One of the best decisions I made for myself was booking a solo trip. Completely alone, completely on my own time, and completely worth it.
At 24 I had just moved into my second apartment in the city, hit my one year anniversary at my first job out of college, and was determined to continue on the path of taking big leaps that scared me.
After reading an article on 30 trips to take before you turn 30, I was mesmerized about the idea of traveling alone, and ways it could improve the experience of travel. So I requested the time off, packed a bag, and booked a ticket to Charleston.
Whether you’re 21 or 51, you can get a lot out of a solo trip, and you’ll want to be prepared with the basics.
Be sure you still take the opportunity to do something that scares you!
For me, it was the idea of substantial conversations with strangers. While the introvert in me was happy to do things solo, I had dinner at a bar with a couple who was super sweet, I signed up for a group trip to Boone Hall Plantation, and I took a history and architecture tour where I met tons of great people.
As a person who prefers to keep to herself unless I know the person well, these were big steps, and the positive experiences were proof that sometimes it’s fun to mix things up.
While you don’t want to let fear keep you from traveling to specific locations, you do want to make sure that you’re doing your research. Some cities are safer than others, some parts of the city are safer than others, and some places have general rules that the locals like to follow. Be sure to do some quick searches before you book your flight to make sure you’re prepared for the type of location you’re headed to.
Nervous about going it completely alone? Try signing up for a group tour through a trusted agency to get your feet wet.
I grew up in a family of four. Which meant vacations were only 25% of what I wanted to do and 75% of what others wanted to do. (Ideally, at least. I’m sure my parents might say that percentage didn’t add up so nicely.
Traveling in a group takes compromise to be successful, and while you might not always get what you want, you have the bonus of friends and family to make up for it.
A bonus to traveling alone? You don’t have to compromise. Want to take a nap in the middle of the day? Go ahead! Want to splurge on a fancy sushi dinner? Have at it! You are in charge of the schedule, the must-sees, the entire trip, so take the opportunity to tailor it to you.
Checking in with somebody can add an extra level of safety to your trip. Before you leave, be sure to designate a check-in buddy back home that knows where you are and where you’re headed. Should something happen, you want to be sure that there is somebody expecting your call.
Don’t really feel like calling home constantly? Chat with the front desk! While it is strongly recommended that you check in with a friend or family member, hotel staff are often willing to help you out in any way they can. After all, they care about your safety!
Above all, trust yourself. If that little voice in the back of your head is telling you that you can do something, push forward. If it’s telling you that something about your situation is wrong, bag out. The ultimate goal of your trip is to have a good time, and nobody knows your limits better than you.