when I’m traveling a destination and even my sponsored stays come with a time limit.

I am IN for the shoot; OUT when I’ve collected the stories/videos I came for. It’s what is in my film budget. There are times that I certainly want to stay longer, but my time is often shared with freelance videography work at home that offers paying clients vs the passive income that blogging/vlogging brings and must be earned by investing time, energy and money into content.  Generally, it’s hard to take a vacation when your job is to film your “vacation”. I can only truly turn off my camera when I’ve reached home.

Being a solo female travel vlogger involves juggling two distinct aspects: the basic travel budget and logistics, and the filmmaking and content planning. It’s a challenging, rigorous but rewarding journey that requires preparation and adaptability.

• On the solo travel front, I meticulously research and plan my trip, trip dates, prices, considering factors like budget-friendly accommodations, transportation options, and personal safety as a female traveler . Dealing with language barriers, managing equipment gear, and navigating unfamiliar situations  … it all happens here . I need to know where I’m going, who I’m meeting and by what mode of transportation I’m using (i.e. bus, overnight train, ride share, rickshaw, etc..). I have to be prepared for every situational variable that’s thrown at me and if I’ve never experienced it, then whoa , there’s always a first time!  How to use a bathroom that’s got a squat toilet, in a stall with no luggage hook and with all your gear on you and luggage with you… that’s a learned female solo travel vlogger skill!
• As a travel vlogger, I dedicate time to plan my film shoots and create content. Researching filming locations, potential story angles, and researching and connecting to sponsors is crucial. Reaching out to sponsors takes much behind-the-scenes work, but it can help travel-to-film expenses be more manageable, unless my YouTube income covers that additional expense or I can upsell a stay into a paid freelance project! (And when I get home to edit all this footage and post social media posts, budget has to be factored in as well!)
• Taxes: I consider expenses associated with video creation, like flights, transportation, meals, activities, guides/fixers, Uber, food haul expenses and visa fees, which can be claimed as Costs of Goods Sold when I earn YouTube income.
• Being responsible for my content, including correctly pronouncing foreign words, is essential, even though mistakes can happen and jerks leave you a stinky comment about how I should know how to speak their language.

Balancing both aspects during a trip can be taxing, especially when facing physical fatigue and challenging weather conditions. Something as small as your ponytail getting caught under your camera backpack strap can be the last straw! Despite the difficulties, proper planning and finding support make traveling and filming more manageable and enjoyable.

Want to monetize your YouTube channel faster? Nab my book bundle on How to Make Money Blogging & Vlogging

6. choose the right travel camera bag for solo travel.

One of the most vital things about choosing the right travel camera backpack is functionality. It needs to be easy to access so you can remove your camera and start shooting immediately. You want your gear to be organized, easily accessible for breaking action. You also need to be protective of your gear and protected from pickpockets… Yes, it can be stressful if you’re a woman traveling alone carrying visibly expensive gear that needs to come out for you to do your job.

You want to think of your backpack in terms of how you’ll maneuver a crowded train in Japan, dirty back alley streets of Varanasi or on a city walking tour, where you’re in a group that has to keep moving.

Photographer’s bag cases that you have to lay on the ground to remove your camera are not practical. Avoid them, unless you specialize in cinematography .  Cinematographers will create more time in a place just to film it properly. Otherwise, some locations won’t afford you the space or privacy to open and expose your equipment. Tip: I’m in love with the Manfrotto NX CSC Camera Backpack. It’s compact, keeps everything organized with top and back loading entrances to the bag. ( check out my review )

7. Do not assume you can “buy replacement gear” when you arrive.

Before traveling, ensure your travel vlogging equipment kit checklist includes backup batteries and charging cables. Some countries may lack Apple stores or offer electronics at higher prices in airports. Moreover, be mindful of varying plug types in different countries. For instance, when I purchased a Mac laptop in Hong Kong at an Apple store, it did not occur to me that it would come with a  Hong Kong plug adapter , which required a specific plug adapter for use in the U.S.

Tip: B&H Photography delivers internationally , so if you need to replace a piece of gear, you may consider this option.  Amazon may also be an option if you are staying at a hotel for a set number of days.  Keep in mind, you may need to open an Amazon account in the country that you’re sending to and their international partners are limited! Amazon operates in over 20 countries, such as: United States, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Turkey, India, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Singapore, Mexico, and Brazil . Here’s their international shipping policies.

Download my camera equipment buying gear list It’s a little dated but it’s still helpful, as I share reasons behind what I buy.

8. invest in an ssd.

