Ten Tips for Travelling Solo

Travelling alone can be fun. Travelling alone will change your life. Travelling by yourself means not having to rely on anyone else to get the most out of your trip. No matter where you go and what you do, it will change you, and it might even be due to one of these 10 points!

1. Centre a trip around a passion. It’s easy finding like-minded people at fun cooking classes, festivals, gallery, bicycle and walking tours.
2. Steer clear of honeymoon haunts such as the Maldives, Fiji, Tahiti and Hawaii, where coupledom rules supreme and where there may be less conversational opportunities with fellow solo travellers.
3. A local guide offers instant company. Join an escorted group tour or group day tour, embark on a free city walking tour or even treat yourself to a private guide.
4. On a tour, consider sharing with a fellow traveller of the same gender. Many tour companies can pair you in share twin room. Not only will you save money, you’ll have a friendly new face with whom to chat, dine and discover the destination with.
5. Start your day early! If the idea of pub crawling and going out at night doesn’t sound appealing on your lonesome, be an earlybird instead. There are plenty of opportunities to sightsee alone and be completely safe during the day in a large, bustling city.
6. Ask locals for tips on where to eat, drink, play and stay. Asking a simple question could lead to an amazing experience not found in guidebooks.
7. If dining alone feels like an uncomfortable thought, choose an eatery where you can dine at the bar and chat to staff or watch the chefs at work.
8. Have a book in hand. It takes away any awkward alone time, and unlike a ‘phone in hand, the cover title of a book could be a real conversation starter!
9. Learn the art of small talk. Open a conversation with a compliment about an article of clothing the person may be wearing. The response might offer a hint as to where that person is from and open the floodgates to an expanded and interesting conversation. Always steer clear of politics and religion!
10. Beam a smile and be nice to folk. Smiling and being nice can get you far. No one ever caught bees with vinegar.