First solo trips, safety, hostels, confidence, loneliness and the practical side of traveling alone.
13,240 members
For people traveling on their own, whether it is the first weekend away or a long trip. Specific experiences beat blanket claims about what is safe or worth doing.
Community rules
Specific safety beats fear. Describe the place, time and behavior rather than labeling whole cities safe or unsafe.
No solo-travel purity tests. Tours, private rooms and slow days are still solo travel.
Respect local context. Advice about dress, etiquette and behavior should avoid stereotypes.
Daytime alone is easy for me. I can walk, visit museums, sit in a cafe, whatever. Around 7 pm I suddenly become very aware that I am by myself. I do not mind eating alone, but after dinner I end up wandering without much...
One pleasure of traveling alone is that I can abandon a museum after twenty minutes and spend the rest of the afternoon wandering a market. Strangely, I still feel guilty changing an itinerary I spent hours planning, as...
Travel advice sometimes makes ordinary cities sound like obstacle courses: never look at your phone, never speak to strangers, never go out after dark. I take basic precautions and avoid wandering into unfamiliar areas w...
Some attractions feel designed for groups: guided activities where everyone arrives with friends, themed restaurants with big tables, long scenic drives where no one shares the navigation. I'm happy alone most of the tim...
I'll be away alone on my birthday. I'm not upset about it, but I don't want the day to dissolve into ordinary sightseeing and an early dinner. My current idea is one memorable activity, a nice meal and a call home, witho...