Anything can happen on the road. You can lose your camera, your external drive can get banged up and corrupt, someone can steal your luggage …and whooops there goes all your hard work, planning, and expense.  I like to take two 2TB SanDisk Extreme Portable SSDs and split them up in two bags. They  are wallet size and super durable and slim so you can stash them inconspicuously in many things. It allows you to edit and transfer footage anywhere– even on the toilet. TMI, i know. But I’m in love with them!

Avoid: Stop buying the regular brick external storage. Read my SanDisk review here, especially if you do not know what’s the difference between and SSD and external harddrive!

9. Capturing the details is key to a good story.

With vibrant landscapes and exotic cultures unfolding before you, it’s easy to get sucked into getting cinematic portraiture as your broll. Wide shot, wide shot, wide shot … can get boring for YouTube audiences. If you are planning to film your journey for YouTube and not a travel documentary like Baraka , you will likely need more activity, emotions and dynamics to fuel a story.

Find the story in your journey, the destination, its people and culture. If you see holy men on the steps of the Ganges from your Ganges sunrise boat cruise , use your lens to probe deeper into their lifestyle, the ornaments they wear, their actions. A cultural festival has deeper meanings to locals than it does tourists, so probe, probe, probe with your lens. Get close-ups of details! These also make great b-roll.

Pick a story and follow it through to give your videos more insight and a deeper meaning.

Check out my YouTube JumpStarter Kit Bundle if you are starting a new YouTube channel.

10. ask permission to shoot locals.

Always ask permission before you film locals. It’s tempting to just film people without their awareness because you want to capture a beautiful moment and once they notice a camera, they botch that authenticity. But still, it’s their right to their privacy.  I’ve certainly had my moments when I was naive and took photos in secret. Some countries, the locals are happy to have their photo taken, but others may not be. The more western you go, the more stringent the rules get.

Japan can be a challenging country to film, as there are many “No photo” signs up at marketplaces and eateries.  Shops and locals may not appreciate being photographed.

I worked with a sponsor who wanted me to promote one of their many cooking classes in Tokyo . The vendor (aka “cooking teacher”) they chose, who was giving the cooking class agreed to let me film with the possibility the experience could show up on my YouTube channel. However, I didn’t have a filming permissions or media release contracts in place. To shorten a long story,  a few years later I decided to edit and publish that trip experience for my channel. A day after publishing, the vendor contacted me to request I pull the video down. He had a nasty split with the sponsor and didn’t want to be associated with them. I asked if there were ways I could re-edit it. It was possible to remove the sponsor as they had gone out of business during the pandemic.  But no. Was it a personal whim or bigger spat ?   As I did not have a signed contract, I did the honorable thing and pulled the video. But it sucked royally.  I paid to film, produce and edit that video with my personal time and money. I lost money on that video.

The U.S. is another country, where natives don’t like their privacy probed by lenses to the point they have no problem jumping into a lawsuit. It certainly adds to the challenge of filming inspirational travel videos.

I know it’s awkward as hell as a solo female creator to break into a very Real moment that you witness and say– Hey, is it okay if I film you?  It’s a cold shower to the moment and ends whatever real thing you were hoping for.

Filming a YouTube video to fit professional legal standards is a gray line for most creators.  You’re paying out-of-pocket for your trip’s expenses, for what can be considered a home video and you might not be making any money on it. Travel vlogging is an investment.

But if you’re hoping to monetize your videos on YouTube, learning the legality of things helps!

Note: If you are on a paid campaign or assignment, you must request permission from anyone you film. I know in some countries a head nod is the closest language to permission as it gets. Ask if you can film them stating their name and contact number on your recording, in case you ever need to follow up.

Tip: Jotform and Google Forms are free to use and set up a quick talent permissions form.

11. Prepare for all outcomes

Travel is exciting to shoot because you never know what’s around the corner. The downside is that things don’t always go as planned either.  Equipment failures happen when a situation arises that you did not expect.

If you have a content assignment that is paid or work-based, you don’t want to miss a moment and risk a part of your gear going down in the field. When my DSLR died – twice – under the Bangkok humidity,  finding a Canon repair shop to get it fixed took a good chunk of days, stress and wasting time in a search.

On one trip- my first planned solo trip – I had to buy a new point-and-shoot camera, so that I could at least get memories of my trip. It turned out to be a bombass Samsung ST500 camera that wasn’t yet in the U.S. and ultimately, I used upgraded versions of it for travel vlogging! It was a blessing in disguise but it was still time and stress, frantically running around shopping malls when I wanted to be exploring Thai temples!

