Travel Better: My Thoughts on Solo Travel

...and why you'll *probably* love it.

Solo travel is a polarizing topic. I’ve been traveling alone for a decade now and it’s become a huge passion of mine. While I do love traveling with friends, family, or partners, those trips satisfy a different kind of craving. Just like a girls’ trip has a completely different energy than a getaway with your romantic partner. Neither is better; they just feel *different*, wouldn’t you agree?

Most people don’t understand my love for solo travel. “Don’t you get lonely?” “Isn’t it weird eating alone?” Honestly, I’m just not the audience for those questions because I’ve always enjoyed my own company. I’ve never felt awkward dining solo or walking into a party where I don’t know a single person. Maybe that’s unusual, but I love observing, soaking things in, and having moments where I don’t feel like I have to perform for anyone. Do any fellow Leos relate???

I’m definitely a social person at face value, but I also really value my alone time. I recharge when I’m by myself. I think that makes me an extraverted introvert? Stay with me here, but I’m convinced (!) solo travel has something to offer both introverts and extraverts. For extraverts, it’s a chance to strike up conversations with the table next to you, flirt with the waiter, or make unexpected connections. For introverts, it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy a meal while reading a book, wander a museum at your own pace, or simply take it all in without any small talk.

I don’t think solo travel is for everyone, but if you’ve ever even *thought* about it, chances are it’s for you :) So if you’ve never traveled alone before, I’ve put together some benefits and tips that might just give you the nudge you need. And for those of you considering solo travel as a way to escape grief… spoiler: you won’t escape it, but I have some reassuring thoughts to share <3

The benefits of solo travel…

• Complete freedom and flexibility – You get to do what you want, when you want, without worrying about anyone else’s schedule, energy, or opinions. No need to compromise!

• Tailored experiences – You can focus entirely on your own interests: museums, hikes, beach days, food… all activities tailored to your taste.

• Set your own pace – Explore at your speed, whether that means waking up early or waking up late, checking off a packed itinerary or lingering in a café for hours, without being dragged along or held back.

• Opportunity to meet new people (if you want to!) – Traveling solo often opens doors to conversations and connections you might not have otherwise, whether with locals, fellow travelers, or even just sharing a table at a restaurant.

• Boosts confidence and independence – Gets you out of your comfort zone! Navigating a new place alone builds problem-solving skills, adaptability, and self-reliance.

• Heightened awareness and observation – Without the distraction of familiar company, you notice everything more vividly. ***Hot take: To be a strong travel journalist I actually think solo travel is essential. You can dive much deeper into a place on your own than when you’re sharing the experience with someone familiar. Plus, it pushes you to embrace a little discomfort which helps hone your perspective and sharpens your instincts as a storyteller.

Tips for easing into solo travel…

• Start small – Pick a destination that feels manageable. A city or town you’ve always wanted to visit is easier than a remote or logistically complex location. (If you’re going through heartbreak or grief of any kind, keep reading… I have thoughts for you <3)

• Choose accommodation wisely – Stay somewhere social if you want company, like smaller boutique hotels or guesthouses with fewer than 10 rooms, where you’re more likely to strike up conversations with other travelers. Or choose a more traditional hotel if you prefer to stay more anonymous, blending in with the other guests.

• Plan, but don’t over-plan – Have a rough itinerary so you know the basics (arrival, lodging, transport) but leave space for spontaneity and discovery.

• Pack smart – Solo travel means you’ll be carrying your own bags so less is more!

• Learn a few local phrases – Maybe this sounds silly to you, but I do feel like knowing simple greetings or “thank you” in the local language helps you feel more confident and connected.

• Start with daytime activities – Pack your days with sightseeing and exploring while you build confidence navigating solo. By the time evening rolls around, if you’re not ready to dine alone (I get it! It can feel weird having dinner alone in an unfamiliar city), you’ll be pleasantly tired and won’t feel guilty ordering room service or heading to bed early :)

• Be social on your own terms – Strike up conversations at cafés, markets or shops if you feel like it! Pro tip if you want to invite conversation: eat slow, take breaks, look up from your meal every now and then :) Look open.

• Trust your instincts – Solo travel is empowering, but always prioritize your safety and comfort. Listen to your gut.

• Anticipate the triggers and accept them – the menus built around sharing plates, the restaurants that don’t even offer reservations online for one (just book for two), the pricier accommodations and taxis when there’s no one to split the cost with.

Solo travel if you’re navigating heartbreak, grief, loss of any kind…

Look, I don’t buy into the whole “Eat, Pray, Love” fantasy that running away or escaping for a time will magically fix your problems. (I mean, hey, if I meet my own version of a hot, sensitive, rich Javier Bardem look-alike on my next solo trip, maybe I’ll change my tune, but until then… kidding.) It’s like that saying, “wherever you go, there you are.” Your fears, feelings, and problems don’t vanish just because you’ve changed your scenery… they go with you.

But travel can still be incredibly valuable during this season of your life for other reasons. The only way through grief of any kind is with movement and time. Keeping your mind busy and curious, and swapping the discomfort and stillness of grief for the challenge of navigating somewhere new and unfamiliar, can be a powerful way to shift your energy and keep life gently moving forward. Travel can be healing in ways we often underestimate :)

During this period, I’d actually suggest prioritizing group travel, if you can. Convince a friend or a family member to join you. All you need is one person! (Ideally, someone you feel comfortable breaking down in front of, who can quietly reassure a kind but confused waiter that yes, the pancakes look fine, and no, your tears have nothing to do with breakfast.) But if you really want to travel alone, I get it. You’re stubborn… same. I’d just steer clear of slow, lazy, or romantic trips. No beach getaways, and even some nature escapes can leave us too much in our own heads.

So my advice is a city trip! A city is perfect during this time… somewhere you can explore museums, wander markets and cute neighborhoods, shop, and let the energy and fast pace of urban life keep your mind engaged. A group retreat is another solo travel hack for when you don’t want to feel too alone but are craving a change of pace, new connections and a new experience. I mentioned a couple here, but I’ll work on a more thorough guide to some group retreats because a lot of you have been curious about that lately!

If you have any specific questions about traveling alone, I invite you to ask them in our Substack chat!

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