Ah, solo travel. The romantic ideal of wandering the globe alone, buoyed by little more than a rucksack and the intoxicating promise of “finding oneself.” But what if solitude isn’t a canvas for self-actualisation but an echo chamber for the ceaseless hum of existential despair? Is solo travel overrated?
Not to worry. If your emotional toolkit is a teaspoon short of a full set, I’ve assembled a short guide to help you navigate the peculiar pitfalls of solo travel with just enough poise to maintain appearances.
1. Eschew the Clichéd Destinations
Solo in Paris? A folly. Nothing quite underscores one’s personal desolation like strolling past the Eiffel Tower, surrounded by throngs of couples cooing over their bœuf bourguignon. Instead, opt for destinations that celebrate the lone wanderer. Think the windswept wilds of Iceland or the contemplative stillness of a Japanese temple—places where your solitude feels intentional rather than tragic.
2. Craft the Illusion of Sociability
Hostels are marvellous in that they’re teeming with transient acquaintances who will gladly listen to your woes—at least until the next bus departure. Failing that, Instagram remains your loyal accomplice: a strategically photographed table for two (occupied by you and a very silent latte) can convey all the camaraderie you’ll ever need.
3. Engage in Frenzied Activity
Idle hands, as the saying goes, are the devil’s playthings—and idle minds are his boardroom. Keep yourself ceaselessly occupied. Sign up for a wine-tasting course in Tuscany, hike the Lake District, or perfect your downward dog in Bali. The idea is to keep your mind too preoccupied to spiral into the black hole of introspection.
4. Become a Connoisseur of Solitary Dining
Dining alone can be an exquisite exercise in self-assurance—or an awkward ordeal depending on your perspective. The key is to embrace the ritual with a veneer of sophistication. Bring a book, not to read (how gauche!), but to signal that you are an intellectual flâneur too engrossed in Kafka to notice the pitying stares of the waitstaff.
5. Flirt with Local Sociability
Brits are notorious for avoiding eye contact on public transport, but abroad? Unleash your inner extrovert—albeit in moderation. Strike up a conversation with the barista about the provenance of their beans or ask a fellow traveller which nearby tourist trap is the least overrated. Just refrain from detailing the nuances of your last breakup; no one boarded that train to become your therapist.
6. Allow Yourself the Inevitable Meltdown
It’s going to happen. At some point, you’ll find yourself weeping in the rain on a cobbled street. And why not? Treat it as part of the grand tapestry of solo travel—a rite of passage alongside losing your passport and getting ripped off by every taxi driver ever.
7. Curate Your Experience
Keep a journal—or, if you must, a social media presence—to record the highs and lows of your adventure. Through the filter of nostalgia (and actual Instagram filters), even your most awkward encounters will someday seem charmingly character-building. Bonus: smug captions like, “Solo, but never alone…with the world,” are excellent ways to annoy your followers.
8. Prepare an Emergency Escape Plan
Have a contingency for when the solitude becomes suffocating. Join a walking tour, call an acquaintance from home , or retreat to a charming countryside inn where you can console yourself with Earl Grey and the dulcet tones of David Attenborough narrating the decline of civilisation. Whatever restores your equilibrium.
9. Remember: It’s All Material
Solo travel might not fix your underlying angst, but it will furnish you with anecdotes to recount at dinner parties. “Oh, did I ever tell you about the time I got lost in Kyoto and accidentally joined a Buddhist meditation retreat?” People will be so enraptured they’ll hardly notice your glass of Merlot trembling in your hand.
In the end, travelling alone isn’t just an exploration of new places; it’s an exploration of yourself. Sometimes that journey is thrilling, and sometimes it’s like staring into the void at 35,000 feet. But either way, it’s an experience you’ll cherish—or at least endure—with stories to tell and perhaps a few fragments of emotional resilience to show for it.
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