Today, I travel with two vlogging cameras  , and most definitely,  if I am on a paid campaign!  I’m prepared if one of those cameras go down.

12. Prepare for the weather

Weather changes should always be prepared for when you’re packing sensitive camera gear.

Know how your gear and batteries react in different weather types.  Winter and snow wear your batteries down quickly, so going on an Arctic roadtrip with Mazda , I bought more batteries. This type of weather also causes lens fogging- when going from outdoor cold to indoors. It  can also create brittle plastics– I broke a clip on my extreme selfie stick!

Keep your equipment dry from humidity, condensation and rain are not good. They can cause the fine instruments in your gear to go wonky or corrode. If moisture is trapped in your lens over time , it may be subject to lens haze , a contaminant effect of your lens developing a fungus that makes it look foggy.

Tip: I keep silica gel packets in my camera bag when traveling through humid and moist weather, to keep the moisture from being locked in. These silica gel packets act as absorbers and dehumidifiers. You can order them by packet or save up the packets that come in the packing of new items.

Alternate solution: Buy silica gel dessicant . It’s a tiny container with holes for the gels to absorb condensation, but make sure the container is sealed. I bought one at a camera shop and when I dropped it. All the tiny silica gel marbles scattered throughout my room and I had to worry about my dog finding and eating them. But I have em!

13. Insure your camera gear

If you’re wondering about how to start a travel vlog, you need to think not only on the creative end, but about your business and its tools. What are the odds something could happen to your camera equipment gear when you’re on the road? Homeowner’s Insurance is a popular insurance for covering camera equipment. However, not everyone owns a home.

I purchase  World Nomads travel insurance for its tech equipment coverage for lost, stolen or damaged gear. It also doubles as trip insurance!

14. Remember to wipe your lens

This sounds soooo simple. It’s easy to forget to wipe your lens, when you’re running around famous landmark sites and content gathering gets demanding.

Smudges don’t always show up on your camera viewfinder when the sun is beating down on it, which often it is! But they are visible when you edit.

Tip: Be sure to clean your lens with a lens cloth at the end of the day, the start of it and the middle. Do this to your iPhone cameras too! (ai… this one is easy to forget)

15. Check camera settings

Checking your camera settings at the beginning of each day while traveling is crucial to avoid mistakes that can become troublesome during post-production. When you’re in a new and exciting location, it’s easy to forget to adjust your camera settings, leading to overexposed or underexposed shots, blurry images, or incorrect white balance.

Additionally, it’s easy to accidentally knock your settings off if you’re in a rush. If you have a camera with knobs, be careful that they don’t accidentally catch on something and turn your notice. If your camera has touch screen menus, then be sure while you’re operating it, you don’t accidentally swipe a feature and turn it on.

On a recent trip, I shot all super-wide footage on a GoPro because I didn’t realize I kept knocking my settings off. Such a rookie mistake! I can rush, when capturing footage as there are many places I try to film in one day. By taking a few minutes each morning to review and adjust your camera settings, you can ensure that your footage is of high quality and ready to use without spending hours fixing issues later.

Here are camera settings to consider:

• Exposure : Check your aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings to ensure proper exposure for the specific lighting conditions you’ll encounter throughout the day. Night time is challenging. Use a higher ISO in low-light situations .
• Focus : Check your focus settings to ensure your subjects are sharp and in focus. Consider using manual focus for more control, especially in challenging lighting conditions or when dealing with moving subjects.
• File Format and Resolution: Choose the right file format and resolution for your needs. RAW and 4K/60 fps files offer more flexibility in post-processing and look better tracking motion, but they take up more space on your memory card. I like to keep my settings at Full HD (1920 x 1080) 1080p and 60fps but sometimes, my hand accidentally changes it to 30fps, which drives me nuts! If using a GoPro, make sure you are not on the super-wide settings unless you mean to be. The menu is super sensitive and easy to accidentally nudge or swipe a setting. This was a mistake I made on my last trip!
• Battery and Memory Card: Make sure your battery is fully charged and your memory card has enough space for the day’s shooting. Carry extra batteries and memory cards to avoid running out of power or storage.
• Image Stabilization: Enable image stabilization if your camera or lens has this feature, especially when shooting handheld or in situations with potential camera shake.
• Audio Settings: If you’re recording audio with your camera, check your microphone settings and audio levels to ensure clear sound quality.

