Ask Lemmy

heyo, I've been traveling for ~15 years now, been to ~30 countries so far and it continues to be extremely rewarding and fuuuun.

I've had travel partners now and then, though I prefer solo traveling for the absolute wide-open "guess I'll go walk toward that mountain in the distance for 4 hours" and "guess I'll try 8 gelato flavors today" type of freedom that is very difficult to attain traveling with others.

I'm traveling solo in Matsuyama, Japan right now. Today I decided on a whim to take a train to Imabari, hung out at a temple, found my favorite yuzu ponzu sauce at a grocery store, spent a couple hours at a public bath, practiced some Japanese, stopped at a random yakitori restaurant on the way back, talked in terrible Japanese with the staff who were very kind and gave me a free shirt I'm wearing now! Pictures of the amazing food here.

I love solo traveling so much I keep doing it and talking about it, nothing else really compares for me. it's certainly worth looking into and If you have any specific questions or concerns, I and the travel community are here as resources for anyone interested, so feel free to reach out. Apartments, healthcare, jobs, transportation, budgeting, whatever, I'm happy to talk.

In Florence. At a bunk-dorm in a hostel, got my wallet stolen. Shouldn't have left it my pack while going off to shower.

Solo travelled overland to Rome after that. Had a memorable time in the hills at Sulmona, going to a hole-in-the-wall cafe for home cooked pasta.

I mostly travel solo nowadays, but have travelled with groups of different sizes in the past

Pros:

• you get to do whatever you want, whenever you want. No more endless debates about what to do, trying to please everyone and ending up pleasing none
• you can be more spontaneous and not need to plan in advance
• you can enjoy it more if you're an introvert
• with modern phones it's incredibly easy to not get lost

Cons:

• it can feel lonely at times
• you might need to spend more time on organizing the trip, compared to being in a group. But if you're the one organizing the group anyway, you might actually spend less time when you're solo. It really depends if you like doing this sort of thing
• it's probably going to be more expensive, since you're not splitting costs

It's a great experience! I did a lot of solo travelling by train, bike or even hiking as a girl of 17-25 years old in europe. In my experience 99% of people are super nice and helpful and most people that weren't had an issue with me not speaking the local language or were drunk at the time (daydrinkers, I did not go out to clubs or cafes at night on my own). Italy was the only place where I constantly felt unsafe as a woman, and they unfortunately have a bad record. Other countries I visited include czech republic, romania, hungary, austria, france, spain, belgium, germany and the uk, with no issues (I'm dutch).

Some considerations: While travelling you have noone to watch your bags, so make sure your luggage fits with you in a toilet stall and that you can store your bags somewhere the moment you get someplace. Travelling as light as possible improves the whole experience. There will be a lot of lonely time especially while travelling between places/hostels, so bring a good book or podcast, but also be prepared to enter into random conversations with strangers. With stuff like train delays that are only announced in the native language, it's good if you have the confidence to ask around for help.

For the first time I recommend going for 5-7 days. You need to learn how to function alone without stressing too much because you'll be home soon anyway.

Hostels are an excellent idea. Usually people who congregate there are quite social and willing to interact with strangers. Ot at least that's how it used to be before Covid. I'm old.

Be ready to do things on your own without friends or without even strangers you met on the trip.

A healthy level of suspicion is needed to avoid scams. If someone wants your money, regardless of the excuse, leave immediately.

Yes, it's the best. You can do whatever you want, whenever you want.

Ditch or change plans if you don't feel like it.

Fart freely.

Go to the lobster soup place twice in one day. And again the next day.

Wander off into the fog.

Stop on the side of the road to meet the horses.

Travelling with others is fine, but you should definitely experience solo travel too.

... I almost never travel not solo, so apologies if I don't know what the other side of the coin is like

I think the biggest advantage is the absolutely ridiculous amount of freedom, because you can cater to 100% of your own needs, and your own needs alone. Want trip to be cheap? Youth hostels and 10-hour Flix/Blablacar buses exist. Want to do nerdy things only you are interested in? No need to care for travel companions for "wasting" 10-hours in a modern arts museum or anything like that

I did hear that some people find traveling alone a bit lonely though... so maybe it is not for everyone. Oh and maybe booking restaurants can get a tad awkward depending on the place I travel to

I mean, if it's a vacation, it's fun. you just have to be ready to make all the decisions and if it's your first time going on a vacation as an adult, being the one in charge, that can be a lot to process. honestly it's kind of a rite of passage. my first solo trip was at... 16 i think? go for it.

