How to travel solo — and why you absolutely should

Don’t let the lack of a travel companion keep you from missing out on an amazing experience.

For all sorts of reasons, you might be faced with the choice of traveling alone or not traveling at all. Your partner, friends or family may be unable to take the same time off work, or maybe they’re just not as keen on the same destinations as you are.

That shouldn’t mean you’re stuck at home.

Plan A Solo Vacation Day falls on March 1 each year, so now is the time to consider booking that solo trip.

I love traveling by myself and have had some fantastic experiences abroad. Sometimes, I prefer traveling alone to traveling with others.

Here are reasons I love traveling alone as well as some tips to help you plan your first solo trip.

Related: The best solo travel destinations

Why you should consider a solo trip

If you haven’t considered taking a trip alone, doing so has several benefits.

First, you can have complete freedom and control to do whatever you want, whenever you want. Do you want to sleep in until noon, order room service, and binge-watch Netflix to relax? No problem. Want to be up at 6 a.m. to watch the sunrise during a peaceful run to a scenic lookout? You can do that, too.

Love museums? Spend all day in one.

Hate museums? Skip them completely.

Related: 8 immersive digital art museums around the world worth experiencing

Long story short: You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do just because someone you’re traveling with wants to do it.

Also, you’ll likely meet new people when traveling alone since you may be more open to conversations with strangers instead of only talking with the people in your travel group.

I’ve also found that being the lone foreigner at a bar or cafe quickly leads to conversation, particularly if your accent differs from others.

On the practical side, finding great travel deals for just one person can be much easier than two. Sure, you’re not splitting accommodation costs, but if you’re using points and miles for your flight — especially in a premium cabin — it’s significantly easier to find one award seat than two or more.

Your capabilities may surprise you after planning and navigating your first solo trip. You’ll naturally become a better decision-maker as you decide what to do each day, rather than relying on a travel companion to choose for you.

Related: Need to know: The 6 top travel trends for 2025

There will be challenges

It won’t always be easy.

Traveling alone isn’t perfect. You may become lonely traveling for an extended period, especially at mealtimes. If you enjoy your own company, it may be easier. However, it might be difficult for someone who likes constantly being around others.

I have found dinnertime to be the hardest part of the day when traveling solo; dinnertime is when people are most likely to sit down for a formal meal rather than grab something on the run. Don’t feel self-conscious if you want to take a book or tablet to entertain you. Remember, for business travelers, eating dinner alone is a pretty normal part of the job, and they manage fine.

It can also become exhausting to make every single decision yourself. You must solve every problem from a simple “Where can I get a coffee?” to the more complicated “My flight is canceled, and no one speaks English, how on earth do I get home?” If you’re indecisive, you may struggle with this and have nobody to assist you with the decision-making.

Another downside might be if you have an amazing, unique experience, it may not feel so special if you have no one to share it and remember it with. For example, that terrifying theme park roller coaster that made you almost faint may not make as good a story if no one else was there.

Finally, even if you keep busy as a traveler, there’s often plenty of downtime. You may have almost too much free time without the natural conversations with other travelers and the time it takes to agree on daily decisions.

Related: The 6 best cruise lines for solo travelers

Best places for solo travel

For starters, just about any destination can be suitable for solo travel if you can join a group tour.

I’m not talking about booking a half-day tour online for the next day and hoping the group will be friendly (or have other solo travelers). These are multiday tours where you travel together. I’ve made lifelong friends doing these tours where you are thrown together with strangers in an unusual setting.

A 2025 Group Travel Trends Report by WeTravel revealed that 18% of travel operators now offer solo-exclusive group tours to meet increasing demand, especially in the 45-to-60 age bracket. Of the hundreds of travel operators surveyed, 25% of their group bookings for 2025 departures have been made by solo travelers. In its 2025 travel trend report, The New York Times also agreed that traveling alone in 2025 is now a group activity.

If you’re not joining a tour, there are still many destinations suited to solo travelers.

Related: 8 tips on how to travel solo in retirement

Big cities that are easy to navigate with plenty to do

You’ll want to keep yourself busy if traveling alone in a city, so pick one with plenty to do. At the same time, if you have to do all the navigating yourself, aim for those cities where it’s relatively easy to get around, like London, Hong Kong, Dubai and New York City.

Relaxing beach destinations to switch off and unwind

Feeling burned out at home, pulling monster hours at work and dreaming of the day you can flop down somewhere sunny and recharge?

You might struggle to find someone who can come with you, especially at short notice. Don’t be afraid to relax alone. You can lose yourself in a book, top up your tan and take an afternoon nap daily. You might find a solo trip more relaxing than a trip with your friends.

I love visiting the beautiful Spanish island of Mallorca to do exactly that. I return home recharged and ready to dive back into normal life.

If there’s no beach where you’re going, book a fancy resort with a nice pool, order a cocktail, fire up a podcast and chill.

Let’s be real: We all need a good self-care trip occasionally.

Destinations with great hostel and backpacker scenes

At my age (early 40s), I feel too old and precious to sleep in a dorm with strangers. However, many hostels will have private rooms with ensuite bathrooms like basic hotel rooms. Some of these are nice, too.