By taking the time to review and adjust your camera settings each day, you can avoid common mistakes and capture stunning footage that requires minimal post-production work. This preparation will ultimately save you time and help you tell your travel stories more effectively through your vlogs.

By being true to myself and my journey, I’m confident that my solo travel vlog will continue to grow and inspire others. As a YouTube coach, I’m passionate about helping fellow female travel vloggers achieve their dreams and rise to the top of the travel vlogging community.

What recommendations would you add to this guide on Travel Vlogging tips for beginners and how to start a travel vlog?

Recommended Trip Planning Services: 

Travel with me and join me on   my next group adventure !

Getyourguide  is my favorite tour booking site. Find everything from food tours, city sightseeing discounts, SIM cards and more

• Discover Cars  finds the best car rental price quote.

Booking Yoga Retreats  – a huge directory of yoga, surfing, meditation retreats around the globe.

Skyroam – Global wifi (take 10% off with my referral code  GRRRLTRAVLER )

Booking.com  who I book accommodations with

World Nomads   trip insurance that covers my adventure style in travel.

   My Travel Survival Cheat Sheet

• eSim I’m using to stay connected abroad. Activate it before or on your trip!
• Skyroam – Global wifi (take 10% off with referral code GRRRLTRAVELER )
• Trip Insurance Finder Tool for budget travelers looking for trip insurance to fit specific needs.
• I get my adventure trip insurance from World Nomads trip insurance (they cover travel theft)
• Expedia for great weekend trip package deals
• Take your yoga traveling and book a yoga retreat/ training .
• Book hotels  without a cancellation fee. Use this Hotel Comparison Tool to find the lowest prices!
• Book chic hostels with Hostelworld
• Ditch and store your luggage at local businesses for under $10/day
• 12goAsia Book trains and buses.
• GRRRLTRAVELER Group Adventure trip : Travel with me beyond YouTube.

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10 top spots for solo travelers in winter (or any other time of year)

Dec 10, 2021 • 10 min read

Trekking to Machu Picchu is just one of many South American adventures that's perfect for solo travelers © Getty Images / iStockphoto / Andres Jacobi

The idea of traveling alone can be daunting if you've never taken a solo trip before. Checking in for your outbound flight is easy – it's only when you arrive alone in an unfamiliar destination that it all becomes real. But any initial doubts are fleeting. By the time you've checked into your hotel and hit the streets looking for your first meal, nerves will already be giving way to the thrill of being somewhere new.

A major factor in mastering the art of solo travel is selecting the right destination. Whether you're embarking on an epic multicountry trip or taking an impulsive city break, some places are more suitable for a solo travel experience than others. There are destinations that are naturally suited to solitude, and destinations where travelers are naturally thrown together, making it easy to meet new people.

Best of all, there are solo travel destinations in every corner of the globe, so you can take a solo trip in the depths of winter as easily as you can at the height of summer. Here are 10 sure-fire destinations for lone travelers, organized by interest. Whether you’re into raves, relaxation, hiking or sightseeing, these spots are certain to get your solo travel adventure off on the right foot.

South America: best for solo adventures

With mountains to climb, rivers to raft, ancient ruins to uncover and jungles to explore, South America is the ultimate adventure destination. And the northern hemisphere's winter is South America's summer – the prime time to visit Patagonia and the Andes. From well-trodden paths in Argentina , Chile and Brazil to virgin jungle trails in Ecuador and Colombia , the continent has something for every kind of adventurer. You'll certainly never struggle for company on the trek to Machu Picchu !

Don’t let the continent's size daunt you – with easy border crossings and well-established traveler hubs, South America is ideal for solo overlanding. The well-worn Gringo Trail, which takes in the continent’s most popular destinations, ensures recurring rendezvous with fellow adventurers and ample opportunities to buddy up with travelers heading in the same direction. This, paired with the general warmth of local people and the continent’s premium hostel network, makes solo travel simple.

Epic solo travel experience : Mountain biking down Bolivia ’s infamous Death Road (the name is an exaggeration, in case you were worried) and debriefing with your fellow riders over a few beers afterward.

Ubud, Indonesia: best for self-reflection

Whether you loved or loathed Elizabeth Gilbert’s seminal solo travel memoir Eat, Pray, Love , there’s no denying that Bali has a special magic. The island's artistic and spiritual center, Ubud , is where the author found love (and presumably ate and prayed) and it remains a wonderfully laid-back place for solo travelers to relax, reflect and recharge. And Bali is a year-round destination – summer is peak season, but the island has a quieter and calmer charm in winter.

