Solo travel can be a great experience, but no matter who you are you’ll want to connect with people along the way. It depends on your personality, you might get a little lonely or feel disconnected after a day on the road or it might be a week. But all solo travelers need to avoid loneliness along the ride.

So when you’re planning your next solo trip take these ideas into consideration these ways to avoid loneliness on the road.

By Beniamino Bortoli.

Get out of your comfort zone & start conversations with locals

It’s quite possible that you’ll stand out as a traveler when on the road. That may mean locals don’t start up the conversations with you, but that doesn’t mean you can get one started. Whether you’re fluent in the language or need some practice, break out of your comfort zone and jump into a conversation nearby. You might just have a quick exchange or you might make a new friend.

Take a seat at the bar or communal table

It’s easy to sit down at a table and eat by yourself. Or grab a drink with a book in your hand. But when you do that it’s unlikely you’ll have a chance to meet or talk with anyone. So instead take a seat at a bar or a communal space. Here you might chat with the bartender, another traveler or some locals who sit next to you.

Use shared transportation

Many places you can travel from city to city with others. This might be taking a bus or a shared taxi. These can be another chance to meet other travelers. Plus, it will normally save you a few bucks.

By Rashi Kalra

Find out where to meet travelers & expats

Most cities around the globe have places where travelers and expats get together. It might be a coffee shop or a bar. You can normally find the spots with a quick search online. Especially if your skills in the local language are weak, meeting other travelers can be a great way to connect and make friends on the road.

Take a group tour or sign up for a group activity

When traveling you might not want to hop on a tour or sign up for a group activity. When you’re trying to experience a country yourself sometimes these can feel “inauthentic”. While this can be true there are also great ones out there. Plus, they are a chance to have a shared experience during your travels. They can be day trip tours, walking tours, cooking classes or guided hikes to give you a few ideas. 

Find a meet-up or a travel buddy

If meeting people on the road isn’t coming organically think about making a plan to meet people. There are some great ways to do this. Check out meetup.com or look for Facebook events in the area.

Soon you’ll be able to connect with locals and travelers in the area directly with our upcoming travel buddy app. If you want to be the first to hear about the launch, sign up here.

Bring along a good book or two

You might not always want to interact with others but you can get lost in a good book. If you’re anything like me this can help you avoid loneliness along the road as well. Think about packing an e-reader where you can bring along a few books without having to take up much room in your luggage.

More and more women are taking off and traveling the world on their own. There are so many aspects to solo travel that allow you to best experience both a destination and yourself. Whether it’s a round-the-world trip or just a weekend away, taking a solo trip as a women traveler can be intimidating, to say the least. There are a few safety tips for women we’d recommend.

Odds are when you plan your first solo trip you’ll hear a lot about being safe and whether you are sure it’s safe to travel there by yourself. In reality, as long as you’re prepared it’s safe to travel alone just about anywhere in the world.

Much of the intimidation comes from not know what you’ll experience, and while many of the fears are unfounded, you do need to be prepared.

Be A Good Person, Not A Polite One

A simple safety tip for women is being honest to yourself above all else. Especially in touristy places, as a traveler, you’ll always be approached by people trying to sell you something. And as a solo women traveler, you’ll likely be approach by men wanting to chat with you.  Ninety-nine percent of the time these people are entirely innocent. At the same time, you don’t have to talk with them if you are at all uncomfortable or just don’t want to.

It’s okay to say no! Get comfortable with it. Make sure you are a good person but don’t be polite just to be polite and put yourself a situation you don’t want to be in.

Don’t Go Too Far Off the Grid

It can be invigorating to be out on your own, and part of the point of traveling solo is to disconnect from your world back home. At the same time, in case something does happen you want to have people know where you are. One of our safety tips for women is don’t fall too far off the Grid.

If you’ve planned ahead, leave an itinerary with a few family or friends. And, touch base from time to time with them, even if it’s just letting them know you’re at a new destination.

Take Care of Yourself

As a solo traveler, you do need to be more alert of your situation. That shouldn’t stop you from enjoying yourself but you do need to be more aware of taking care of yourself.

Knowing your limits is important. Whether that is watching how much and what you drink, ensuring you’re getting enough sleep, or not getting sunburnt. Not only will this keep you safe it will allow you to have more fun.

Trust Your Gut

We have instincts for a reason and while you might be overreacting it’s better than underreacting. When you’re uncomfortable in a situation, trust your gut and get out. At the same time, if you’re comfortable somewhere or with someone trust that as well. You won’t enjoy the experience if you’re paranoid and unable to connect with locals and other travelers.

Be Prepared & Have Fun As A Solo Traveler

When traveling solo, it’s good to prepare a little more than normal. Take a minute to consider these and other safety tips for women. That might mean having a ride to your accommodation when you arrive, buying travel insurance, and knowing enough of the local language to get help when you need it.

At the same time, being prepared will allow you to better enjoy and experience your destination as a solo traveler. So ladies, get out there and explore the world!