Many people save their vacation days for trips with family or friends, but solo travel can be exciting, freeing, and fulfilling in ways that group travel is not. If you are considering heading out on your own, there are important things to know to make your solo adventure the best it can be. For those who have never tried solo travel before, knowing where to start is key.
Raj Punjabi-Johnson and Noah Michelson, co-hosts of HuffPost’s “Am I Doing It Wrong?” podcast, discussed this topic with Jessica Nabongo, a solo travel expert who has visited every country in the world and authored “Catch Me If You Can: One Woman’s Journey To Every Country in the World.” Nabongo offered insider tips for taking a killer solo trip.
Start Small with Solo Activities
“First, go to dinner by yourself in your city,” Nabongo advised. “I think there are little baby steps. Go to a movie by yourself. Go to an art museum by yourself. Get comfortable in a place where you’re already comfortable doing things on your own. Then maybe do a road trip within three or four hours of your home.” She described this as “solo travel training wheels,” allowing you to feel safe while experimenting with being alone.
Choose Your Destination Wisely
Once ready to travel abroad, Nabongo suggested visiting a place where you feel confident and comfortable, likely a country where locals speak a language you understand. This reduces stress and enhances enjoyment.
Select the Right Lodging
Accommodation sets the tone for the entire trip. Nabongo prefers hotels for convenience, but hostels are cheaper and great for meeting people, which is often important for solo travelers. She emphasized not letting perfection hinder planning: “Find something that’s within your budget today, as opposed to putting a trip off for years because you want to do it a very specific way. If COVID taught us nothing else, it taught us to live now.”
Arrive Prepared
Upon arrival, Nabongo always books a car in advance to avoid navigating public transport after a long flight. “I like a little sign with my name on it, just so that I can settle in very easily. Then you can talk to that person on the way to the hotel and start to get the lay of the land.”
Balance Planning and Spontaneity
Aside from a few restaurant reservations, Nabongo avoids overplanning. “A lot of people will be made more comfortable by having concrete plans — that’s great — but you have to leave some space for spontaneity as well.” Michelson agreed, sharing that he and his husband pick one cultural activity in the morning and leave afternoons open for discovery.
Overcome Loneliness
To combat anxiety about loneliness, Nabongo recommends test-driving solo trips close to home first. She also suggests eating at the bar of a restaurant, where “a lot of other solo people are at the bar and you also can talk to the bartender, so that’s kind of like a little built-in conversation.” Michelson noted that people often misjudge how they are perceived in social situations. “In reality, people are friendly — they do want to know your story, so if you can just get out of your own way and try talking to the person sitting next to you at the bar, really cool things can happen.”
The episode also covers Nabongo’s top three countries for solo travel, safety tips, and more. Listen to the full episode on “Am I Doing It Wrong?” or subscribe to the podcast for more insights on topics like apologizing, credit card debt, online dating, anxiety, and more.