Nestled among emerald rice fields ringed by mist-wrapped mountains, Ubud attracts throngs of solo travelers, meaning no probing glances if you arrive alone at a morning yoga class or ask for a table for one in one of the town’s salubrious vegetarian cafes. To really harness the healing power of Ubud (and for some serious solitude), check yourself into one of the many health retreats that dot the verdant hills around town.

Epic solo travel experience : Getting up super early before the heat climbs to join a holistic class – you find lessons in everything from yoga and meditation, and you can follow up with a massage at a tried and tested spa such as Taksu Spa .

Berlin, Germany: best for nightlife

Some say you are more likely to get into Berghain , the most famous nightclub in Berlin , if you arrive alone. Whether or not that’s the case, the rumor demonstrates the German capital’s natural affinity for solo travelers. Legions of solo citybreakers are drawn by Berlin's deserved reputation as one of the friendliest, most inclusive cities in Europe, and by its famous nightlife.

Berlin is one of the best places in Europe to party, offering a collection of colossal clubs and graffiti-spattered beer gardens, but going clubbing is just one of many things to do in Berlin. Thought-provoking history surrounds you from the moment you arrive, from the Brandenburg Gate to the Holocaust Memorial , while quirky cafes, cool boutiques, weekend flea markets and a growing food-truck scene provide more leisurely delights. Berlin is an easy place to wander alone, or join a walking tour for some company.

Epic solo travel experience : Heading out to a bar or nightclub and seeing where the night takes you. For some guided imbibing, join a beer tour with Brewer's Berlin Tours or Berlin Craft Beer Experience .

East Africa: best for a group tour

Have you always dreamed of viewing gorillas in the jungles of Rwanda , meeting a Maasai chief in Kenya  or spotting the “Big Five” in Tanzania , but were daunted by the logistics of tackling East Africa independently? A group tour can simplify the experience of visiting this stunning region of the world, and provide a buffer for the sometimes challenging experiences Africa can throw at first-timers.

East Africa’s tourism infrastructure is well developed and traveling solo in most countries here is quite achievable (particularly in Kenya and Tanzania), but joining a group tour means you can bundle together a string of big game-viewing safaris in multiple countries, without getting hit by additional lone traveler charges or facing the daunting prospect of arranging multiple tours and transport.

Best of all, tours in these bucket-list destinations attract a diverse group of travelers, meaning you’re much less likely to be the only solo traveler sandwiched between canoodling couples, or the only 20-something in a coach full of empty-nesters.

Epic solo travel experience : Catching the great migration from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Masai Mara in Kenya – an almost Lion King -esque parade of wildebeest, zebras, gazelles and predators.

Singapore: best for a solo stopover

With all manner of cultural attractions to explore, a growing collection of hostels and guesthouses, loads of free things to do , and one of the world’s best public transport systems (including excellent airport links), there are few more stress-free solo travel experiences than landing at Singapore 's award-winning Changi airport on a tropical afternoon.

Whether you choose to amble with an audio guide through the Chinatown Heritage Centre , gawp at the otherworldly Gardens by the Bay , plunge into a lavish rooftop pool, or join the hordes feasting in Singapore's hawker food courts , the city is perfectly suited to solo travel. An added bonus is the city's cosmopolitan attitude – locals don't bat an eyelid at the daily influx of international arrivals, and there are few hassles and scams to worry about.

Epic solo travel experience : Checking out the cozy cafes and quirky boutiques in the gentrified 1930s housing estate of Tiong Bahru .

Rome, Italy: best for culture

From ancient icons such as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum to the towering masterpiece of Renaissance architecture that is St Peter’s Basilica , Rome ’s cityscape is a kaleidoscopic canvas of artistic flair, architectural wonderment and historical marvels. Whether you’re visiting for two days or two months, there's so much to see that there's little risk of becoming bored.

Though English is not as widely spoken as in some European nations, it’s hard to feel lonely among the 14 million other tourists who visit this cultural hub each year. And solo dining means you only have to worry about keeping one palate happy in Rome's fabulous restaurants . But don’t pack too much into your itinerary, as Rome rewards relaxation; mingling with strangers over a glass of vino at sunset is an essential pastime in The Eternal City.

Epic solo travel experience : Visiting St Peter’s Basilica and walking the 7km (4.3 miles) of artwork-filled halls that comprise the Vatican Museums .

Portland, Oregon: best city break

One of the USA 's hippest hubs, Portland has all the cultural advantages of a major metropolis, but the down-home intimacy of a small town. This affable attitude reverberates in the town’s urban wineries, microbreweries and coffee shops, where conversation flows quicker than the drinks can be poured. And with its patchwork of small, friendly neighborhoods , it's easy to discover this easy-going city one district at a time.

