How to Start Traveling Solo

The Answer

The simple answer is to just do it.

But what does “it” look like?

Does it look like a trip abroad? Or flying to the next state? Or exploring new parts of your neighborhood?

You might want to solo travel to learn more about yourself, be more comfortable spending time in your own company, challenge yourself, go outside your comfort zone, etc.

But going somewhere solo is pretty scary if you haven’t done it before. You might be apprehensive in a new, unfamiliar environment, which could be very uncomfortable.

Why Solo Travel?

However, that’s precisely the thing that makes solo travel so exhilarating. When you get put out of your comfort zone, you grow in ways you don’t expect to. For example, before my first “solo trip” to Taiwan on an exchange program, I didn’t explore the city I lived in without a friend. The first week I got to Taipei, I was so anxious all I did was walk outside to grab meals and spend my time in my room binge-watching Brooklyn 99. I got more comfortable after meeting with friends who happened to be visiting Taipei the week after and making friends in my program. But I was soon faced with the reality that if I wanted to explore and experience what Taiwan had to offer, I couldn’t wait for someone to come with me. I was highly aware of my limited time in Taipei and decided that if I wanted to go somewhere, I’d do it myself.

Learning to navigate public transport, get unlost, and communicate in my second language was stressful, but I surprised myself! And when I returned to California that summer, my perspective on travel and lifestyle had changed completely (and for the better). The biggest thing the trip unlocked for me was my independence, that I could rely on myself to access desired experiences.

What is Solo Travel?

I’m a huge supporter of everyone taking a solo trip at least once, but that looks different for everybody. And if you’re trying to take a trip solo, don’t pressure yourself to leave the country.

The thing about solo travel is that it doesn’t have to be an international trip; it doesn’t even have to be domestic. Solo travel is any travel that you do by yourself. It can be a road trip to the next city or an afternoon exploring a different neighborhood of the area you live in. The out-of-the-country or state trips are given spotlights, but traveling nearby solo is just as meaningful.

Meet Yourself Where You Are At

A vital step to building up the confidence to travel solo is that you need to meet yourself where you are at. Everyone starts at different levels of comfortability and what situations they’re willing to put themselves in. Start small, then work your way up to whatever your goal is.

This could look like…

• Visiting your favorite coffee shop using public transport (if reliable) if you always drive.
• Taking a road trip and visiting a city you’ve wanted to check out.
• Flying to a different country where you know the language.
• Flying to a different country where you don’t know the language.
• Walking around a new part of your neighborhood.

Breaking Myths

I think many people have a preconceived notion that you must be independent and have experience before you can solo travel, but that’s a myth. Some people may have these traits before solo travel, but more often than not, people have these characteristics because of solo travel.

It’s easy to get into the habit of hesitating before taking the jump to do something unfamiliar.

“I’ll do it when I become more independent.”

or

“I’ll wait until I am more ready.”

or

“I’ll do xyz before I do this.”

The thing is, when will you ever be ready? The idea of being ready is rooted in how comfortable we are doing something. And while comfort is great, it won’t convince you to take the risk to do something like solo travel for the first time.

Risk It for the Biscuit

So, the MOST IMPORTANT thing when starting solo travel is to take the risk. Being afraid of the possible outcomes is useless. You’re spending valuable time mulling over what isn’t reality.

Much like finding what career you want to pursue, you will never know what will happen or what it is like until you do it. There is only so much thinking can do for you. By doing the actual trip, you’ll learn if the risk was worth it. And most of the time, by taking small risks consistently, you’ll be more comfortable taking bigger risks afterward.