Finding Alexx's guide to

SOLO TRAVEL

"You are the one that possesses the keys to your being. You carry the passport to your own happiness."

Diane von Furstenberg

One of the biggest barriers that stops people from travelling is that they have no one to go with.

And I get it, it sucks when your best friend bails on a big adventure or when you go through a break up and you lose your ready-made travel buddy, and it’s hard to take that massive leap into exploring the world on your own.

But I promise you, it is so worth it.

Travelling solo is one of the best things you’ll ever do.

You’ll learn to trust your instincts, you’ll finetune your problem solving skills and you’ll gain loads of confidence.

You’ll also probably meet more people than you would’ve if you were travelling with a friend or partner, and you can do what you want, when you want, how you want without worrying about keeping someone else happy. Macarons for breakfast? Go for it. Sleep in til 11am? Sleep away!

Why I'm a solo travel expert...

From this...
to this!

My first solo trip was a university exchange to San Diego, California when I was 19 years old. I literally knew no one in the entire country, so you could say I threw myself into the deep end.

Ten years on from then I’ve visited a whopping 41 countries as a solo female traveller, I’ve moved abroad to London by myself and I managed to tick off nine months of solo travel through Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Phew!

But travelling solo isn’t enough for me, I want to help you do it too. I want to show you how to travel safely, confidently and responsibly, and have the time of your life while doing it.

I’m not trying to tell you that solo travel is easy, because it absolutely isn’t. There are hurdles that you’ll face as a solo traveller, especially for us ladies, but I’m here to help you overcome those hurdles.

This solo travel hub is packed with information that will get you prepared (and excited!) for your upcoming solo trip, whether you’re a first-timer or a savvy solo explorer.

SOLO TRAVEL FAQS

01.

What is solo travel?

This question is weirdly controversial but I think that solo travel is any trip where you leave your country by yourself and are not travelling with anyone you know when you reach your destination.

So if you’re travelling solo but jumping on a group tour where you don’t know anyone, that still counts as solo travel for me.

02.

What’s so good about travelling solo?

I know I’m biased but I love pretty much everything about solo travel.

I love that I can make decisions on a whim without needing to consult someone else, I can eat Cinnabon every day for a week without feeling bad, and I can stay somewhere longer if I love it or leave somewhere earlier if I don’t.

The freedom of solo travel is incredibly liberating and a bit addictive if I’m honest!

03.

Is solo travel expensive?

Solo travel can be more expensive because you aren’t able to split costs like accommodation, transport and activities, but that doesn’t mean you can’t travel solo on a budget.

I’ve rounded up some of my best solo travel budget tips to help you make the most of your time and money while on the road.

04.

How do you take photos when you’re travelling alone?

Probably my most-asked question! I travel with a tripod and shoot most of my photos using an intermittent timer, but I know plenty of people who manage to capture amazing solo travel photos just by asking other people to take photos of them.

05.

Is solo female travel safe?

What even is safe? Safety is often confused with comfort, so anything outside of your comfort zone can feel ‘unsafe’ even if you’re not in any danger.

Solo travel, particularly solo female travel, does require you to take some additional security precautions but solo travel is not inherently unsafe.

There are definitely some destinations that are safer for solo female travellers which might be a good place to start if you’re worried, but overall, solo female travel can absolutely be safe.

06.

Do you get lonely while travelling solo?

These days it’s so easy to stay in touch with loved ones over the phone or Zoom, so solo travel does not have to be lonely.

My top tip if you’re feeling a bit lonely while travelling is to find the nearest dog park and go hang out there for a while. I’m no scientist but I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to be lonely while patting dogs.

07.

How do you meet people while travelling solo?

Hostels are a great way to meet other travellers, and most hostels have private rooms if you want the social aspect without needing to bunk up with seven others. You can strike up a chat while cooking or eating, or sign up to a hostel activity like a pub crawl or city tour.

If you’re not keen on hostel life then consider booking an activity like a cooking class or active adventure to meet like-minded travellers, or even jump onto a multi-day group tour to find a ready-made travel crew.

08.

What are the worst parts of solo travel?

There’s no point in me telling you that solo travel is amazing 100% of the time, because you’ll just end up disappointed when something (inevitably) goes wrong.

Solo travel, like any other type of travel, does have some challenges so I’ve put together a list of solo travel downsides and how to deal with them.

SOLO TRAVEL BLOG POSTS

SOLO TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

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