There’s more to this bastion of counterculture than its love of a good chinwag, with a host of whimsical attractions highlighting its quirky streak, from a museum dedicated to vacuum cleaners to an urban herd of goats. It’s also a cinch to navigate, with good public transport and a popular bike-share scheme. And while Portland is famous for its artisan restaurants, a more sociable – and undeniably more fun – way to dine is at the city’s 500-or-so street food carts.

Epic solo travel experience : Exploring the Alberta Arts District; for the company of fellow art enthusiasts, time your visit to coincide with the Last Thursday art walk .

Chiang Mai, Thailand: best for food

It's a close-run thing, but for solo foodie travel, one destination stands above all others for travelers who view the world through the prism of a knife and fork. The capital of northern Thailand – and once the center of an independent kingdom – Chiang Mai offers the entire Thai package in one compact location: stellar food, rich culture, ancient ruins, responsible elephant encounters , relaxed nightlife and an easy-going traveler scene that's easy to plug into.

Every time of day is snack time in Chiang Mai. From the city's impressive northern Thai restaurants to its fun-filled and frenetic night markets and hole-in-the-wall restaurants serving the city's famous kow soi soup, the city always has a fork or spoon in hand. What makes Chiang Mai especially suited to solo travelers is its collection of cooking schools – ideal places to meet new people and learn how to cook up a perfect bowl of phat thai , green curry or hot and sour tom yam soup.

Epic solo travel experience : Learning to cook Thai food, of course! Most courses start with a market trip so you can learn to identify local ingredients before you start pounding herbs and spices to make your own curry paste ( Small House Chiang Mai is one recommended school).

Caye Caulker, Belize: best for an island escape

Enchanting atolls aren’t reserved for honeymooners. Pastel-hued, car-free Caye Caulker has always been a great place for solo travelers thanks to its compact size and easy-going, backpacker-friendly vibe, which draws a relaxed, international crowd in search of a less commercialized slice of paradise.

It’s easy to lose days lounging at The Split , the island’s premier beach, but there are plenty of other activities on offer, from snorkeling and diving on teeming reefs to kayaking to lesser-visited parts of the island while keeping a beady eye out for crocodiles. 

Join other travelers at local reggae bars during the afternoon happy hour before sampling Creole-style street food come nightfall. What's arguably the greatest blessing of solo travel? You don’t have to share your shrimp and swordfish dinner!

Epic solo travel experience : Snorkeling or diving in the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve , which teems with turtles and small sharks.

East Coast Australia: best for road-tripping

It would actually be hard to explore the East Coast of Australia alone. So many travelers follow the snaking stretch of road that runs from Sydney to Cairns that solitude is often harder to find than companionship. For travelers in search of natural wonders, excellent infrastructure, abundant tours and group activities and raucous late-night revelry, there are few places to match it.

But it’s not just the good-time vibe that makes this stretch of coastline so spectacular. The classic road trip route is studded with bucket-list attractions, from lolling on Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach to rambling through the ancient Daintree Rainforest or blowing bubbles on the Great Barrier Reef . Consider renting a car to explore – the most memorable moments will likely come from interactions with locals in coastal surf towns and one-pub villages in the Outback an hour or two inland from the coast.

Epic solo travel experience : Joining a tour with the East Coast's Indigenous people. Tours led by guides from Aboriginal communities will show you a less-seen side to this well-explored land.

You might also like: Female solo travel: what it's like to travel solo at every age How Black LGBTIQ+ travellers navigate a challenging world What it's like traveling with kids as a single parent

This article was first published November 2017 and updated December 2021

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6 Films to Inspire Solo Travel

So you want to try your hand at solo travel? If you ask me, there is nothing more rewarding and life changing than travelling the world solo. So if you feel yourself getting the itch to travel solo, these are my favourite films to inspire solo travel and help you book that trip!

Into the Wild (2007)

In short: The son of wealthy parents, Christopher, decides to rid himself of his former life and set off for an adventure in the Alaskan wilderness. He sells his things, packs what he does have left in his bags and hits the open road – easily one of my all time favourite solo travel inspirations!

Watch the trailer

Eat, Pray, Love (2010)

In short: If you haven’t seen the movie or read the book, there’s no doubt you’ve heard all about it! Eat Pray Love has been adequately adapted into film thanks to the talented Julia Roberts who plays the role of Liz, a middle-aged woman who leaves her life in the USA behind for a life in Italy , India and Bali … at least for the short term. Whilst on her solo adventures she quite literally eats her way through Italy, spends time praying in India and finds love in Bali. You either love or hate this film… personally I love it!

