How to organize the solo travelling trip of a lifetime
A solo travel adventure can be one of the most exciting things you’ll ever do, packed with unforgettable memories and experiences. However, planning such a big trip can be a daunting experience, especially if you don’t know where to start. Check out our easy guide to organising your trip, including tips on budgeting and meeting other travellers, and you’ll be hitting the road in no time!
First and foremost, it’s essential to do your research. Look into locations that are known to be good for solo travel and safe to explore alone, such as New Zealand, Costa Rica, Japan, and Norway. Think about whether you’d prefer to plan your route independently and go sightseeing on your own, or if it suits you more to organise the trip through a tour operator and be put in a group for an activity such as walking the Inca Trail with other travellers.
To keep costs down, try to book flights and activities far in advance and use public transport where possible. Avoid the dreaded single supplement in hotels by staying in youth hostels or renting a single room through Airbnb, which will also allow you to cook rather than always rely on eating out in pricier locations. in many cities around the world, you could even stay in University student accommodation during vacation periods—these tend to be much cheaper than hotels!
It’s natural to worry about getting lonely during a solo adventure, but there are plenty of ways to meet like-minded people. Hostels are always full of fellow travellers and sleeping in a dorm is the easiest way to make friends fast. Finding local activities and other travellers online, using apps such as MeetUp, Backpackr and FlipTheTrip, and checking out organised tours are more reliable options. At the same time, solo travel is also an incredible opportunity to make the most of time on your own. Why not use the trip to start journaling, or pick up new skills from yoga training, local cooking classes or a language course?