So, you’re wondering if solo travel is lonely? If you’re thinking about solo traveling for the first time and are worried you’ll be lonely, you’re not alone. As a solo traveler, this is a question I’m asked every other day.
For some people, solo travel is about… well, traveling solo. But for others, social interaction plays a massive role in their experience traveling alone.
When I got on my first solo flight just one week after I turned 18, there was only one thing bothering me. And that was a fear that I wouldn’t make any friends. But since then I’ve traveled around the world, all completely solo, and met hundreds of amazing new people.
Table of Contents
Is Solo Travel Lonely?
You’ll be happy to learn that solo traveling is incredibly social if you do it right. 5 minutes after walking into my first hostel I had 3 new friends and 2 days of plans.
That is to say, there were moments in my travel journey when I was extremely lonely. And this was all because I didn’t know how to set myself up for solo travel success.
In my experience, solo travel offers way more opportunities to meet other travelers than when you are traveling with someone you already know. But you have to know how to set yourself up to make it happen!
So in this guide, I will be telling you EVERYTHING I’ve learned about beating travel loneliness as a solo traveler. So you can have the most social, fulfilling experience possible on your solo trip.
Note: If this is your first time traveling alone- read my guide 31 Tips for Flying Alone for the First Time
Or for an in-depth guide on making friends as a solo traveler, read my guide How to Make Friends as a Solo Traveler
10 Tips To Beat Travel Loneliness
So, without further ado, let’s get into my top 10 tips to beat travel loneliness!
These tips include everything from how to set yourself up for success from day one, how to avoid loneliness when solo traveling, and what to do when you do have a moment of feeling alone.
1. Stay in Shared Accommodation
Solo travel can be lonely… if you’re completely alone.
The biggest tip I have to set yourself up for success right from the get-go is to avoid individual accommodation like the plague. Hotels and Airbnb are not only unfriendly to your wallet but they’re guaranteed to make finding friends 10 times harder.
While visiting Amsterdam in August 2023, I decided to stay alone in my cousin’s apartment. I mean, who doesn’t love free accommodation? In the end, I would have much rather pay €70 a night for a hostel, as I hadn’t made a single friend in 2 WEEKS.
Staying in hostel dorms is, in my opinion, the single best way to make friends as a solo traveler. Even if you’re introverted, I would recommend staying in a private room in a hostel over a hotel or Airbnb any day of the week.
As a general rule when traveling alone, where you find more solo travelers, you find more friends!
2. Check Hostel Reviews (Not All Hostels are Created Equal)
Although staying in hostels is the best way to make friends while traveling alone, not all hostels are created equal.
There are plenty of hostels out there with little to no social atmosphere. This is great for people who want a quieter experience at a low price, but not ideal if you’re looking to socialize (and therefore avoid loneliness!).
To avoid the experience of walking into a silent hostel, I highly recommend checking through the reviews before you book.
Use the review search feature to find reviews specific to what you want to know. I personally always look up the word ‘social’ to find reviews about whether the hostel is social or not!
3. If You Find People You Like, Stick With Them!
Being a solo traveler doesn’t mean you have to travel alone. Traveling with a new friend or joining a group is a very common experience!
It’s not unusual to meet a new person/group and make plans to travel to a new region/ country together.
In June 2023 I spent one month exploring Indonesia, and during that time I think I spent one day purely solo.
I traveled with two groups, Exploring Ubud and Nusa Penida with one friend, and then Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Lombok with a group of people with whom I became incredibly close!
That is all to say, that people can often shape your experience and a place. If you find people you click with, stay with them!
4. Use the TripBFF App
My secret weapon… the TripBFF app. Relatively new on the market, TripBFF is an app for solo travelers to connect and make travel plans.
The app was built to help people find friends to travel with, but also to simply make friends overseas. Meaning you can use it to make new plans, or you can use it to meet people in places you already are!
The app has an easy layout and allows you to browse through and subscribe to groups of travelers talking about places you want to go. Making it accessible, and an easy way to meet new people from all over the world!
The only downside is that sometimes, things on apps like these don’t go anywhere. But if you’re invested, it is absolutely possible to make lifelong friends on TripBFF.
Note: Make sure to follow all safety precautions you usually would before making plans with somebody you haven’t met.
5. Put Your Phone Down
I’ve been guilty of this more times than I could count, but you lose so many opportunities and experiences spending hours on your phone!
I had some days where I would spend hours and hours and hours on my phone to avoid my feelings of loneliness, and it only ever made me feel lonelier.
I’m calling myself out here, but we use phones for a level of escapism that they aren’t good for. Phones are only a temporary solution to feeling lonely.
Instead of opening Instagram or TikTok, go explore, and meet new people! It always feels so much better in the long run.
6. Resist Hiding in Your Room
A bit like hiding on your phone, hiding in your room will rarely make you feel less lonely.
Don’t get me wrong, resting is amazing. And sometimes the BEST thing is to close the curtain and spend an afternoon watching Netflix.
But when you’re feeling lonely? It can feel enticing to curl up and hide, but I recommend you avoid staying in your room.
Stepping out of your comfort zone and heading out to talk to people can feel difficult in hard moments, but it will almost always lead to good things.
7. Take Yourself on a Date
Don’t let being alone stop you from going out and doing fun things. Eating alone at a cafe/ restaurant or going to the cinema alone can be daunting, but it’s a lovely way to enjoy a place alone and practice some self-care!