Tracks (2013)

In short: This is an incredible film that tells an incredible story of a young Australian girl who walks from Alice Springs to the Australian ocean accompanied by just her dog and four camels. This is a really great film for girls who want to see what we can accomplish when we put our mind to it!

Wild (2014)

In short: A similar film to the above “Tracks”, Wild tells the story of a middle-aged woman in emotional pain, make the bold decision to walk the Pacific Crest Trail – one of the most challenging walks in the USA. She has no prior experience but through determination hits the open road anyway. Really quite inspiring!

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

In short: This. Movie. Is. Awesome. If you’re looking for a movie that will strike up your wanderlust and quash any doubts you may have had about going solo, this movie is the pick of the bunch. Although this slightly falls outside of solo travel (the main character is joined by his friend), it really must be mentioned regardless. The two travel from Brazil to Peru by motorcycle. Hard to beat.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

In short: This relatively new film tells the typical story of a man working a monotonous job, looking to branch out and actually live his life. Its a lot of fun and takes in some great destinations!

Brooke Saward founded World of Wanderlust as a place to share inspiration from her travels and to inspire others to see our world. She now divides her time between adventures abroad and adventures in the kitchen, with a particular weakness for French pastries.

Find me on: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

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Screen Rant

Solo leveling:arise interview: staying true to the source while innovating.

In the midst of a successful pre-registration period, we interview Solo Leveling:ARISE team members to discuss the game and its source material.

• Solo Leveling:ARISE has exceeded 12 million pre-registrations, with a promising early access launch.
• The game closely follows Sung Jinwoo's journey, offering unique characters & expanded world-building.
• Challenges in adapting webtoon monsters required extensive research & design adjustments.

Solo Leveling:ARISE is in the midst of something potentially special. At time of writing, its pre-registration period has exceeded 12 million registered users , with a successful soft early access launch providing valuable feedback on its promising action-RPG gameplay. It certainly has the benefit of strong source material to help buoy it through a competitive mobile market - Solo Leveling 's anime adaptation enjoyed a critically acclaimed first season, while the manwha it's based on remains one of the most popular in the form.

A lot of Solo Leveling 's appeal comes in following the specific journey of Sung Jinwoo, something that Solo Leveling:ARISE taps into with a true-to-source exploration of his earliest moments and his rise as a powerful hunter . The freedom of the medium, however, gives ARISE more leeway to explore elements of the source material's world and character building that weren't necessarily available because of its focused narrative. The game has already announced a brand new hunter designed specifically for ARISE , for instance, with more on the way.

Solo Leveling:ARISE Preview: "Surprisingly Deep Tactical Options"

So what potential does this kind of design option afford the team behind Solo Leveling:ARISE ? We chatted with executive project director Seong-Keon Jin and art director Inho Kim to dig deeper into what's possible with this mobile Solo Leveling adaptation , the hardest parts of adapting such a successful and recognizable story, and what other genres the team thinks could successfully tell a new Solo Leveling story.

Adapting A Massively Popular Property

How to bring solo leveling to life in a video game.

Screen Rant: What was the core philosophy in bringing Solo Leveling to mobile gaming? How did the team approach this adaptation?

Inho Kim, art director: The most important thing we thought about while developing the game based on Solo Leveling was to keep the core design of the original webtoon. While developing the game, we set out to incorporate as many of the original materials and concepts as possible into the artwork, with these elements and ideas being seamlessly integrated throughout the game. If you look at the designs of Sung Jinwoo and other Hunters, you can see that they were created using elements, key colors, and narratives from the original. Basically, it's important for us to inherit and develop the concept of the Solo Leveling webtoon that many people love. We have designed the original characters created in the game in a way that complements the webtoon, as well as unique hunters and monsters that are exclusive to the game.

Seong-Keon Jin, executive project director: I want to tell it in two different aspects: 1) maximizing the fun of combat content and 2) the faithful reproduction of the original IP. The core of an action game lies in whether users can truly enjoy the combat. I personally believe that it serves as the first impression of a game and is a driving factor that can attract more users. In my opinion, having fun combat is enough for a game to provide an enjoyable gameplay experience to users, and that’s the point at which players of Solo Leveling: ARISE praise it for. We are very humbled that the game has been received positively within the community and media so far and are grateful for that as we continue to do our best to live up to player expectations. Additionally, we’ve been working to expand the universe of Solo Leveling to the level that does not harm the original IP and stays faithful to the original story at the same time. Additionally, we have categorized the content into two parts in order to offer a fun gameplay experience: the part that needs to be presented with a strong impression and the part that needs to be controlled. I believe this attempt was quite successful. The original author praised the expanded stories when he played Solo Leveling: ARISE, and the fans of the original series also gave positive feedback, highlighting how the game successfully brought the original work to life and is one of the best works adapting an IP into a game.

