Solo or No?
Always the first question I ask when planning a trip – am I adventuring with others or striking out on my own?
Some destinations have become icons of the solo travel route – Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica – the list goes on. These destinations are perfectly set up for solo travel, with plenty of transport options, hostels and opportunities to join up with other travellers for group activities.
Other locations don’t cater for the solo niche quite so well and are best enjoyed when visiting with others (New York being an example in my experience). That is not to say that you won’t enjoy these locations solo – however it may prove trickier to find the right resources and accommodation for one person. Those single supplements can really take a chunk out of a solo traveller’s budget!
How Long? And How Much?
Ahh, our old friend – the budget. If, like myself, you’re not in a position to travel full time, you’ll likely find yourself having to budget both your money and your time. These two factors can have the biggest impact on the locations you can consider. After all, if you only have time for a quick weekend break, a 10 hour flight each way won’t give you much time to enjoy the trip itself!
It’s important to remember though, that a further afield destination may take a chunk out of your budget in airfare, but you’ll save big on accommodation, food and activities. So make sure you assess the affordability of the whole trip and don’t be put off by big airfares.
Safety First When Solo
If you decide to go it alone, one of your first priorities will likely be your safety. The media has a tendency to propagate and overemphasise inaccurate images of crime and violence in other regions of the world, and ‘different’ doesn’t necessarily equal ‘unsafe’. However you will want to make sure you’re travelling to a destination you feel reasonably secure in, especially if this is your first solo trip.
The most commonly recommended countries for safe solo travel, based on the Global Peace Index, include Canada, Iceland, Singapore, Denmark and New Zealand. You can read more about my solo travel experiences in Canada and Denmark here.
SAFEST COUNTRIES – GLOBAL PEACE INDEX
Cheapest Flight Deals
When I’m eager to get away and am completely open-minded as to where I go next, my first port of call is Skyscanner’s Everywhere search. Simply pop in your travel dates and see where in the world you can fly to based on the cheapest airfare’s available. This is a particularly useful tool for finding short flights when looking to travel within Europe.
Another great place to find cheap flight deals and inspiration for your next trip is Jack’s Flight Club. You can join Jack’s Flight Club and begin receiving flight deals for free, however for a reasonable price of £39 (Oct 2022) for an annual premium membership, you will receive 75% more deals. And with the great savings on offer, you’ll quickly recoup that membership fee after booking just one or two flights!
Travel Vloggers and Influencers
I’ve been an avid consumer of travel influencer content for several years and it was thanks to these influencers that I eventually found the confidence to begin travelling solo. I regularly read other blogs and watch Youtube and TikTok videos to find inspiration for future trips. Hearing about others’ experiences always piques my interest in a new destination.
Some of my favourite influencers include Backpacking Bananas and Hey Nadine (for tips on saving, first time solo travel and other travel issues) and The Blonde Abroad and Girl About The Globe (for destination guides). I suggest checking out their content too for inspiration for your next trip!
The Old School Method
When all else fails, turn to the old school method. Roll out a map, close your eyes and stick a pin in. Where the pin lands is where you travel!
