Lonely Planet - The Solo Travel Handbook: Practical Tips and Inspiration for a Safe, Fun and Fearless Trip

CONTENTS

DECIDING
TO GO

DECIDING
TO GO

10 lessons you learn
about yourself while
travelling solo

Why go solo?

Whats stopping you?

10 lessons you learn
about yourself while
travelling solo

BEFORE YOU GO

Planning your itinerary

The solo travel quiz

Money and budgeting

10 great ways to save money to travel

Booking your trip

10 of the best flight-booking hacks

Luggage and packing

Pre-trip health

Tying up loose ends

ON THE ROAD

10 travel hacks every solo traveller
should know

Arriving in your destination

Managing your money

Accommodation

Eating and drinking

10 travel hacks every solo traveller
should know

Meeting people

Working

Documenting your trip

Staying connected

11 ways to overcome loneliness

Health and fitness

Safety

Responsible solo travel

Planning for your return

Petar Paunchev / Shutterstock

INSPIRATION: 10
GREAT TRIPS FOR
SOLO TRAVELLERS

INSPIRATION: 10
GREAT TRIPS FOR
SOLO TRAVELLERS

Best for adventure:
South America

Best for food:
Vietnam

Best for nightlife:
Berlin, Germany

Best for self-reflection:
Ubud, Bali

Best for a group tour:
East Africa

Best for adventure:
South America

Best for food:
Vietnam

Best for nightlife:
Berlin, Germany

Best for self-reflection:
Ubud, Bali

Best for a group tour:
East Africa

Best for a solo stopover:
Singapore

Best for culture:
Rome

Best for a city break:
Portland, Oregon, USA

Best for a tropical island escape:
Caye Caulker, Belize

Best for road-tripping:
East Coast Australia

Best for a solo stopover:
Singapore

Best for culture:
Rome

Best for a city break:
Portland, Oregon, USA

Best for a tropical island escape:
Caye Caulker, Belize

Best for road-tripping:
East Coast Australia

INSPIRATION:
SOLO TRAVEL TALES

INSPIRATION:
SOLO TRAVEL TALES

Solo travel tales

Resources

Budget
breakdown

$ = BUDGET
$ = MID-RANGE
$$ = TOP-END

LGBT-friendliness
indicator

Lonely Planet writers have rated
destinations from 1 to 5 based on
their friendliness towards same-sex
couples. 1 indicates the least
LGBT-friendly places, and 5
represents the destinations that
are most welcoming.

Galyna Andrushko / Shutterstock

why go solo?

Powder-white sand beaches. Lush, tropical rainforests. Vibrant, ancient cultures.
Local markets that almost literally pop with colour. Not a day goes by where you
dont secretly wish you were living your Instagram feed, but you cant convince
anyone to take a trip with you. So, why dont you go by yourself?

Sure, the idea of travelling alone might sound daunting to a first-timer. Too
much, even. But with a little bit of confidence and a generous dose of preparation,
youll find that travelling solo wont just be fun, but more rewarding than you
ever imagined.

GibsonPictures / getty images

The practical
perks

Solo travel is the ultimate
indulgence, because its all about
you. When youre in charge of
your own schedule, you can go
where you want and do what you
want, when you want and how
you want. Youre free to meet new
people which tends to be easier
when youre travelling solo and
really soak up the destination
without any distractions. You
can travel as fast as you want, or
take as much downtime as you
like, without having to justify your
choices to anyone but yourself.
Enjoy it!

The personal
journey

Solo travel offers the ultimate
opportunity for self-reflection
and development. At home,
our friends, families, employers
and colleagues all play roles
in influencing the way we live
our lives. Travelling alone, you
can escape these influences
and make your own decisions.
Without a travel partner to
delegate some of those decisions
to, your problem-solving ability
increases, making you a more
independent, more fearless
solo traveller in the process.
Expect to get to know yourself
better, discovering strengths you
didnt know you had, as well as
identifying weaknesses you may
wish to work on. Embrace it.

Challenging the
single stigma

There must be something wrong
with you if you travel alone, said
no one ever. Yet, somehow, a
stigma still persists. Fortunately,
its changing. A raft of recent
studies have shown solo travel
is on the increase and, as more
people begin to embrace it, the
image of solo travel is being
redefined as a luxury rather
than some sort of back-up
plan. If youre living a fabulously
independent life at home, theres
no reason why you cant have a
similarly fantastic experience on
the road. Own it.

So, what are
you waiting for? Turn
the page, get inspired
and get ready to realise
your travel dreams
all by yourself.

Whats stopping you?

You can make a million excuses for not wanting to travel on your own,
and youll always find more unless you make the conscious choice to
confront your solo-travel fears. To give you a friendly push in the right
direction, weve broken down some of the most common solo-travel
fears, so they dont seem so scary at all.

PERFECT LAZYBONES / SHUTTERSTOCK

I dont
think Im brave
or outgoing
enough

Travelling solo isnt necessarily synonymous with being
an adrenalin junkie or even an extrovert. If youre the
shy or timid type, ease into solo travel by taking a tour
so you can get used to new destinations before breaking
away to do your own thing, or choose an easy travel
destination perhaps in your home country where
you can work on building your confidence in more
familiar surroundings. Being somewhat forced to talk
to people while travelling alone, whether its to ask
for directions or order a meal, has a wonderful way of
bringing people out of their shells.

Im
worried
about the
cost

There is no rule that says solo travel
is more expensive than group travel.
It can often be cheaper, as you
dont have to compromise on where
you stay, eat or play. Opt for tour
companies that dont charge a single
supplement and/or match you with
a roommate (p27). Consider staying
in a dorm to cut down on hotel-room
costs, ask about discounts for
single occupancy.

Is it
even safe?

This is a perfectly legitimate concern for every traveller, and one that should
be kept in mind with regard to all decisions you make on the road. While
travelling alone is often seen as riskier than travelling in a group, this is not
always the case. Travelling solo, you are forced to be aware of your personal
safety, whereas in a group you may let your guard down and expose your