It's absolutely safe in Europe and Asia. Definitely something I recommend everyone does at some point, preferably earlier on in life. It taught me a lot about being independent and about myself, how I enjoy being alone etc.

Eating in restaurants alone can be a bit awkward to start with but you get over it.

Yeah I've done it a few times mostly just doing rail travel across Europe and it's an absolute joy.

It gives you the opportunity to have a pretty much perfect itinerary for yourseof getting to see exactly what you want where you want.

I've often found it can get a little lonely feeling in longer journeys so I've often made plans to left up with friends who are on holiday too or live near where I'm going and that's always nice.

Spent 3 months in New Zealand on my own at 18. Had an absolutely fantastic time. Also came back home much more adult than when I left.

I traveled alone by train for the first time when I was about 10 years old, though not abroad.

There are Europe-wide train tickets you can buy, I'd recommend this if you're curious. Plenty to see.

Some comments mention safety, probably Americans who don't realize how safe Europe is. Though of course something bad can always happen.

Paging @bitofarambler@crazypeople.online, maybe this is something in your area of expertise? Or maybe a future topic for !travel@crazypeople.online?

Dinner for one is nice with a book, but it gets old. Going where you want when you want is nice but you'll want someone to share with. Meeting new people is ok, but not easy and not often.

It depends on your mindset. It could be an extended vacation. It could be poorly planned and a good learning experience. People recommend it a lot because you kinda figure things out as you go. Be aware of your role as a solo foreigner and your race plus language barrier determines your experience with locals.

Experience was I was winging my trip and got burnt out trying to plan destinations last minute. Cost me more money then I'd like and way more stress. It amplified all my procrastinating behaviors but overseas in Europe.

I'm a man so obviously YMMV but I went away for a year solo and it was quite literally the best thing I ever did.

Yes. It was the same as any traveling, just quieter because didn't have another person to talk to.

But it was liberating just being able to do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted without having to worry about someone else's schedule or desires.

The only boring part was probably having to eat and be in a hotel alone.

I spent six weeks in Argentina by myself, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I just went wherever I felt like as I felt like it.

they said that since we’re stuck in Switzerland and I seem quite bored, and since I’m a legal adult now, why don’t I go on a trip abroad alone?

Personally, I never traveled abroad alone...

The only "travelling" I've done without parents was on school trips... (I remember going to Washington, DC once.)

I think its benefits doesn't outweight the costs for me.

If I was still in China, maybe I would have more of an incentive... I mean its hard to get information from within the country due to censorship, so I'd probably be more willing to take risks and go abroad... I would probabaly have more willpower to just "tough it out".

But I already won the "lottery" (metaphorically, China isn't actually eligible for an actual lottery since there are already too many people trying to leave) of being able to get out as a family... so eh...

The thing is... I felt safe(ish) when I was a kid under my parent's protection. Every burden of documents and planning is on parents, you get to be stress free and be ignorant to everything...

Idk if I could manage everything solo like visas, going to various appointments for documents... getting place tickets... waiting in an airport, making sure my stuff isn't being stolen... booking hotels...

and the most important thing... making sure yoi have enough funds...

just thinking about it feels stressful.

Internet here is uncensored afiak so I feel like I have even less of an incentive to do traveling right now...

The US is kinda big... I still haven't even explored my adoptive country yet... only been to NYC and Philly...

there are still so many places I could go domestically and its less stressful (aside from ICE... but if I go abroad re-entry to the US isn't exactly gonne be fun either)

I've always wanted to go to Canada as a family (minus the toxic brother... haven't gotten along with him for many years now)... Like it just feels less terrifying to be with family. Never gotten around to doing it... always putting it off and procrastinating (parents had the funds but I think they were busy)... then Covid hit and then the thought of travel sort of went out the window for a while...

Then I got depression...

And then we got a "new sheriff in town"

So now I don't wanna be crossing borders for 3 more years... 👀

TLDR: Emigrated with family, never really travelled solo, lacking the motivivations + anxiety/depression make it hard to do it solo.

Some time has to be the first time, you'll do fine, nervous, but fine. Do you have anything you want to see or do is a better question? Not much point going somewhere unless you want to do that.

Done it a few times. I live in the US and have driven through a large portion of the lower 48 on my own. I've been in LA, NYC, DFW, Miami, Houston, Kansas City, Phoenix and the San Francisco Bay Area along other places. I've also traveled internationally a bit via ship all around the Caribbean where I often have to get around on my own.

