Before planning your first solo trip, your mind can be filled with different concerns of loneliness, safety and the list goes. Instead of letting these hold you back, why not dig a little deeper to learn how to deal with your concerns? Some may even be solo travel myths.
This is for you if you really want to give solo travel a go but are feeling unsure because of popular negative opinions you have heard. As a solo traveller, I am speaking from experience when I say that the solo travel myths in this blog post should not stop you from trying out solo travel. Let’s get into it!
Debunking 7 Solo Travel Myths
#1.You will be Lonely
This is easily one of the top misconceptions about solo travel. In my experience, solo travel has encouraged more social travel encounters than when I travel with friends or family. Why? Because travelling alone can make it more likely that you will engage with a stranger. When it comes to travelling with people you know – you probably simply stick with them.
A simple way to connect with other travellers when you are travelling solo is to join a group tour or activity. Another thing you can do to combat loneliness is find hostels in the area. You often don’t need to stay at them to have access to their shared spaces where you are likely to meet others like you.
I should add that we are human, and solitude can bring up emotions of loneliness. I deal with this by sharing my travel experience virtually with close friends and family. For example, I would send a photo or video of something cool that I experienced and talk to them about it over the phone.
#2.Taking photos will be a struggle
Often times people don’t believe that I am truly travelling solo when they see my images from my trips. “Yes but, who took your photos?” I’ve heard that question a thousand times and a thousand times I have responded – me!
You may be surprised to learn that there are more ways than one to take photos when travelling solo. In another blog post, I shared specific ways to capture travel photos when travelling solo. To make it better, these solo travel photo tips are easy enough for everyone to try.
My go-to method is to use a tripod and an app on my phone as a remote. This allows me to view the photo while I am in the frame. It works even better than having someone take it for you – for real.
#3.You need to be an extrovert
In my experience, the independence I have learnt from my normal, everyday lifestyle has helped me travel solo with more confidence. I always remind myself that I am already used to getting certain things done alone in my everyday life.
If you are worried that being an introvert makes you unsuitable for solo travel, meditate on the many things in your life that you have already accomplished alone.
In addition to this, remind yourself that if solo travel needed you to be an extrovert then so would everyday life.
#4.It’s unsafe
I put a poll up on my Instagram stories to ask what people were afraid of when it comes to solo travel. 90% of the responses were about safety when solo travelling. This is so understandable.
As a female solo traveller, I definitely cannot shrug off safety as a non-consideration. We ALWAYS must keep our safety a priority.
I believe it’s more helpful to ask HOW solo travel can be done safely because so many travellers have been doing it and are still doing it.
I have been solo travelling South Africa and there are certain things I do to keep safe. Here are a few:
- I always make sure that I have airtime and data on my phone
- I travel with 2 charged power banks
- I don’t post about my travel plans or current location on social media (I only post about a trip when I am back home)
#5.It’s Only for Backpackers
This is definitely a solo travel myth! Solo travel is not only for the backpacking traveller staying in hostels. You can be a luxury solo traveller. You can be a solo traveller that seeks yoga retreats across the world. You can be a digital nomad solo traveller. There are no rules.
#6.You only travel solo when you have no one to travel with
There are many reasons that people choose to solo travel. And though it could be a lack of a travel companion, this is not always the case.Take it from a solo traveller that is always getting “take me with you” messages in her Instagram DMs haha. This solo travel myth can have people not wanting to try solo travel in fear of looking like a loner with no friends. Please don’t let that be you.
Being tired of friends cancelling on travel plans is sometimes the motivation for people to travel solo. However, once you experience it, don’t be surprised if your reasons shift as you realise the other benefits of solo travel. These include the freedom to curate a personal itinerary, the peace that solitude brings, the boost in self-confidence and the opportunity to meet new people.
#7. Solo travel requires immense bravery
Overcoming any fears you may have over solo travel may seem like a huge daunting feat. I hope that reading through this blog post has given you some relief about many of your concerns. As with anything we want in life, we need to plan for it to make it happen. A plan is more important than bravery. Many of the solo travellers I interviewed agreed. You can read what they had to say in this blog post of solo travel tips from solo travellers.
Here is a word of advice to make your first solo trip less daunting: go somewhere you have already been. Doing this will take away a lot of the possible stress you may have of being in a new destination alone. You can use this experience to test out whether solo travel is for you and to build your solo travel confidence.
If you have been wanting to book your first solo trip, I hope that reading this has helped you. Feel welcome to share your thoughts and questions in the comments below.
This has been really helpful to me, i plan on travelling solo on my birthday as i have on numerous occasions been let down by my friends, so i have decided i can not let opportunities to learn about my country pass me by due to disappointments from friends. So i am taking a leap of faith i will also be learning more about my self and connecting with nature. So i am ready and thank you so much for all of this ❤️
I’m so happy to hear that this has been helpful. What a special way to celebrate your birthday! I hope you have the BEST time and I would love to hear about it when you are back 🙂
My number one fear is safety, this is based on that most places aren’t close enough to where activities happen. What can someone who doesn’t drive do?
That’s an understandable fear. My next solo travel blog post is specifically about solo travel safety. Coming up soon!
Loved this post. My personal favorite thing about solo travel is that I can do exactly what I want, when and how. We’re always accommodating others on a day to day basis (which isn’t necessary bad) so an opportunity to just do me makes me happy.
That’s right! And it helps you discover exactly what you are into. Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Thank you for the insights. Hoping to give this a try soon.
You’re welcome! Cheering you on 🙂
Funny thing for me is, sometimes some people really want to join me but I’d be like no. Not this trip, I want to go alone 🥴
YES! I resonate with this comment so much. Solo travel is a choice you make for yourself – a happy choice.
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Thank you for this. Let’s try this 🥺.. I’m definitely an introvert but I wanna travel and do so many activities. I’ve relocated to the UK and would like to see many places before I head back to SA.
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