Solo travel - where do you start

[StartingAgainAlone]

So I'm all alone now and am bored and lonely.

I don't have a big budget and I'm not someone that is particularly happy doing things on. My own but I suppose that part of learning and getting better at this is getting on and doing it.

I don't want to spend my days sitting at home and people keep telling me that solo travel is great. I'm not convinced but figured looking into it would be a good place to start.

So it would be great if people could give me ideas, tips etc. I suppose I think wandering around a place that I don't know whilst on my own will be lonely and isolating. Is this the case? If not, what do you do? How to you spend your time? Where would you recommend would be a good place to start?

I'm based in North Devon

[DoNotPickUpThatPhone]

Bumping just in case anyone wants to give me some thoughts

[DreadPirateRobots]

Well it depends what you want to do, a bit?

I like active holidays so I do small group walking, climbing and cycling tours. I love my solo holidays. The last few years I've gone with The Natural Adventure but there are lots of providers geared to solo travellers.

[PoppingTomorrow]

Start with a short trip.

You could try an organised tour - perhaps based around an activity, they often seem to attract solo travellers. Or something like Intrepid or Explore which often has a mix of couples, solos, friends, and parents/adult children.

Hownold are you and what kind of things to you enjoy?

[Rosiiee]

I’d do a big city like London or Paris. Plenty of sightseeing, plenty of places for good food or drinks, plenty of lone travellers.

I don’t mind sightseeing alone, I bring my kindle with me for meals and pubs in tourist areas usually allow me to socialise and meet other tourists. I also love markets! Enjoyed the ones in the Middle East. I’m a bit uneasy going out in the evenings alone so a lot of the time I just got room service and put on a movie or had a bath.

Good luck!

[tealgate]

Join Solo in Style: Women over 50 on FB! Lots of tips there.
Generally the advice is start small, lunch out on your own in nearby town, short stay in the U.K., then venture further. Lots of companies cater for single travellers, but lots of people plan, book and travel on their own?

[DoNotPickUpThatPhone]

I'm early 40's and haven't ever traveled much 😞

I just feel like I'm not sure what I want to do or where I want to go as I'll just end up bumbling around on my own feeling lost and lonely.

I suppose long term I'd love to see the Fjords or Alaska, and is love to go to Italy, but I can't imagine doing that alone

[Iheartmysmart]

I appreciate it’s not for everyone but I’m on my own and really enjoy going solo camping for a few days. I find myself a quiet site with some nice walks and a decent pub in the vicinity. Days are spent out and about and I’m back at the site early evening for a glass or two of wine.

[Justkeepswiimming]

I absolutely love travelling alone. I'm naturally quite chatting, and women alone seem to attract people who want to chat, in a good way I've found. I've had some amazing conversations with people.

Last year I travelled around Scotland for a week, which was amazing and just the least lonely week I've ever had. I do have 2 dogs though which helps enormously.

Try overnight or a weekend to start, and see how you get on.

[Rosiiee]

Oh and they also do singles cruises!!! Wouldn’t be for me but if I were older and my kids were grown I’d give it a shot!

[Definitelysometime]

Yes I'd go for a travel company that does small groups like Explore and G Adventure are perfect for solo travelling but with other people and all organised for you. Especially in places like the Middle East where you might not be happy to travel on your own.

[therealcookiemonster]

Hi OP, I echo the above sentiments. quite a few female solo travellers fb groups around for great advice.

I would start with local day trips and work your way along. I love gardens and stately homes so I just go onto the national Trust website and see what's nearby.

I started with small things, going to dinner by myself, or to the cinema etc. few short trips in the uk that helped me gain confidence and then Europe and further afield. i find planning helps alleviate anxiety. lists and back up plans are your friend here.

but once you get used to it, you might find there is nothing quite like solo travel. I prefer it by miles. just doing things at your own pace, nothing to ruin your vibe.

[Quizine]

I travel a bit on my own out of choice. If you do it once, you may find that travelling with friends/family becomes VERY annoying lol 😊

Anyway I go to cities and towns. Beaches and lying around on a sunbed are my idea of pure hell on earth. So I'd suggest picking a place you are interested in, get a hotel rather than Air BnB as hotels (to me) feel safer when on my own and you often meet others in the lobby/at breakfast etc. I make sure the hotel I choose is slap bang in the centre of the place I'm going, near public transport and looks like a safe/busy area. No point in getting a bargain hotel if it is 5k from the action!

I never go out for dinner at night alone. I don't care whether others do it or not, I just never feel comfortable so I don't. I love lunch out though, as it is much more informal and relaxed. I buy some snacks and drinks for my room in the evening and rest after walking around all day long. Sometimes I'll take a stroll around in the evening and stop for a drink, but never dinner.

I've used guided tours also. They are fab for places where it would take a week to figure out the transport/language barrier/ etc. like China, Nile cruise, and Northern Italy/Switzerland which I have done with a group and enjoyed it. I can't say I LOVE group trips but sometimes they are necessary for me anyway depends on the place/country.

It feels a bit odd at first, but when you have done it once, you realise that no one takes a blind bit of notice of you and most people are very helpful.

[Earwiggoearwiggoearwiggo]

@DoNotPickUpThatPhone

I'm early 40's and haven't ever traveled much 😞

I just feel like I'm not sure what I want to do or where I want to go as I'll just end up bumbling around on my own feeling lost and lonely.

I suppose long term I'd love to see the Fjords or Alaska, and is love to go to Italy, but I can't imagine doing that alone

I've been to Italy multiple times solo, it's great and not a place where I've felt particularly lonely. So much amazing art, for one thing. And food- as others have said make the most of lunch because solo dinner is more awkward.

