it’s been a few months since i wrote any tips on traveling solo, and that was a post aimed at solo female travelers. so what’s the difference between this post and that one? i’ve done a little more traveling since then, the most prominent one being my big new zealand adventure. there’s also been a lot more happening in the world, and i’ve heard a lot from people who are scared to go anywhere.
as i mentioned two weeks ago, solo travel can be incredibly rewarding. you can learn so much about yourself as a human, and you can also learn a lot about the world around you and how you respond to it. i’ve made great friends while traveling solo, i’ve also met some not so great people. the biggest thing i can tell you about an unfamiliar situation is to trust your gut. that’s huge. and that really does apply to a million things in life. i had a mini panic attack the day that i flew out of kansas city. i was really uncertain about a twelve hour flight over open ocean, one week after the plane bombing in egypt. i admit i was scared. my dad said, “you can always just not go,” and my immediate response was, “no, i’m going.”
if you’ve made plans to meet people, make sure you’re going to a well-lit place where others will be. as i write this, i’ve made plans to join a meetup group for a pub quiz tonight. i’ve looked up the bus schedule so that i can make my way back after dark without problems, though i do intend on walking down there (a half hour or so walk.)
on the flip side though, don’t be afraid to take on an adventure on your own. can’t find a coffee buddy? try the little cafe by yourself. or if no one is up for a hike, go alone. even if it means stepping outside of your comfort zone, solo adventures can lead to great things. who knows – you could meet a travel buddy on the trail. i’d had incredible walks by myself. i’m not waiting around for someone else to catch up to me, and i can stop and take as many photos as i like.
stepping outside of your comfort zone can be scary. it can be downright terrifying (if “scary” wasn’t a scary enough word) in fact: leaving the known for the unknown, the familiar for the unfamiliar, the knows for the who knows. i admit to being a little overwhelmed in a new place. i don’t know where to buy things, i don’t know the bus system, the train system, how things work in a foreign place. and that – foreign – why, it can be the other side of your own country, it doesn’t need to mean another country. the way they do things in new york is different from the way los angelenos do things. and the way things are done in kansas city is totally weird to people from new york (trust me on this one.) of course, places within your own country have similar things – the same cafes, the same chain restaurants, the same clothing stores – so it’s not entirely foreign. but still – walking down venice beach can be another world.
one of the best things for solo travelers is meeting people. but it can be hard knowing where to meet the right people. bars? coffee shops? online? i found myself curious the other day, and i googled meet up groups. thanks to the power that is facebook, i linked that up and found some groups that share my interests: travel, wine, young-ish people, and adventures. now, my inbox is full of potential meet ups with people – in public places – that might turn out to be great friends. or at least people to have a drink with. i’ve also been using tinder (yes, i know) and i’ve had six meet ups over the last three days with guys that live in the area. if anything, that is totally empowering. i also used the power of facebook to ask my girls travel group about friends they may have in my area, and i got in touch with siblings and friends of fellow independent women. i’m not looking for a date, i’m just looking to not sit around my house every single evening.
the upshot of it all is, if you’re waiting for a travel buddy, you’re waiting too long. go out, explore this great wide world we have, and don’t be scared of the unknown. meet people along the way – they could be a great story, or they could be a great friend. it’s up to you.
you might also like:
travel tips: solo female travelers
what i’ve learned while traveling solo
travel tips: traveling with confidence
skara brae and the unfortunate hike