When you take a solo travel trip, you have the absolute freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want, and do whatever you desire. You don’t have to settle for someone else’s plans or deal with their dislike of the things you want to do (or them doing things you don’t like).
For example, let’s say you’re visiting Colorado and you want to hike, but your travel partner wants to go shopping. You end up going shopping, but you missed out on hiking the Rockies like you had been hoping.
There are a lot of benefits of solo travel, and it’s something we encourage, even if you have a family. We’re not necessarily saying go to Disney World for a week by yourself. But consider tacking on a day or two to a business trip as part of a bleisure vacation, or take a solo road trip to visit some family.
For one thing, the costs will be cheaper. Instead of booking two or more flights, you only have to pay for yours. The expenses are a lot less too. And if you’re taking a bleisure trip, you can sometimes get a cheaper plane ticket if your trip covers a weekend, although you should cover your own hotel room. So take the extra day or two to explore this new city.
Of course, there are a few hurdles to overcome with solo travel. For one thing, it’s always better to have someone with you in case you get lost. And if you’re more socially inclined, it’s always nice to have someone to talk to about your experience in a new town. And you can have someone take photos of you and vice versa.
Here are some other recommendations for solo travel:
- Start small. If you’re not used to traveling by yourself, start small. Stay at a hotel in a nearby city and get acquainted with being a local tourist in that way. Take a few trips like this and get used to being on your own. Figure out what you like and don’t like and then take your big solo trip knowing exactly what you want to do.
- Buy travel insurance. If your trip gets canceled, or you get too sick to travel, travel insurance can help you recover some of your costs or even pay for your medical coverage, especially if you’re in a foreign country.
- Be aware that some places do charge more for solo travelers. It doesn’t always happen, but some places like certain hotels or cruises will charge a little more for solo travelers because they were hoping you would have a second person to pay their rates. Don’t let that deter you though.
- Learn to use technology. You’re probably going to rely on technology more during your solo travel. Maps, reservations, flights and car rentals, and keeping your itinerary: All of that can happen on your mobile phone. Get into the habit of using it now so you’re not stuck with a problem during your trip.
Are you a solo travel veteran? How many times have you taken a vacation or bleisure trip by yourself? Share your thoughts with us on our Facebook page, or on our Twitter stream. You can also find us on our Instagram page at @TravelproIntl.
Photo credit: luciillemarnelli (Pixabay, Creative Commons 0)
Photo credit: Travelpro Luggage