{"id":22563,"date":"2017-10-04T06:39:43","date_gmt":"2017-10-03T19:39:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?p=22563"},"modified":"2025-03-20T22:00:08","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T11:00:08","slug":"twenty-five-solo-travel-learnings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/twenty-five-solo-travel-learnings\/","title":{"rendered":"25 things I learned in 25 years of solo travel"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>25 years ago, I was landing in Paris on my first solo trip.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After 15 years of dreaming, working hard, and saving, I was finally making it happen, even if nobody else wanted to come with me. People always find excuses, and I was sick and tired of waiting for them to make up their mind.<\/p>\n<p>I had managed to get three weeks of vacation (not easy in North America) and I was going to visit France, Switzerland, and Italy. I knew some people in France and Switzerland, and had booked a <strong><a href=\"\/italy\" data-wpil=\"url\">tour in Italy<\/a><\/strong>, in order to make things less daunting. Still, I was a bit of a wreck when I settled on that plane for my first trip across the Atlantic!<\/p>\n<p>Since then I\u2019ve been on dozens of solo trips, and traveling alone seems just as natural as living alone.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22569\" style=\"width: 609px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22569\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22569\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Inca_Trail-e1507048251546.jpg\" alt=\"Inca Trail Peru solo travel\" width=\"599\" height=\"839\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Inca_Trail-e1507048251546.jpg 599w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Inca_Trail-e1507048251546-214x300.jpg 214w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Inca_Trail-e1507048251546-585x819.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22569\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">In 2004, happy but exhausted on the Inca Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Here are 25 things I\u2019ve learned in 25 years of traveling solo:<\/p>\n<h3><strong>25. You can communicate a lot more than you think through gestures.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Miming goes a long way, even if it means you have to flap your arms like a chicken, or sign an imaginary credit card slip.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>24. The first day of a trip is usually the most expensive (and the worst).<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Blame this on fatigue, jet lag, and unfamiliarity with the customs and the lay of the land. It will only get better from here on. Promise!<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"letter-spacing: normal;\"><strong>23. You make friends faster when you\u2019re traveling than at home.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_22568\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22568\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22568\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/20_hostel-e1507047667159.jpg\" alt=\"Solo travel hostel\" width=\"800\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/20_hostel-e1507047667159.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/20_hostel-e1507047667159-425x272.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/20_hostel-e1507047667159-768x492.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/20_hostel-e1507047667159-585x374.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22568\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">In 2005, meeting loads of new people at a Buenos Aires hostel<\/p><\/div>\n<p>It could be the \u201cvacation mood\u201d, or being less afraid of being judged by people you may never see again. Or it could be because you instinctively know that you\u2019re more dependent on others in a foreign environment.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>22. \u201cDo you have hot water?\u201d is not always a strange question.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Many budget or even mid-range hotel rooms in tropical countries don\u2019t have hot water. If you require a steaming shower, make sure to ask before you book.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>21. Locals who are \u201ctoo friendly\u201d can have ulterior motives.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>People who approach you on the street and start chatting to you like they\u2019re your best friends are rarely good news. Don\u2019t feel bad if you don&#8217;t want to converse. But <em>do<\/em> be open-minded and aware that most people are kind-hearted and want the same things as you do from life.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>20. Sticking to vegetarian food doesn&#8217;t mean missing out.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_22574\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22574\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22574\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/India_Dehli_street_henna_food_342.jpg\" alt=\"Street food Delhi India\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/India_Dehli_street_henna_food_342.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/India_Dehli_street_henna_food_342-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/India_Dehli_street_henna_food_342-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/India_Dehli_street_henna_food_342-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22574\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Street food in Delhi, India<\/p><\/div>\n<p>If you have a sensitive stomach and are worried that food handling and hygiene are not what you&#8217;re used to back home, try going veggie. I ate only vegetarian food in <strong><a href=\"\/india\" data-wpil=\"url\">India<\/a><\/strong>, had a lot of delicious meals and didn&#8217;t get sick\u00a0\u2013 despite everybody&#8217;s predictions!<\/p>\n<h3><strong>19. In the tropics, even one crumb of food left unattended will attract bugs.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>I&#8217;ve found that it&#8217;s best to always eat over a plate. It\u2019s not worth spending your stay fighting off ants or cockroaches. In hot climates, even upscale properties aren&#8217;t necessarily sealed tight.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>18. Always look where you\u2019re stepping.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Sidewalks in less developed countries are sometimes used as parking space, tree planters, extra floor space and sleeping pads for dogs. Often they\u2019re also broken, uneven or have holes big enough to swallow a person.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>17. You should jump out of a plane once in your life.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_22566\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22566\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22566\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/9_tandem_skydive-e1507047485113.jpg\" alt=\"Solo travel skydive\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22566\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">In 2009, falling out of a plane at 15,000 feet<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Jumping out of a plane is easy(ish). Making the commitment by handing out your credit card to the tandem skydiving company is harder. I tried it in New Zealand and it was probably the craziest thing I\u2019ve ever done.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>16. The concept of punctuality is unknown in some parts of the world.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>In Japan you can set your watch by the arrival time of your train. Elsewhere, not so much. The hotter the climate, the less punctuality seems to be a \u201cthing\u201d. Well, at least in my experience!<\/p>\n<h3><strong>15. Organized tours are not all made equal.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>On my first trip to Italy, I shared a packaged tour with people of my grandparents\u2019 age, staying in suburban hotels, and eating hospital food. On the other hand, small group tours like Intrepid\u2019s are more akin to traveling with friends, and bring you closer to the local culture. Check out some of <a href=\"\/destinations\">Intrepid&#8217;s top trips <strong>here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>14. Many toilets don\u2019t accept toilet paper.