Explore the world without compromise, learn about other cultures and make friends with people from other countries – solo travel is becoming increasingly popular, and with good reason. Young people in particular want to experience adventures on the go, find themselves and surpass themselves. While men are safe when traveling in most travel countries these days, women in particular often hesitate due to safety concerns – and refrain from the solo trip.
In theory, an adventure in another country without restrictions and compromises sounds tempting to many at first. But before you start planning your trip, you should think about it honestly. Am I really good at being alone? Do I trust myself to deal with problems and challenges? And: Can I enjoy the holiday without being able to share what I have experienced directly with other people? Anyone who can answer “yes” to all of these and similar questions is at least mentally ready for their first solo trip.
For first-time offenders in particular, it makes sense not to fly directly across the pond to the Australian outback, but instead to look for a travel destination in Europe first. The easiest way to start solo travel is if you know the country at least roughly and make a vague plan for the first few days of your stay so that you don’t suddenly find yourself faced with big question marks when you arrive at your destination. If you start in a country that has a similar culture or infrastructure, you can venture further and further out of your comfort zone and into the world from there.
Accidentally flirting, dressing unsuitably or unintentionally insulting other people – women can avoid such blunders if they find out beforehand about the customs and customs in their travel country. Especially in Asian and African countries there are often different rules when it comes to body language and clothing. Those who stick to it will be welcomed with open arms by the locals. It can also help to know at least a few words of the local language in order to be able to communicate with locals who speak neither German nor English in an emergency.
If you travel alone, you are never really alone for long. In hostels or other popular spots, you quickly meet like-minded people who are happy to join you for an evening or a whole leg of the trip. As nice as it is to meet new people, women in particular should always be in control of the situation. That means not necessarily getting into strangers’ cars or accompanying them to remote corners. If you keep this in mind, you can even make real friends with an open attitude towards other people on your solo trip, or at least find companions.
Sometimes you’re just in the wrong place at the wrong time. If things get tricky when travelling, it is worth having a pocket alarm with you, for example. A siren sounds when the button is pressed, which can scare off potential attackers. It can also help to take a basic course in self-defense before the trip to strengthen your own defensive reflexes. In order to be able to call for help as quickly as possible in an emergency, travelers should also keep at least the phone numbers for the local police and the medical emergency number in a place that is easy to reach. In principle, of course, it is important to find out about the possible dangers at the destination before you leave and to find out about possible no-go areas.
As is so often the case, the most important thing comes at the end: If you are traveling alone, you should above all have a good time. Solo travel has the potential to boost our confidence and gives us a wonderful opportunity to explore the world the way we always wanted to. If you do it right, you can have the best time of your life when you are out and about in the world. With yourself – but of course also with like-minded people.