Go for a walk along the beach, a hike, or a picnic in the park. It doesn’t cure loneliness, but it does let you enjoy your own company and the place you’re in.
If you’re traveling solo or thinking about traveling solo, then you know more than anybody that you don’t need anyone else to do the things you want to do!
8. Make the First Move
One of the best ways to make friends overseas is to make the first move. A lot of people are very sociable and would love to talk, but either aren’t actively seeking out conversations or are too shy to say hi first!
There is no downside to starting a conversation with somebody. If they don’t engage, that’s okay! Some people’s personalities won’t match with yours, but many will.
I talk much more in-depth about this strategy in my post ‘How to Make Friends as a Solo Traveler’. Including my favorite conversation points to make friends and plans, which I use regularly when I’m traveling solo.
9. Call Home
Let’s face it, sometimes solo travel feels lonely. Sometimes you don’t want to talk to anyone but your friends and family back home. And that’s okay!
One of the best ways to find comfort when solo travel is lonely is to call the people who love and care about you the most. A call with a friend or family member, just to chat or to rant, is bound to make you feel a little better.
10. Embrace Solo Travel
And finally, embrace solo travel! If you find yourself alone, sometimes the best thing can be to travel by yourself.
Spending time in your own company is one of the best ways to grow, learn, gain confidence, and find peace while traveling. And even just taking one or two days to explore alone can be scary, but a beautiful experience.
Sometimes the best solo travel is solo!
Is Solo Travel Worth It?
Solo travel is more than worth it. In fact, I’ve not met a single person who has traveled alone and really regretted it!
Solo travel is a life-altering experience. You are seeing the world, learning about yourself, stepping out of your comfort zone, and experiencing beautiful new things. Even though solo travel has its difficult moments, it is an experience that cannot be traded for anything else.
When traveling solo, you have many more opportunities to meet new lifelong friends than you would traveling with somebody you already know. You find yourself in situations you would never have expected, with amazing people you never would have met.
And even though it takes money, time, and energy, it gives back experience, resilience, and memories you will cherish forever. So yes, solo travel is undoubtedly worth it!
Is Solo Travel Safe?
Worrying about safety is probably one of the biggest things that stops people from traveling solo. But my answer is the same every time: There are inevitable dangers in traveling alone, but there are inevitable dangers everywhere.
I left home just one week after turning 18, as a solo female traveler. I had no experience traveling alone, and I had spent most of my life in Australia, where theft and crime are much less common than in many countries I went on to visit.
Many people would consider my travels dangerous, but It couldn’t be further from the truth! Solo travel is a risk, but a lot safer than some people make it out to be.
As long as you keep your wits about you and avoid commonly dangerous situations, many of the risks associated with solo travel can be mitigated.
FAQs
As a full-time solo traveler, there are a few questions that I get asked almost daily. So here are a few of the most common FAQs I receive about solo travel!
Is it sad to travel alone?
No, it is not sad to travel alone. Quite the opposite!
Traveling solo is not looked upon as sad, but rather as an act of initiative and bravery. Besides, you can make your own plans, see what you want to see, and live by your rules. What’s sad about that!
Is solo travel good for introverts?
It is true that solo travel is not for everyone, there are people who don’t enjoy solo travel due to the excessive socializing that often characterizes these sorts of trips.
But does this mean solo travel is bad for introverts? No!
First of all, you don’t HAVE to make making friends your mission. Some people actually solo travel… to travel alone.
And if you do want to make friends but aren’t extraverted like some of us, don’t worry! There are all types of people staying in hostels, extraverts and introverts alike, and you will always find your people one way or another.
Though solo travel experiences are not all flowers and rainbows, and some days may be difficult especially if you struggle socialising, that does not mean it’s not for you. Anyone can solo travel and have an amazing time!
Why are most solo travelers female?
When traveling, you might come to notice that a larger percentage of solo travelers you meet are female.
According to research by Condor Ferries, a staggering 84% of solo travelers are female. In theory, due to greater personal freedoms for women, especially in the last 20 years.
But why do women want to travel solo more than men? Many people suggest this phenomenon comes from a deep-rooted desire for independence and individualism. Which has grown from generation to generation.
How do you socialize when solo traveling?
Socializing and making friends while solo traveling may feel like a whole different playing field than home. And yes, some things are different, but not in a bad way.
Relationships when you’re constantly moving are a bit of a rapid-fire. Meaning you’re constantly making new friends and saying goodbye. This means that it is much easier to get friendships off the ground and things move a lot quicker than they do in regular life.
Some friendships will become lifelong, and the experiences you share can create a bond that it’s pretty rare! That being said, most friendships you make while traveling will be temporary.
When it comes to socializing as a solo traveler, my number one tip is to simply be you. And not just in a cheesy way. Those who solo travel also tend to be the ones who want to hang out with genuine people.
Conclusion: Is Solo Travel Lonely?
So, is solo travel lonely? No, solo travel is not inherently lonely. Though all solo travelers feel lonely at points, traveling alone is a life-changing and liberating experience that I recommend to anyone who’s thinking of doing it.
To avoid loneliness from the get-go, there are many things you can do to set yourself up for solo travel success. From booking shared accommodation to checking reviews or using apps designed for making friends while traveling the world.
So while there are definitely moments of loneliness in solo traveling, the friendships, experiences, and memories will last far longer than any loneliness will. So get out there!
