Ridin’solo

Thinking of travelling alone this summer?

Here are our top tips

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Kayak shows searches for single-traveller flights are 36 per cent higher for 2023, with one in two people considering a solo trip this year.

However, when you’re used to the comfort of those around you, breaking habits and encouraging yourself to go can be the hard part, especially if you’re concerned about safety or navigating your way around.

But when you’ve made it to the boarding gate, it’s likely to be one of the best experiences of your life, and it’s time we took back the narrative of our travels, feeling empowered in the process.

Whether you’re an adventurer, a wellness guru, or a beach junkie - we’ve got you covered…

MADE”

Share your plans with friends and family

Safety first! Share details of where you plan to go, the dates you’ll be there and the locations of accommodation. Keep a piece of paper with essential phone numbers too (including the embassy in case you lose your passport), as unfortunately, you can never rule out a missing phone. Try not to overshare on on social media too (because you never know who’s watching). Saying you’re in Morocco is fine, but don’t give out specifics. It’ll help your peace of mind, and those back home.

Don’t overpack

The beauty of a solo trip is that it’s likely more about the experience than the Instagram photos (because frankly, strangers aren’t going to give you the lowangle photoshoot your friends sacrifice themselves for every night out). That means you don’t need to be bringing three outfits a day, and you can always rewash clothes. It’s going to make travelling around far easier, and decreases your risk of losing anything en route.

Ease yourself in

Top-rated places first-timeforsolo travellers:

Be prepared to chat to strangers

While it might sound like an introvert’s worst nightmare, chatting to strangers can be trip-changing. The best way to get a conversation up and running is by asking where their favourite spot they’ve visited is, or asking for food recommendations. Quite often you’ll end up sharing your experiences, and you could even secure a future travel buddy.

Give yourself enough time (and don’t plan too much)

While being regimented is the most comfortable option, you won’t discover what you really want to do until you explore a place. Plus, if you meet new people, they’ll likely recommend an activity or day trip you want to try, and you don’t want to be in a position where you’re desperately squeezing everything in. Take it slow, take in the sights. Just plan your top three locations or excursions as the benchmark, everything else is a bonus.

Solo travel can be scary, and it definitely doesn’t have to mean living out of a backpack and jumping from hostel to hostel. If it’s your first time especially, don’t pick somewhere that’s going to be a complete culture shock. If you plunge yourself into the desert with no idea what you’re doing, of course you’re going to hate it. If you want to unwind by the beach in Spain for a week, that’s still solo travel! Don’t think it’s high-maintenance to want to stay in a hotel, or enjoy home comforts like going to a spa or eating a McDonald’s. Do it at your own pace.

Join groups

There are plenty of female travelling groups around. They’re a safe space to post what city you’re in, and meet other women and join up for activities or meals. It makes the whole experience more comfortable, you’ll make new friends, and you can pick and choose when you feel like hanging out. The Solo Female Traveller Network now has over 450,000 women connecting with each other on their adventures.

Keep a journal

Solo trips are where memories are made. You do things how you want, when you want, which is the recipe for the perfect holiday, right? Keep a journal of everything you did, save tickets from excursions, and get photos printed - they’ll be the best trinkets to look back on.