Traveling alone: ​​Practical tips for your trip

You know, traveling alone can give you unique emotions… Are you thinking about the possibility of starting to travel alone and are you looking for more detailed information on logistics, baggage and suggestions for planning this type of adventure? You are in the right place: here's what you need to know to travel alone!

Traveling alone is a trend that is becoming increasingly popular all over the world: the possibility of enjoying the beauty of the world at your own pace and not necessarily in the company of someone you know is something that more and more people want to try. And you? Do you want to find out if it could be more than just an experience, but a real choice of travel and life?

Whether you are already an individual traveler, or if you are thinking of traveling alone and are full of doubts, or if you are simply curious and want to know more, we have collected the most important things to consider before leaving alone to discover the world. And all the tips to better organize yourself!

Why travel alone?

Traveling alone, unlike what happened in the past, is now increasingly seen as an experience to do at least once in a lifetime . In the past, this type of travel was automatically considered as the only opportunity for singles to leave or as the only way to react to a particular moment in their lives .

Today things have changed and you travel alone for the pleasure of doing it , for the pleasure of experiencing what it means to be enough for yourself, to find new friends on the road, to move according to your needs and rhythms without having to compromise with no other person.

The statistics are clear in this sense: the increase of those who book solo holidays, meaning not only all-inclusive packages for holidays but above all flights, hotels and experiences, was on average 48% on a global basis in 2018 considering the data aggregates from different sources. More and more people love to travel alone.

It is not only the "millennials" who want to start alone, it is the entire profile of the traveler who has changed and the age, in this case, has nothing to do with the decision, just as there are no differences between women and men.

Organize a solo trip

Unlike what one might think, there are different types of solo travel : there are those who choose to travel completely alone and organize everything on their own and those who leave alone but choose group travel, with strangers.

So, the first thing to do if you decide to go alone is to evaluate the type of trip you want to do and how to do it: many for the first trip independently recommend choosing a group, to experience solitude but at the same time not suffer too much in case of problems and unexpected events. Others, however, advise to be completely independent, from the first trip , and not to give in to the temptation of group travel just for fear of loneliness.

Both approaches can have advantages and disadvantages that must be carefully weighed once you have decided to leave without anyone known by your side.

Traveling alone but in a group

Traveling in a group, leaving without knowing anyone, is one of the possible choices if you decide to leave individually. The advantage of group departures is that, when traveling alone, you become part of a group of strangers who, united by the desire to travel, put themselves completely on the line. It is a type of travel that requires us to adapt to the rules of the group and therefore may not be the best solution for those who want to be totally independent and free from timetables, means of transport and predefined activities. The pros are related to small or large travel incidents: in case, you will have someone who can help you.

Travel completely alone

The choice to travel totally independently allows you to get to know new countries, new cultures, new people and get to know yourself better. In fact, those who choose to organize a trip on their own in complete autonomy have the task of managing all the logistics but, at the same time, if they want, also not to manage it, leaving all the options open once on site. It is a type of travel that confronts different situations and the possibility of learning more about oneself and one's needs. And why not leave technology behind .

How to organize your first trip on your own

Organizing a trip on your own takes time and planning , especially if you are talking about an important and long-distance trip. Here are some tips to keep in mind if you decide to venture out and plan your first trip on your own.

1. Define the departure period and the time available

Before even choosing the destination, defining the period in which to leave is essential. In fact, you may find that Australia is winter in August and that part of Iceland is inaccessible in winter . In addition to the dates, it is also good to establish the time available immediately because it will be essential to choose the destination of your trip: for example, in a week it is impossible to see Japan while two weeks are far too much for a trip to Mallorca if not you love the sea.

2. Define the budget

After thinking about the timing, you have to think about the budget : traveling alone can mean spending less because you are more flexible but also potentially spending more, because sometimes "loneliness" is paid and you cannot share the expenses with anyone: just think about the cost of a single room in a hotel , which is usually higher than the double; or to the possibility of taking a taxi .

The question of the budget is extremely subjective but always remember that you can travel almost always with a reduced budget as well as with a very high budget, in all countries of the world.

3. Choose the destination

Whether it 's Asia , Latin America, Europe or even Italy, the choice of destination is essential when deciding to travel alone. If you have been accustomed to always travel in groups or in pairs, finding an agreement may have been difficult and you may even have consented to leave for a destination that did not thrill you.

For this reason, the first thing to do to choose the destination is to ask yourself the question: What type of experience am I looking for and what purpose does my trip have? Dig into your memory and put the pieces together to understand the purpose of your trip, your interests and your needs. This aspect is also part of the autonomous travel experience, and it is essential that it is part of the journey from the beginning.

4. Plan and book

Once the period, budget and destination have been established, it is time to sit down and plan : you could decide to organize the trip stage by stage , or to buy the air ticket and organize everything on site, or even organize only part of the travel. Whatever the choice, once important decisions have been made, it is good to find the cheapest flight to reach the chosen destination immediately !