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Many old plumbing systems are not built to accept toilet paper. Always check and heed the signs. I have experienced this in Mexico, Cuba, Argentina, Thailand, and even Spain.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>13. Always double (or triple) check your information.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>You will usually get more accurate information from your accommodation or the tourist office than from someone on the street. But try to also check online and ask more than one person.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/subscribe\"><strong>SUBSCRIBE TO INTREPID&#8217;S NEWSLETTER FOR MORE TRAVEL TIPS, COMPETITIONS, GIVEAWAYS &amp; MORE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>12. Don\u2019t let motion sickness ruin your trip.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_22567\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22567\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22567\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/14_Galapagos_boat-e1507047791498.jpg\" alt=\"Galapagos solo travel\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22567\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">In 2013, getting over motion sickness in the Galapagos<\/p><\/div>\n<p>I\u2019m a lifelong sufferer, so I know that getting motion sick on a bus, boat, or helicopter can be dreadfully unpleasant. Bring your favorite medication from home and make sure to have enough supplies, as you may not find it overseas.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>11. Carrying too much stuff will make you miserable.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re solo, carrying more than two bags is unpractical. Having to drag around heavy luggage every time you change destination will get old really quickly (and risk injuring you).<\/p>\n<h3><strong>10. Serendipity can be a good thing.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Some of my most interesting travel adventures have happened when plans got re-arranged at the last minute. <strong><a href=\"\/sri-lanka\">Sri Lanka<\/a><\/strong> (nicknamed the \u201cisland of serendipity\u201d) is especially good for this.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>9. Learning a bit of the local language goes a long way.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Learn at least \u201chello\u201d and \u201cthank you\u201d, to be polite. Download a translation app (Google Translate will do), or even better, take a language class at your destination.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22565\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22565\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22565\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/4_making_friends-e1507047898497.jpg\" alt=\"Panama solo travel\" width=\"800\" height=\"591\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22565\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">In 2010, with my teacher and another student during a Spanish class in Boquete, Panama<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><strong>8. Have more than one way of getting at your money. Don\u2019t keep all your cards in the same place.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>You never know when a bank machine will refuse or even swallow your card. And if all your cards are in the same wallet, and that gets stolen, you\u2019re in <em>mucho <\/em>trouble.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>7. Always use the toilet when you have a chance, and avoid diuretic food\/drinks before a long bus journey.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>This includes coffee and fruits, especially together!\u00a0Not all buses have toilets or make bathroom stops. And if they do, the bathroom stop may be a ditch by the side of the road.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>6. You can do a lot of things for free in most destinations.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_22346\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22346\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22346\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/philippines_mt_pinatubo_crater.jpg\" alt=\"Philippines solo travel\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/philippines_mt_pinatubo_crater.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/philippines_mt_pinatubo_crater-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/philippines_mt_pinatubo_crater-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/philippines_mt_pinatubo_crater-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22346\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hiking in beautiful scenery is priceless<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Always do a bit of research to find out what you can do for free. Keep your money for those few top attractions you really want to see.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>5. It\u2019s easier to meet people in small guesthouses and hostels than in expensive hotels.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>In my experience, people\u2019s sociability seems to be inversely proportional to the price of the accommodation!<\/p>\n<h3><strong>4. Always recharge your devices when you have power. Don\u2019t forget your adapters\u00a0in the wall outlets. Bring more than one adapter!<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>In the developing world, power outages are common and random. As well, forgetting your only adapter in a hotel room, when you\u2019re traveling with multiple devices, may induce a panic attack.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>3. Develop patience and a sense of humor.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>You won\u2019t have a long travel career without both.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22570\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22570\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22570\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Intro_Rome_1992-e1507045846530.jpg\" alt=\"Solo travel Rome\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22570\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">In 1992, my first solo trip in Rome<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><strong>2. You\u2019ll grow more confident and resourceful with every solo trip.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Traveling solo is one of the best things I\u2019ve ever done for myself. As problems arose, I became more resourceful in order to solve them, which in turn gave my self-confidence a boost.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>1. It\u2019s all about the people.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Above all, it\u2019s the people you meet that make a trip memorable. Whether it\u2019s a local who took you to her favorite restaurant, or a new traveling friend who shared part of your journey, the connections are what you\u2019ll remember most.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ready to take the plunge? <a href=\"\/solo-travel\" data-wpil=\"url\">Intrepid trips are ideal for solo travellers. Check them out!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<p>Images provided by Marie-France Roy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I\u2019ve been on dozens of solo trips, and traveling alone seems just as natural as living alone. Here are 25 things I\u2019ve learned in 25 years of solo travel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15928,"featured_media":22570,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[455],"tags":[684,283,257],"class_list":["post-22563","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature","tag-advice","tag-solo-travel","tag-travel-tips-2"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.3.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>25 things I learned in 25 years of solo travel | Intrepid Travel Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I\u2019ve been on dozens of solo trips, and traveling alone seems just as natural as living alone. 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