The art of solo-travel

Today I thought I’d write about something more thematic than just a daily update, namely, the topic of travel, and more specifically, traveling alone. I’ve done it a lot, and in many conversations with friends and strangers, I’ve often been asked why and how I do it. These are the points I wanted to explore in today’s post.

Why travel alone?

When people think about going abroad or going on vacation, they usually imagine doing it with family, friends, or a partner, and that’s valid. But many of us choose to travel solo. I come from a very travel-loving family, and that’s a big reason why I love traveling so much. I don’t currently have a partner, and even if I did, it takes some planning to make everything line up. I have amazing friends, but they’re often busy, and it’s nearly impossible to coordinate plans with a group. Which brings me to the first point about traveling alone: it’s just so much easier. You only have your own schedule to think about.

When and how you take time off is completely up to you. You don’t need to plan for months to sync up with everyone else’s vacation time. As soon as the group becomes more than two people, it already gets complicated, and if someone has kids, then either the kids come along, or the planning becomes even trickier. I don’t have anything against traveling with children, I’ve just never done it, and I imagine it’s quite limiting, especially the way I travel. Now that I think about it, bringing kids to hostels with shared rooms might not even be allowed. I’m not saying it’s impossible, not at all, but it definitely takes more time and planning. And that doesn’t just apply to picking the destination and dates, everyone has to agree on the plans, and depending on who you’re traveling with, that alone can take forever.

When you travel alone, it’s as simple as telling your boss you want a few days off, picking a destination, and booking your flight and accommodation. You’re already halfway there. From there, it’s completely up to you what you want to see and do, you can either plan it all out or just go with the flow. I usually wing it. My trips often unfold as I go along, although there are always a few must-see spots. Like in Paris, I’ll always make sure to visit the Eiffel Tower. But again, it’s easier to come to an agreement with yourself about how you want to travel, whether you want a detailed, hour-by-hour itinerary or you just go on a whim. Winging it is hard to do if you’re traveling with more than one other person. Again, I’m not saying it’s impossible, but it requires the right mindset, the right travel companion(s), and a somewhat mutual agreement about what’s fun.

So, my reason for traveling alone really comes down to flexibility. Already this year, some of my trips were planned with just a week’s notice. That’s hard to get others on board with. One thing this kind of travel requires is that you enjoy your own company, at least at first. It also depends on whether you’re more introverted or extroverted. Traveling alone doesn’t have to mean being lonely. On many of my trips, I’ve met great people and even gone on little adventures with them, like in Venice, where I met a friendly guy named Justice. We shared a room with two others, woke up at the same time, and since neither of us had plans for the day, we grabbed a coffee and explored the city together. That kind of thing can happen, or not. It depends on you and the people you meet. If you’re open to it, it’s possible to make great connections as a solo traveler.

Another reason I enjoy traveling alone, as I mentioned before, is that I get to decide everything myself, all the time. When I used to travel in Europe with my dad as a kid, we would wake up early and walk a lot. Out of the hotel by 7 AM and not back until after midnight. Exhausting, sure, but full of experiences. I think I’ve adopted that style. I now do the same: head out early, wander, discover sights along the way. I take meal breaks whenever I want. In Italy, for example, I often stop for pasta, pizza, gelato, or just a cozy café. It becomes your journey, every choice is yours, and I love that.

It’s not that I only travel alone, but more often than not, I’d rather just go than wait months trying to get someone to join me. It’s like what a friend once said about going to the movies alone. It’s the same principle. A lot of people fear the judgment that might come with doing things solo, like going to the cinema. But it’s so nice to just choose a film and go watch it. You’re not supposed to talk during the movie anyway.

What’s it like to travel alone?

That brings me to the second question people often ask: what is it ACTUALLY like? This is going to be very subjective, because I don’t think you can give an objective answer to what it’s like to travel solo. We’re all different and will experience it differently.

I’m a seasoned traveler—thanks to my family. We traveled several times a year, both on short and long trips. A lot of charter, but also city breaks and adventure travel. That gave me a lot of confidence when it comes to routines and logistics. But even though I travel spontaneously, there are a few things I always make sure to have under control. And I try to pack smart—not too much, not too little.

• Passport, with several paper copies, plus a secure digital version in the cloud.
• Boarding passes and booking references.
• Exact dates and times for key events like flights and accommodation.
• Physical cash.
• Allowing plenty of time for check-in, transit, etc.
• A fully charged phone, plus a charged power bank, or two.
• Keys, phone, and cards kept close to your body at all times.

As long as I have those covered, I feel confident traveling. The rest comes down to common sense. I can’t always promise I follow all the obvious safety advice, like not walking alone at night, but the times I have, it’s usually been by accident. When that happens, I move quickly toward populated areas, keep my phone in hand, and stay in contact with someone. That’s a tip that, unfortunately, is especially important for women, safety always comes first. Don’t do anything you’re not comfortable with or that gives you a bad feeling.

I enjoy my own company, and I am generally bad at planning, therefore, solo travel suits me perfectly. There are moments when I feel alone while traveling, but that can be a good thing too. I remember the first time I booked a table at a beachside restaurant and asked for “un tavolo per uno” (a table for one). The waiter shouted to the others to see if they had a spot for one. Everyone at that restaurant knew I was flying solo that night. In that moment, it was a bit uncomfortable, but once the food arrived, I forgot all about it. The next time it happened, I didn’t even think about it. I think it’s just something you get used to.

Another tip for solo travel: either buy a small phrasebook or learn a bit of the local language beforehand. It doesn’t take much, but just a few phrases can help a lot in places where English isn’t widely spoken—and trust me, that will happen. With a few phrases and some body language, you’ll get far. Duolingo is a good way to learn the basics. If you’re more old-school, bringing a paper map of the area can also be smart, depending on your destination, a physical map might be your only option. That’s usually more of a concern outside Europe. For mobile data, a local SIM card is usually the easiest solution, but where there’s no coverage… there’s no coverage. That’s when you’ll be glad you brought the map.

Another quick tip is to download a map of the area when you have a network connection, so that you can use the map even when offline. In Google Maps, for example, you can select an area and just download it for offline navigation, quite practical and highly advisable.

One last obvious but important thing: money. Don’t travel unless you can afford to enjoy yourself. Even a short trip costs something, like a day trip to London will still cost you a flight, airport transport (both ways), and food. Even on a tight budget, you’re likely to spend over 1,000 NOK. My dad always said, “There’s no point in going on a trip if you can’t enjoy yourself,” and I wholeheartedly agree with that.

Traveling alone isn’t for everyone, but I recommend trying it at least once in your life. You might find that it suits you perfectly. Don’t worry about judgment; let people keep their assumptions. If you’re unsure, pick a destination you’ve already been to for your first solo trip. That makes it easier. Take everything at your own pace. It’s your journey, and you can do exactly what you want, whether that’s city sightseeing or a beach holiday in the sun.

Whatever you choose, one last tip: bring a good book, some music, and enjoy the trip.
Safe travels!