If you’ve never traveled on your own, it might seem like an intimidating endeavor. Planning a trip isn’t always easy, but planning a vacation with no one to share worries or responsibilities with is overwhelming, to say the least. But even if it’s not always easy, there is a special magic about exploring the world on your own.
Of course, some people believe that joy not shared is joy wasted and prefer to join a group tour when they can’t find a travel companion, but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. So what do you need to keep in mind when considering treating yourself to a solo trip to Europe?
Important Things About Solo Travel
Don’t Put Your Travel Dreams on Pause
We’ve all seen the beautiful pictures of happy families having the time of their lives at Disneyland, happy couples kissing on a bridge in Venice, or a group of friends in Vegas, making memories they won’t forget (and some they will). Sometimes it might feel like the world is not designed for people traveling solo, like having a partner is a requirement to get full access to all the wonderful experiences to choose from and not some limited demo version.
But don’t let the pretty photos fool you. With or without company, you can and should enjoy everything this big and amazing world has to offer. Trust us, Venice is just as splendid if you visit it on your own, and you definitely won’t be the only solo traveler there. And the rides at Disneyland might actually be more fun when you build the experience around yourself instead of trying to keep everyone in the family happy. Don’t limit yourself or put your travel dreams on pause just because you don’t want to do something alone.
Hotels Are Expensive
As hotels charge per room, accommodation takes the lion’s share of the budget when you travel solo. Some hotels have single rooms, but they are often only slightly cheaper than a double. This is why many people choose hostels when traveling on their own. They can be a great option, not only on a budget but also for extroverts who recharge around other people, as hostels are first and foremost social places. But let’s be honest: not having to make peace with a stranger snoring next to you, or share a bathroom with people you don’t know, is a comfort that is hard to beat.
Leave Yourself Room for Maneuver
One of the best things about traveling alone is that you have full control of your itinerary. A workshop with a local fashionista, a 25-kilometer hike, a few hours in a cookware museum—nothing is off limits, and the world is your oyster. But it also means that there is no one to share the responsibility for managing your travels with. Don’t overplan: leave time for breaks and for leisurely strolls without watching the clock.
When you travel with us, you are not completely on your own: during your trip, you can reach our team by WhatsApp, SMS or email, or call our Swiss number, and we will do our best to sort out anything that comes up with your itinerary. This way, even when traveling alone, you still have someone to share the responsibility with.
Eating Alone Might Take Some Getting Used To
The sad truth is that way too many people find the idea of eating alone at a restaurant terrifying. If you’ve never walked into a restaurant on your own with the crippling irrational anxiety of how you will be perceived, good for you. If you know this kind of social anxiety intimately, then eating out on your solo vacation might seem like a daunting prospect. And no, constantly being told that it’s all in your head and that no one really cares is of no help, regardless of how true this statement is, thank you very much.
What does help is practice. Every time you take yourself to dinner, it will be a little bit easier than the previous night out on your own. To make it easier to start, you might use the oldest trick in the book and bring some light reading you can focus on with you to the restaurant (scrolling through TikTok will also work). Alternatively, eating at the bar, which usually feels less on display might be a great option to consider.
And, objectively, eating out alone has a lot of perks. For example, you can actually concentrate on the food rather than nodding to your friend’s latest work drama; no one is there to judge your order; and you can actually take a moment to be mentally and emotionally present, tuning in to what you need.
Is traveling solo a piece of cake? Nope. Is it worth it? Absolutely! Not everything might turn out like you expect it to, especially if it’s your first trip. But if you are prepared to step out of your comfort zone from time to time, make sure to listen to yourself and allow yourself to have fun – rest assured that your trip will be amazing. And if you entrust the planning to us, we will take care of every detail while you pack your bags, buy plane tickets, and get excited about the adventure to come.
