Are you thinking of traveling alone this summer, or maybe taking a Gap Year? If so, here’s everything you need to know before solo-traveling in your 20s…
Everyone tells you to travel whilst you’re young. Youth is correlated to a person being stronger and healthier, and generally just fit enough to travel, but none of this matters if you lack the confidence.
Having a bunch of friends to explore with is often a great way to create memories. But tension can occur if you aren’t used to spending every waking moment with those people. Group holidays mean that you have to do activities that fit what everyone else wants to do. On top of that, such trips often take a while to make it out of the group chat. So stop waiting around for everyone else and book your flight!
First-time Traveling Solo
Traveling alone for the first time is downright terrifying. I remember sitting in the airport for my first solo flight. I had strategically placed myself as close to the information board as possible, glancing up every few seconds to check my boarding gate. This was not only the first time I was catching a flight alone but also the first time I had full responsibility for my own passport (and I think this is what scared me most).
After going through the bag check-in and security, the anxiety began to ease, and walking through Duty-Free was the moment I realized my newfound freedom. Sure, this didn’t stop me from checking my bag every few seconds to make sure my passport was still there, but I started to feel excited about my trip rather than nervous.
A few days into my holiday, I quickly learned that no matter how anxious you may feel at first, the freedom of doing whatever you want and seeing whatever you want is completely unmatched.
Highs and Lows of Solo Travel
Traveling alone comes with a lot of, you guessed it, alone time. This means you have to be comfortable enough to enjoy your own company. Any hesitancy or loneliness within your mind will inevitably be exposed at some point during the journey.
Despite that, traveling alone can increase your confidence and allow you to become more independent. You learn to talk to new people and gain the self-assurance needed to start conversations. Making friends, asking for directions, and passing the time faster by talking to strangers becomes simple.
One thing that everyone can take away from solo travel is knowing who you are when surrounded by people you don’t know. This discovery entails testing your boundaries and realizing your strengths and weaknesses — all whilst learning about new cultures. Oftentimes, you emerge from these experiences better equipped to handle the stress of everyday life after managing to navigate a foreign country alone. Solo travel also reminds you to pursue your passions with renewed vigor!
Concerns Of Loneliness On The Road
Loneliness is a psychological mechanism that makes us crave social connections. It is also one of the biggest factors stopping people from traveling alone. But the truth is, even when we are surrounded by people we love, we can still feel lonely.
If loneliness is a concern for you, rest assured that many other solo travelers also feel alone. To combat loneliness, you can follow extra precautions, such as visiting busier places where you can distract yourself or bringing objects of distraction along with you. But, if you learn anything on the trip, try to learn to be at peace with yourself. This will help you feel less alone.
“For most people, the thought of dining alone is one of the biggest barriers to travelling solo. But once you get past the conviction that everyone is noticing or judging you, it’s a totally freeing experience.”
CN Traveler, The Golden Rules of Solo Travel
Returning Home
However, coming back home after traveling can be a shock to the system. Despite creating new memories, you may have suppressed your FOMO on things at home. The exhaustion also catches up to you. The intensity of constantly meeting new people and not having a familiar face to rely on can be tiring, leaving you overstimulated as you return to your home life.
Whilst it’s great to catch up with everyone that you’ve missed, it’s completely okay to feel overwhelmed. Remind yourself that it’s normal and ease yourself back into it.
Tips For Backpacking
Route
Before choosing the backpacking option, you have to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself in for. It’s not glamorous, so don’t have high expectations in that regard, but you will form rich memories.
Backpacking is more about the people you meet on the way and the beauty of the scenic route, rather where you stay.
During my time backpacking in Vietnam, we didn’t always know where we were going to be staying until just a few days before. Our route was solidified whilst we were already traveling.
If you’re nervous about not finding somewhere to stay, then you can book every accommodation before you leave the safety of your home. However, you may find that you want to spend more or less time in certain places if they don’t meet your expectations.
If you’re not worried about that, my tip would be to have a rough guide, but don’t be afraid to stray from it if you discover a place of interest along the way.
Packing The Backpack
Whatever you do, don’t overpack. The biggest mistake people make is packing a small amount of necessities and then cramming the rest of the space with unnecessary items instead. Most things can be bought on the road. Whilst traveling myself, a number of people told me they buy their clothing on the road and only bring a handful of outfits with them. That way, they’ve got clothes and a souvenir, all in one.
The last thing you want is to be lugging a massive weight on your back as you rush to catch a bus or climb to the top of a viewpoint. Having fewer belongings lessens the chance of losing something important to you. But ultimately, if you overpack, you will definitely regret not having any space to bring home souvenirs!
AirBnB vs Hostel
People are typically either firm team AirBnB or team Hostel. But there is no right or wrong decision. You can pick your accommodation based on the type of experience you want.
