Let’s get you packed for the holiday of your dreams, by yourself with confidence. Solo travel does not mean being lonely and left out, rather travelling by yourself gives you the choice whether you join a guided day tour or catch the local bus instead. Explore the world without family and friends and discover new places. Solo travel is your social experience moment(s) where you get to pick the occasion for interaction with fellow travelers.

Solo travel does not mean you are single, destitute of friends, family and a partner. Plenty of people decide to go on holiday alone. Experience travel with yourself as the centre of attention. Yeah.

1. Research Is a Good Tool for Solo Travellers
Gather first hand information from social media platforms, especially comments about the ease of getting around as well as the best places to linger. If you are after a creative experience check out half day workshops held in museums, galleries. You will definitely get to meet locals with similar interests. A great conversation starter is why you joined the workshop.
2. Practice Chatting to Strangers on Your Daily Route to Work
This is a challenge especially if you are an introvert. Smiling is always an ice breaker and comments about the weather are conversation makers. Listening to the comments and following up on suggestions is the way to get out and about.
3. Flexibility Is the Weapon in the Solo Travellers Backpack
Solo travel is all about where you want to go. You can change your time at the drop of a suggestion and explore. Ensure your travel plans allow for spontaneity and fun. Road and rail trips entice you to explore hidden corners. Go for it, that’s the bonus of solo travel; you do not need to ask anyone’s permission.
4. Solo Travellers Give themselves a Day to Find Out How a Place Works
Relax on a hop on and hop off bus journey. Check out the local public transport and simply join the locals on a ride to the suburbs. Chat to the reception desk at your accommodation. Pop into the visitor centre and ask lots of questions.

5. Google Maps Is a Solo Travellers Best Friend
Pace the distance between places of interest and your accommodation on google maps when you arrive. You’ve checked beforehand, now it’s the real deal with your mobile switched to the local beat. Pin locations on your google maps app (or other walking apps) and get the hiking boots laced.
6. MAJOR LANDMARKS Are a Solo Traveller’s Beacon
Use major landmarks to get yourself back to your accommodation. A building or statue that is imposing and stands out against the horizon. Carry a downloaded pinned map where your location is at all times.


7. Waterways Are a Great Way to Orient Yourself in a New City
Your destination has a harbour, waterways or canals. Awesome, get yourself onto the water and cruise past backyards.
8. Join Free Walking Tours with Other Singles
Short 2-3 free guided walking tours are very popular with solo travellers. You get a sense of geographical relationships easily as you judge the walking distance between places of interest. Practise your conversation skills with your companions and listen for the guide’s tips on the best routes. The guides are Local volunteers passionate about their home providing insights and up to date information about events. There is a spirit of sharing with the locals who are willing to give their time to visitors explaining the best bits about their place.
9. Explore Your Destination for Differing Viewpoints. High Points, Low Points and Even Underground Offer Unique Perspectives for Visitors
Hop aboard a public double decker bus and clamber to the best seats at the top for a birds eye view. Hire a bike and cycle on dedicated lanes. Check the local bike groups and their tips on safety in the city. Rent a vehicle and drive on the opposite side of the road.
10. Solo Travellers, Make Sure You Acquire a Local Electronic Transport Card (or App) Before Leaving the Airport / Train Station
Research beforehand how to purchase an electronic tagging card (app) for local transport. Even better if you can buy it before you arrive. The major entry points such as airports, train stations are good places to purchase transport cards. Tagging onto public transport is an effortless way to get around.


Sit on the bus for the entire route and carefully mark places of interest for the next circuit. There is no hurry, you are on holiday at your pace.

11. Hop On and Hop Off Bus Tours
A favourite mode of transport for our senior editor is a hop on and hop off guided bus tour. The zany commentary, in numerous languages, is a great introduction to a new place. Zip around the city with your handy bus guide for company. Make sure to get combo tickets for key attractions you could enjoy considerable savings.
Popular Tours in New Zealand – BOOK HERE
Popular Tours in Australia – BOOK HERE