Some mobile games choose to reinterpret their source material, or create completely different storylines - to begin with, Solo Leveling: ARISE honors the webtoon with a lot of reverence for its plot and characters. Why did the team ultimately decide to so closely follow Solo Leveling in its own mobile storytelling?

Seong-Keon Jin: In my opinion, one of the key aspects that fans liked the most in the original web novel and webtoon is how the main character, Sung Jinwoo, levels up like a game character, becomes stronger, and wins against challenging enemies. We applied this concept of ‘leveling up’ of the original series to Solo Leveling: ARISE, so that users can play the character, make upgrades, and experience the original series’ narrative as they play the game. Solo Leveling has a very popular fan base across the world. Players of Solo Leveling: ARISE can experience the strong plot of the IP, along with the diverse action styles and quality battles of the game. I believe that not only fans of the original series, but also any players, regardless of their age or cultural backgrounds, could be immersed into our game.

Why was “action-RPG” the choice for Solo Leveling: ARISE?

Seong-Keon Jin: When we decided to adapt Solo Leveling into a game, we had numerous discussions to select the appropriate genre for the game. When Solo Leveling first launched as a webtoon series, many viewers wanted to see Jinwoo’s actions in an animated form. So, we came to the conclusion of creating the game with flashy and enjoyable actions. We felt the best way to capture Solo Leveling’s charm was to let users experience Sung Jinwoo’s journey within its universe from his perspective. That’s how we decided to develop a single-player action game where Sung Jinwoo can grow stronger in various ways. The original series had many game-like elements, and the story progressed in a way that made Sung Jinwoo’s actions more spectacular as he acquired skills or changed his job. We thought that incorporating these features would make it very enjoyable as an action game.

Fitting Solo Leveling Into The Right Gaming Experience

Adaptation challenges & future potential.

What sort of challenges did the team face in adapting the character and monster designs from the webtoon into functional character models in a 3D action game?

Inho Kim: When animating the monsters from Solo Leveling, we found Kasaka and Centipedes have unique forms compared to others, requiring extensive research and development. Because Centipedes have multiple legs, we initially attempted to utilize scripts to implement patterns. However, the lifting of the front part made the legs' movement very noticeable. Applying patterns to the Centipedes just didn't look right, to put it plainly. I found it quite memorable how the designer had to draw each leg of the Centipedes by hand.

Are there any other genres the team considered for Solo Leveling: ARISE, and might consider in the future if given a chance?

Seong-Keon Jin: I believe the key factors that contributed the most to Solo Leveling’s success are the epic story of Sung Jinwoo and unique artwork style. Given that Solo Leveling: ARISE is the first game adaptation of the IP, it was important to faithfully reproduce the original series - and that is why we decided to make an action game for single players that focuses on Sung Jinwoo’s story. If I were given a chance to create another game, I wish I could explore the stories of other Hunters that come after the Sung Jinwoo Saga. I feel very strongly that there are many elements that can be expanded further, such as the introduction of new players, the emergence of more powerful Awakening Beings, and the rise of the new Monarch. We can potentially focus on expanding the Solo Leveling Universe, not a single character, but maybe towards the turn-based CCG or strategy genre.

How worried was the team that spoilers from the webtoon being so accessible in Solo Leveling: ARISE might turn away players who only watch the anime? Is that ever a consideration?

Seong-Keon Jin: We considered how to provide users with the enjoyable game experience of the original IP, as it gained popularity worldwide. That is why we introduced the original stories in the game, which were never seen in the original series. This will allow fans of the IP to experience new content while playing. The game’s original Hunters are the ones who were never seen in the original series. We envisioned what it would have been like if there were Hunters from various countries within the universe of Solo Leveling and applied our imagination in creating them. Please stay tuned for a variety of Hunters with unique looks and personalities that we will share in the future.

Solo Leveling:ARISE

Solo Leveling:ARISE is a video game centering on Sung Jinwoo, a special hunter who gained access to a system that allows him to turn the dead into Shadow Soldiers.