Tips for Solo Travel
By Natalie Wilkinson
In October 2023, I embarked on my first solo trip to the UK and Iceland. As an adventure seeker and lover of travel, it was something I had always wanted to do. In preparation for my trip, I did a lot of research on travelling alone. Many blog posts or videos led me to believe that I will be “forever changed” or totally disappointed in the experience. In hindsight, my solo travel experience falls somewhere in between these two extremes.
Solo travel was not as scary as I thought it would be. This may have been because I did so much research and prep work beforehand. You would have thought I was going on a 5-year trek to the middle of nowhere! The countless hours of research helped me to make informed decisions around accommodation, transportation, and my itinerary. I opted for a hotel with a 24/7 concierge instead of an Airbnb; I checked bus and train schedules and pre-booked what I could; and chose places to visit that were known to be safe, especially for female solo travelers.
Travelling independently forced me out of my comfort zone and made me sit with my own thoughts and feelings. Before the trip, I wondered how I would feel about eating every meal alone. I was also anxious about what it would be like to spend approximately 10 days alone without anyone who knows me intimately. Would I feel lonely? Homesick? Regretful? Sad? Excited? Energized? Self-assured? Powerful? I ended up feeling all the above and much more. My friends would have loved experiencing the idiosyncrasies of an English pub. My parents would have loved driving through the Scottish Highlands viewing the rolling hills. I missed experiencing these moments with them, but on the flip side, it was empowering to know that I had these experiences by myself, knowing that they were sacred to me and only me.
The goal of travelling by yourself can extend beyond seeking out new friendships and lifelong connections. I didn’t put an expectation on myself to make new friends or approach random people at pubs. That’s just not me. I enjoyed the simple pleasure of being with myself and exploring new places. The beautiful thing about solo travel is that you are the one in charge of the experience and can set the goals for your trip.
Travelling alone would be beneficial if you’re feeling stuck or in a slump. Something I didn’t expect from solo travel was the self-confidence I gained from overcoming setbacks on my own. Like the time my train from London to Edinburgh was cancelled, and I had to navigate an alternate route with no internet connection, asking a lot of strangers for help. As an overthinker and an over-planner, this was terrifying. However, it forced me to go with the flow and trust the process. This gave me a lot of perspective on the ways I approach my life and made me reflect on the way I may be holding myself back in certain areas of my life. My sense of agency expanded 10-fold.
For me, the real joy of solo travel was doing everything I wanted to do, in countries I wanted to go to, on my own schedule. I remember the time I ruined my itinerary one day because I loved the National Portrait Gallery in London more than I expected and stayed until it closed. Or the time in Iceland, where I left the Blue Lagoon hot springs early because I wasn’t really feeling it. If I went with others, chances are I wouldn’t have made these decisions! Travelling alone was an experience I’ll never forget. I don’t think it’s better or worse than travelling with others… it’s just different. It is certainly more an internal journey than an external one, and I don’t believe you have to travel too far from home to get the experience I did.
A solo weekend hotel stay, or a short cottage getaway nearby could do the trick. I truly believe there are certain moments in your life that call for solo trips and if you’re feeling any sort of urge to do it, do it! Your unconscious mind may be wanting your attention.