12. Solo Travellers Go for a Public Bus Ride
Public buses are a transport option where being alone is commonplace. It’s a mini adventure navigating a transport system you are unfamiliar with. Bus routes often have stops at city landmarks. Christchurch, New Zealand makes it easy for visitors with a delightful historic tram. Wellington has a very popular cable car used by university students, office workers and visitors.
13. Confidence Is a Key Part of Being Safe
You are lost, unsure where you are. Getting lost is an opportunity to reach out to locals. Ask for help and try to avoid standing around looking dazed and confused. Breathe deeply and take several minutes to relax in a nearby cafe (ask for directions at the same time). In return for your patronage the shop is usually ready to dispense directions.
14. Attend Local Happenings and Meet the Locals
Get tickets to local happenings, museum exhibitions, a music festival in a park or a pop up foodie market. You will experience the culture up front and personally. Smile at locals having a good time. Practise your conversation skills with strangers. Tourism events are often packed with overseas tourists. Pick events created by and for locals.
15. Hostels, Shared Accommodation, Meet and Greet Fellow Travellers
Meet fellow travellers while bedding down for the night. Hostels and shared accommodation is a classic way to meet and greet new buddies. Consider LyLo Auckland. The word hostel is given an upgrade from a shared dormitory style accommodation to private pods. It’s your choice whether you choose a private room or share space designed for singles or couples. Think about staying in a homestay, or an AirBnb room and meeting the locals. The resident host is usually a local with lots of experience about the best places to visit.


16. Find Solo Travellers Interested in the Same Things
Join a half day or full day tour to a place of interest. Enrol in a cooking workshop and meet the locals with plenty of tips about the nearest delicious food market. Paint with fellow enthusiasts or indulge in a wellness spa. Brewery, distillery and vineyard visits are fun too, especially once the tasters start flowing. Social engagement with fellow travellers as well as having a great time is the makings of a good holiday.
17. Keep a Journal of Who You Met and Keep in Touch
Sitting in a restaurant alone gives you the space to keep connected with new friends and family at home. Document the day with copies of tickets, your selfie moments and observations of how the place met your expectations.
18. Tell the World Where You Are Going Next
Solo travellers have safety in the back of their minds. Inform the world where you are going, allowing friends and family to track your movements. You are not lost abroad, rather you are overseas with a plan where to travel next. The hotel giveaways, the one page map with cafes and businesses on the other side is useful. Grab a copy and invite the hotel reception to mark distances and circle the hotel’s address.
19. Keep the Hotel Address Handy at All Times as Well as Inform the Hotel the Time You Plan to Return
Tired after a busy day exploring, grab a uber, taxi and return to your accommodation in style. Simply point to the hotel circle on the map and you are on your way.


Ask the hotel reception the best way to pay for a taxi and estimated far before departing.

20. Solo Traveller Blues – Feeling Alone
Remind yourself of the benefits of solo travel. You are abroad on your terms. You get to go places at your pace when you want. When you travel alone, the luxury of avoiding people is your choice. Connect with the locals and fellow visitors without the bother of family and friends expectations of what to do and where to go. What a benefit for the individual traveller. Love yourself, and discover independence.
21. Flexibility Is a Solo Travellers Best Companion
Impulsive stops, lingering in a weekend market all day or relaxing for hours in a spa is an option when you have built flexibility into your holiday schedule. Allow time between stops to explore further. You’ve listened to locals describing a new restaurant that opened up, go find out for yourself what is hot on the local scene.
22. Anxiety Is Normal for Everyone Who Is Away from Familiar Places
Travelling alone, jet lagged and it took you ages to locate your hotel.
- Go for a coffee in a local cafe;
- Take a short walk around the block and absorb the sights and sounds of the amazing place you’re travelled to;
- Join a short guided tour of the city to get your head around the new environment;
- Grab an old fashioned paper map from the reception and/or nearby visitor centre and marvel at the possibilities opening up;
- Deep breathes and settles into the rhythm of being the decision maker. Give yourself time to adjust to the new you, an independent traveller;
- Have you got your walking tour organised yet? Get going and get outside the hotel room.


23. Photos Get You Out and About Doing What All Good Tourists Do, Take a Selfie or Two
Take lots of photos, document the journey from suitcases to soaring mountains.
Get busy documenting your trip with plenty of photos and enjoy the spectacle of other visitors snapping away.
24. Night Entertainment and the Solo Traveller
There are plenty of night tours offering solo travellers opportunities to explore new destinations, ghostly trails and entertainment venues. Choose accommodation that encourages social engagement with gathering places and events organised specifically for guests. Great evenings can be had based on your accommodation choice.

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