AirBnB
AirBnB has grown in popularity over the past few years, with people turning away from visiting travel agent shops and toward booking holidays online. The site has more than 150 million users that have booked over 1.5 billion stays, according to Search Logistics.
AirBnB is for people who want a homely feel whilst on holiday. It is also a good way to avoid hotels and get a taste of the local culture.
Some of the biggest criticisms that AirBnB receives come down to properties with low cleaning maintenance, misleading listings, or lack of response from the host. However, for the most part, these issues can be avoided if you pick a reliable accommodation. The reviews and ratings on the app are useful in helping you decide your final choice — the more ratings at a higher level, the more reliable.
If you find the room to be not as advertised, contact the host or even speak directly with AirBnB, and they will help you find another accommodation.
How To Pick Your Hostel
Contrary to myth, staying in a hostel isn’t all horror stories of bed bugs and weird roommates. In fact, some hostels have private rooms where you don’t even have to share.
Gone are the days when you have to rely on your gut instinct to guide you toward a reliable hostel. Now, there are plenty of sources that lend a helping hand. Your fact-checking options range from reviews on the website you’re using to websites and social media platforms where people have created videos of the space. Search the name of the place on all social networking sites, and you’re guaranteed to find at least one post that will give you the information you need to confirm your decision.
Tips For Travelling On A Budget
At just twenty years old, the majority of my traveling has been completed on a budget. Lately, I have been surviving off my funds as a university student. Before this year, I never would’ve thought that I would be able to afford to travel.
Websites like SkyScanner show cheap flight deals, and other companies also have big sales in the off-peak season (which is the cheapest time to go.) One of the pros of being a university student is that my term times don’t always match up with school holidays. This means that I can get a cheaper holiday after the kids have gone back to school and prices have decreased.
In terms of saving whilst on holiday, I try to avoid touristy areas where the prices will be sky-high. At the same time, if I think I will enjoy the experience, I sometimes don’t mind paying a little extra. But researching the area before you go is always helpful –some places have a day where museums are free every first Sunday of the month, etc. Lots of AirBnBs are self-catering too, which can help you save money on dining out every night.
Whilst I realize that I am privileged, I have also put a lot of effort into saving money. My best strategy has been to set up a weekly spending limit and to consciously restrict the amount of takeaways, nights out, and cafe trips I have. Any money that I manage to save simply goes into my travel funds account.
Erasmsus and Study Abroad Schemes.
If your income doesn’t support the chance for you to fully self-fund your travels, then look at the study schemes your university offers. Most worldwide higher education organizations have partnerships with the Erasmus scheme, which allows you to study abroad.
What does Erasmus cover?
Erasmus – The amount is a contribution to your travel and daily living costs.
Erasmus+ student – You are exempt from fees for tuition, registration, examinations, and charges for access to laboratories or libraries at the receiving institution.
Erasmus Scholarship – The student grant covers the participation costs, a monthly allowance for living costs, and a contribution to travel and installation costs.
Source: Erasmus website
Gap Year
Taking a gap year to travel?
There are different ways to navigate your gap year, but you’ll most definitely need money. So, you can work before you go and save up enough for however long you plan to travel, or you can work whilst traveling. There are many sites where you can find jobs abroad, as well as many roles that can be ‘work from home’ or remote.
On top of this, TikTok and other social media platforms are always showing adverts for Gap Year students. Sites like Gap 360 and Go Overseas advertise various locations that have programs for you to ‘work and travel.’
If you have a set spending budget before you go traveling, I’d say the best thing to do is to research and establish a realistic weekly budget.
Top Tip – always prepare an emergency fund. You never know when a flight may get canceled or a plan may fall through. Don’t touch that fund unless you really need it, and then you can ensure that you always have your ticket home.
Benefits Of Traveling Alone
I used to feel like I was always waiting around for other people to book a holiday with me. Now that I have the confidence to catch flights alone and explore by myself, I don’t have to wait for someone else’s timetable to align with mine — I can just go.
The experience of a place is so much more intense by yourself. Solo travel is a subtle way of achieving the self-care and personal growth that you need. The book (and film) Eat Pray Love explains this well. In the story, which is based on the author’s life, you see the main character slowly healing during her trip alone. She travels to Italy, India, and Bali, and each place helps her find out something new about herself. But it isn’t just sunshine and daisies; it’s raw and real and sometimes painful. The highs are high and the lows are low — a very real representation of solo travel.
Safest Places To Travel Alone
Thinking of taking your first trip? Here are the top-ranked ‘Safest places to travel alone’ according to Google.
- Ireland
- Iceland
- Canada
- Finland
- Austria
- Greece
- New Zealand
- Netherlands
- Spain
- Belgium
- Denmark
- Germany
- Sweden
- Norway
- France
- Australia
With that being said, many places are safe to travel to — as long as you do your research beforehand.
Find out more about how to stay safe as a female traveling solo in this article — Flying Solo: The Ultimate Female Traveler’s Guide.