For example, the Generator hostel chain in Europe and the U.S. has rooms similar to those of an Aloft or Moxy hotel. Its sister brand, Freehand, also offers private and shared rooms in select U.S. cities.

The benefit is that they will likely be filled with people like you — fun, social travelers who are up for a chat and a laugh. There’s a good chance other solo travelers will look for someone to hang out with on their journey.

Places like Bali and Berlin are filled with hostels, while places like Kuwait and Casablanca, Morocco, are not. Do your research on the scene before booking the flight. Don’t be afraid to book a private room in a hostel purely in the hope of meeting other travelers.

Consider cruising solo

TPG’s cruise team lead, Gene Sloan, has sailed on over 150 ships, so I asked him about cruising solo. He said:

“A cruise is a wonderful option for a solo traveler. A hallmark of cruising is that it is a very social type of travel, and solo travelers on cruises generally have no trouble mixing and mingling. Cruisers, in general, are very social people. In fact, many people cruise specifically to meet other people. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been sitting alone in a corner of a cruise ship lounge, minding my own business, when another passenger (or two, or five) stopped by and struck up a conversation.”

However, Gene noted that solo cruising can be expensive. He shared that the price for most cabins is based on two people occupying a cabin, so solo cruisers will often pay more on a per-person basis than two people occupying that same cabin. A growing number of lines have been adding cabins for one, though. Also, some higher-end lines offer special deals for solo travelers that bring down this extra cost, Gene said.

If you can find a good deal, consider taking a solo cruise. Chances are you’ll make new friends and get some much-needed time away from many stressors.

What destinations aren’t suited to solo travelers?

There are some destinations that solo travelers should avoid, including:

• Super romantic destinations like the Maldives, where loved-up honeymooners will likely surround you.
• Family-friendly destinations and activities like theme parks and water parks where you’ll probably stand in line most of the day with no one to talk to. Although not a theme park, Las Vegas isn’t designed for solo travelers.
• Cities that are difficult to navigate on your own. You might find Havana frustratingly difficult if you don’t grasp Spanish well. On an organized tour, Moscow, Beijing and Cairo are wonderful, but they may not be easy to do alone.
• A remote resort that’s difficult to leave, especially if it’s hard for you to relax alone for extended periods. However, this is a great option if you enjoy your own company and find it relaxing to do nothing.

Related: How to choose and book the right Bora Bora resort

Solo travel tips

Once you pick a destination that matches your preferred travel style and is suitable for solo travel, here are some tips to help you prepare for your journey.

Research activities in the destination. A cooking class or food tour will help acclimate you to the local environment and introduce you to other solo travelers with similar interests. Culinary Backstreets offers day-long food tours everywhere from Barcelona to Bangkok.

Seize the opportunity to do what you want. This is when to visit the museum you’ve always wanted to see or linger through a shopping district without a schedule. You only have yourself to focus on during this trip. Not worrying about balancing a schedule with a partner or other family members can be liberating.

Share your itinerary with a trusted friend or family member so they know your whereabouts. Plan to check in with them at certain times during your travels. Be cautious moving around after dark, especially if it is a destination you have not visited.

Consider your travel gear. You have to carry it all, so pack light. A fanny pack or sling can be a great addition to your travel gear for hands-free travel and keeping your valuables close.

Once you arrive at your destination, you can do a few other things to ensure a successful solo trip.

First, try and be more social and approachable. Avoid putting on your headphones and gluing your eyes to your phone whenever you want to meet others.

This is when staying at a hostel is beneficial — it’s nearly expected to talk with other travelers at the bar and in common areas. You may also want to search for places popular with travelers where it’s easy to converse.

As we talked about, mealtimes can be difficult when traveling alone. You might feel self-conscious when rocking up to a fancy restaurant and asking for a table for one. I’ve become the most bored when traveling alone during dinner because I have nothing to do beyond eating. For this reason, I generally choose dining establishments where I know the meal will be relatively casual, and I can likely be in and out in under an hour as I don’t wish to linger.

Ask if you can be seated at the bar — some bartenders love a good chat, especially if the venue isn’t busy. Inquire about what their favorite drink to make is or ask for a recommendation for a local beer or cocktail.

I’ve enjoyed hotel breakfasts alone. It’s a good chance to catch up on the daily news, scroll social media and plan the day. For lunch, I usually grab something to take away that is easy to eat alone.

Finally, push yourself outside your comfort zone.

If you’ve ever wanted to do an unusual activity but your family or friends didn’t want to do it with you, here’s your chance. Ever wanted to go to a risque burlesque show? Go for it. Always wanted to bungee jump but everyone else is too scared of heights? Now’s the time to do it alone.

Related: Here’s why Virgin Voyages’ entertainment is now the best on any cruise

Bottom line

I’ve enjoyed some fantastic solo vacations. The freedom and flexibility to do whatever I want, whenever I want, cannot be underestimated. It’s a true holiday when I wake up whenever I want to and think, “What do I feel like doing today?”

If you want to travel but the only thing holding you back is someone to do it with, consider going alone.

If you do, recognize there may be times when you feel bored and devoid of conversation. However, I treasure the benefits of traveling alone to compensate for the difficulties. Only do what you want, and don’t worry about anyone else’s thoughts.

They’re not there to pass judgment. It’s your trip, and you can do and be anything you want.

Now that’s a vacation.