When I did my first solo travel trip, you could say it was a daunting task for me at first. I’m the sort of person that enjoys being in the company of others, bouncing energy and laughter off one another. I think it’s the extrovert in me, to make memories with my loved ones and share once in a life time experiences with someone. However, I started my blog in hope that I would push my travel boundaries and be more ‘fearless’ and that I had to be.
For all those that are considering a solo travel trip, i’m sharing 5 tips that helped me cope with my first solo travel adventure.
1. Enjoy your own company
I think for me, this was the hardest part about my solo travel adventure. I’m a huge people person and I like to talk for England at the best of times. I think it hit me the most when I was in Paris and saw the cutest little restaurant and turned my head to my left to point it out and realised I was alone. I didn’t have someone to share that particular moment with. I had a minute or two of an overwhelming loneliness but I picked myself up. I think finding comfort in yourself and enjoying your company is so important and you can only achieve that by doing it.
2. Take lots of photos
When I found myself wanting to share moments like the above, I would snap the life out of them instead. I made visual memories instead and shared them on social media. If I couldn’t share it with someone in the moment, I was going to share it with my thousands of followers through Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Photos definitely make the best memories too, because you can look back at them and remember how you felt at every moment – which is just as special.
3. Don’t be afraid to dine out solo
Another issue I had with solo travel was eating alone. It was something I was always afraid to do in London, my home city. How was I going to do it in a different country? I then realised, nobody knows me here. I will never see these people again. Whatever I overcome, will only build my character and fearlessness for the next time. So I did it. I didn’t sit on the single counter seats by the windows, nor did I or eat at the bar – I occupied a table for two in the centre of the restaurant. It was the most unsettling feeling at first, because I thought everyone was staring at me. However, when I realised that it was all in my head, I began to settle.
I found keeping up to date with my social media and chatting to my friends over WhatsApp was the perfect way to feel more comfortable whilst I was eating alone.
4. Keep yourself busy
Start early, treat yourself to a filling breakfast and get exploring. Go off the beaten path, find those hidden treasures and truly take your time enjoying the moment. Keep yourself busy and don’t come back to your hotel until you have tired yourself out. You can then rest assured that you’ve made the most of your time out and you will have a restful night sleep ready for more adventures.
5. Revel in the moment
Enjoy the moment and do things you want to do. After all, you don’t have to consider anyone else’s opinion, so make the most of it. Talk to the locals, figure out the local transport, visit the restaurants that take your fancy, change you mind whenever and wherever you want to. Just live, breathe and relax.
Until next time…