I stayed in Montego Bay Jamaica for a little over two weeks at a hostel and walked around town visiting local stores, restaurants, and beaches. At one point I walked a little over 8K to had over to a dive shop and see some of the island.

On April 1st I'm getting on a plane to Cozumel Mexico for a little over three weeks. I'm staying at a hostel while I'm there and will be walking most everywhere while I'm there. The only time I will have a guide is when I'm diving, the rest of the time I will be own my own.

You have an opportunity to get out there and explore the world a little, meet new and potentially interesting people, and have the chance to try something you may have never expected. You can either take the risk or do the things you already have and pay it safe.

BTW learning to dive could provide you with some college credit. https://www.padi.com/college-credit And you would able to say you not only did that but traveled on your own to an island in a foreign country to learn and experience a new culture.

Most of the time, yes. Sometimes visiting friends, sometimes going somewhere for an event (and staying in a hotel/hostel), and occasionally just going on a trip, visiting/exploring a few places.

If you’re in Europe, Interrail is your friend. Get a pass, catch some trains and explore.

I usually travel alone, and I prefer it that way. I can spend as much or as little time as I want on various places and sights, and I have nobody to worry about but myself.

I once drove cross country in the US from my home in the Ohio valley to the California coast. I have never been on an airplane and had only traveled to the biomes of Appalachia, Great Lakes, or Floridian beach.

I had a wonderful (spiritual?) experience driving through the New Mexico desert. I had never seen so much LAND visible from my point of view, and I got lucky to see this while driving westward at sunrise. Even after seeing the Grand Canyon on this same trip, I wasn't as affected as I was when I saw the expansive desert.

I am a tall Caucasian male though, so I had a built-in sense of security. It can be a tenuous plan for plucky youngsters, especially young women, safety-wise.

Yeah it's a good way to force yourself to be more social and talk to strangers with low stakes (you won't see them again). Also great for practicing a foreign language.

Switzerland is a very good starting position for trips as you can get to many countries by train. I'd totally take this opportunity and you can even do 2-3 day trips if you're not comfortable with something longer.

Another thing is that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing: you could plan a trip where you visit some places where you know no one and some where you might have a friend or acquaintance (if you have friends living outside of where you live, of course). I’ve found that makes a nice balance.

Hopping on a train alone for a couple of hours has been my default mode of transportation since long before I was 18. Mostly to visit friends so I didn't have to worry about a place to stay overnight so if you don't have that, maybe start out with a day trip.

I've done it dozens of times and it has been positive. However, with that, there are things you should be aware of:

• You are the one handling logistics. You're handling getting on your mode of transit, checking into a hotel, buying tickets, everything. It isn't hard, but it is your responsibility.

• You don't have a person as a backup in case you lose something. I usually carry multiple credit cards/forms of ID/ways to log into my relevant Internet accounts. I also don't carry them together.

• You may want to plan tours or activities involving others. I don't know if you like to be alone a lot, but solo travel can be somewhat self isolating and it helps to plan something where you engage with others.

Yeah, it's good, but I'm alone pretty much all of the time. Just figure out if there's something you want to do, and if there is, you'll like it.

I couldn't find anyone who wanted to travel right after COVID so I decided I'd go to Costa rica my self. I think it was a worthwhile experience. I'm not outwardly shy but am still really scared when I talk to new people and I think putting myself in that situation really forced me to talk to a bunch of strangers. It didn't always work out but I met a lot of cool people and Costa Rica is a really fun place to be if you like to be active.

Traveled around the world solo for a year. But in my 30s. Met up with some friends in different countries the way. I’m very independent though. It was enjoyable to me. Wish i had someone to share more of those memories with but i got hella stories

I did, on numerous occasions, and it rocked. I've seen most countries in Europe, with the notable exception of Ukraine, which I hope to visit in the future.

If it's your first time solo traveling I'd start out with a long weekend or a week and see if it's for you. Also, making friends while traveling is super easy, even for introverted people.

I traveled in Central and South America via essentially backpacking for 6 weeks when I was 19. It was a wild ride and I had a bunch of fun while learning a ton. That said, I'm a big huge dude even then covered in tats. I didn't feel nervous aside from a few particularly sketchy interactions. If I was an 18 year old girl I don't think I would have done that alone. But that might be me being paranoid. It's definitely an enriching experience but I'm not positive on safety for a solo teenage girl.