[LondonTraveller]

I'd start with a weekend break somewhere in the UK / Europe first.

It depends on what you like doing. If you're into the beach, architecture, nature etc then it's best to choose that type of holiday as you'll enjoy it more on your own.

Ive solo travelled all around the world but I do enjoy my own company.

[jay55]

If you don't enjoy your own company, then a hotel holiday will be miserable.

How extroverted are you? Do you easily chat to others?

Staying in a hostel is an easy way to meet people to do things with, and chat in the evenings.

An activity holiday will have other solo travellers on if you want to try that.

I went on a cruise that had a solo meet the first night and a WhatsApp group set up so there was always someone to go for dinner with or to explore with on port days.

I'm not a people person and prefer a lot of alone time but have done all of the above and made holiday friends.

Also doing a guided walking tour of a city is a good way to find company for the day, if anything too organised sounds too stressful.

[PaminaMozart]

One of the best holidays of my life was a week in Rome, sans mon mari. Churches, museums, walking amongst ancient ruins..... I had a fabulous time.

And all the waiters at the little restaurants where I'd have dinner were so, so nice. Free glass of wine or dessert, chatty without being a nuisance - i never felt uncomfortable.

Just do it!!

[MuggedByReality]

I love a bit of solo travel, but it obviously wouldn’t suit everyone. DP’s hobby is hugely time-consuming, which leaves me with plenty of free weekends during the year when he is away competing which I often fill by going away on my own. We do also go away together, obv.

I generally go to cities, not resort type places. I’m perfectly happy going to museums, tours, galleries, exhibitions etc etc on my own and I also enjoy eating out on my own with my book or my iPad. A couple of nights on my own in a hotel always feels like a massive treat, and if I’m tired I sometimes get a bottle of wine from a supermarket & order deliveroo.

I don’t go on group trips. I would far rather be on my own than with a bunch of strangers with whom I probably have nothing in common. I also don’t go to hotel bars on my own, for obvious reasons.

As for OP’s question of ‘where to begin’, how about picking a city which sounds interesting, booking flights on easyJet.com, finding a hotel in a decent location on trivago then off you go?

[Rosiiee]

Oh I’d defo do Italy solo! My own eat, pray, love!

Sorry to be nosy but how old are you? Someone upthread suggested hostels where you’d meet heaps of people! But then again they’re not for everybody. I’m 30 and would hate them! Though I have a good experience of staying in one in Africa and making friends im still in touch with!

[Marchintospring]

I’ve had fun solo holidays ( trekking in Nepal being the best) but find I need to be doing something. I’m not keen on the evenings if stuck on my own.

I did a cruise as a single mum when my son was a toddler. I think that would work well if you like company. Non forced opportunities ( shared tables are normal on a cruise) plus single meet ups. Costs more than sharing but many now do better rates than just making you pay fir two.

[MuggedByReality]

Sorry to be nosy but how old are you?

I’m in my 50s. Long past the age at which I would give a toss what some random thought about me eating in a restaurant on my own.

[Mocparty]

Do you have any hobbies? I use to go on yoga holidays alone. I'd be with a group of people for a week so someone to chat to during meals but I had plenty of time to do my own thing. Most other guests were alone.

I like city breaks alone with lots of sightseeing (only having to see what I want to see) and easy places for meals. I don't mind having lunch alone but feel a little odd alone for dinner (I'd get takeaways or eat at the hotel).

Lastly, I quite fancy an all inclusive alone. Buffets are quick and easy if you feel awkward eating alone and I can swim, drink, read a book, sight see again etc

[Mulledmead]

I have recently been on my first solo trip to Italy. It was great but that is not to say I wasn't a bit apprehensive beforehand.
Some tips that I think would be helpful for a first solo trip...

Really research where you are going to stay; is it walkable/is public transport within easy reach (my biggest worry was getting back to the hotel when it was dark; was it a safe area?). Is it easy to get from the airport to the hotel? Are you happy to get a taxi or public transport etc.?

If you are going on a city break research and book a couple of meals/restaurants in advance. I hate wandering looking for a decent restaurant. It was nice to be able to walk with purpose to somewhere. I took a kindle and had no issue being a solo diner. No one bats an eyelid.

Walking tours are your friend...a lot are free/pay what you like (at least they are in Italian cities) and it was good to not have to think about where I was walking for a while. Even better book on a food walking tour! Nice to connect with people too.

I also did one of those open top bus tours when I arrived. Not to everyone's taste, but it meant I could get my bearings, sit back and relax for a while without feeling too conspicuous.

I came back exhausted but looking forward to planning my next trip! Go for it!

[helpfulperson]

Honestly, I would start with a weekend coach holiday from your local area. Depending on where you live there are lots so UK cities or onto the continent.

It will give you a feel for whether you want to go on a group holiday or to just head off on your own. And give you the confidence of having 'gone on holiday on your own' We have local coach companies offering 2 nights for around £100

Age range will be mixed and while 50 is the lower end there will be a few 50/60 year olds from my experience.

[App13]

I went to Nice as my first stop , after that Guatemala and Belize, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, do forth

[DoNotPickUpThatPhone]

Thanks everyone. Some great ideas here.

I think starting with a night away somewhere that isn't too far away is probably a good way to start and build up from there.

In answer to someone who asked if I'm happy in my own company, I was when I could pop out for an afternoon on my own but life has changed recently and I'm on my own the majority of the time and that's a lot harder