Solo travel: safety, meeting people and freedom

Setting off on your own sounds exciting to many people, and it is. At the same time it's one of the most valuable ways of travelling. You decide everything yourself, often meet more people than expected and get to know yourself better along the way.

Solo travel: why so many people do it

The biggest advantage of solo travel is freedom. You don't have to consult anyone. Want to stay a day longer, skip a museum or sit on a terrace for hours? All allowed. You travel entirely at your own pace.

You also grow from it. You arrange everything yourself, from the route to an unexpected missed bus. That gives a confidence you take home with you too. And because you're not in your own bubble, you're more open to your surroundings.

Out and about safely

Safety is the question that comes up most often, and rightly so. With some common sense you get a long way. The basics are: make sure someone at home knows roughly where you are and keep your valuables close to you.

• Share your route and where you're staying with someone you trust.
• Arrive in a new city during the day, not in the middle of the night.
• Keep a copy of your passport and important numbers separately.
• Trust your gut: if something feels off, just keep walking.
• Take some emergency cash that you keep separate from your debit card.

Meeting people on the road

A common fear is loneliness, but in practice it's often not so bad. Precisely because you're alone, you approach others more easily and people are quicker to speak to you. Hostels, group activities and shared tables are goldmines for spontaneous conversations.

Want company? Then now and then choose a group day trip or a cooking workshop. Want peace instead? Then you simply do your own thing for a day. That variety is exactly what makes solo travel so pleasant.

Eating and moments for yourself

Eating on your own may feel awkward at first, but you soon get used to it. Sit at the bar, bring a book or just watch life on the street. Many solo travellers come to appreciate this in the end as a moment of calm.

Allow yourself empty moments too. You don't have to fill every day. Sometimes an afternoon without a plan is the finest memory you take home.

Start gently

Still in doubt? Then start small. A long weekend in a nearby city gives you a feel for how solo travel works for you, without being away from home for weeks straight away. If you like it, you'll naturally build up to a bigger trip.

All your addresses, emergency numbers and plans you keep neatly together with a travel planner like Zuvy, so you can enjoy your own pace with peace of mind.