There are countless reasons why people choose to travel on their own. It can be a delight, a richer, more freeing experience. DANIEL NEILSON looks at some of the best places for solo adventures.
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Travelling alone can mean two things. Either you’re joining a wider group with other like-minded individuals, or you can strike out alone, meeting people as you go. Solo travel on its own is an experience that lingers in the memory, giving you freedom like no other; the next move is your decision alone. We will say that some places and trips are friendlier for travelling on your own than others. Here are our top ten destinations and tips to book that solo ticket and explore the world.
EXPLORE FRIENDLY JAPAN
Although it’s wonderful visiting with someone, the country is particularly well suited to solo travellers. Perhaps it’s down to the business-forward attitude. Still, you’ll often find plenty of shared accommodation that makes a stay cheaper, such as capsule hotels that only charge per person rather than the room. Single capsules are more affordable, too. Sleep easy.
JOIN A GROUP IN ICELAND
Any trips to the glaciers or volcanoes usually involve groups from the capital of Reykjavik. We can guarantee that piling into a minibus against the backdrop of some of the world’s most breathtaking scenery will force you to make friends while also giving you the space to find some solitude. Reykjavik is a small, friendly and safe city, albeit pretty pricey.
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READ ALSO: Seven Safety Tips For Solo Travellers
CANADA: ALWAYS A GOOD OPTION
Why? Well, Canada is an incredibly friendly nation, and there is no language barrier, meaning you can natter away to the locals and get the top tips rather than wondering where the best place to find ramen is. Travelling to countries based on the languages you speak nearly always makes for a richer experience. You can also brush up on your high school French in Quebec.
SKIING IN THE ITALIAN DOLOMITES
Why here specifically? Italy does catered chalets well, particularly in ski season. If you fancy a ski holiday, search for a small chalet that sleeps between 9 and 14 people. Solo travellers are always welcome and will often find other like-minded people. Get particular and choose one with a communal table for a sociable experience while offering you the choice of solitude during the day.
THE BEST OF TIMES IN IRELAND
A cliché? Yes. A fallacy? No. Ireland is one of the world’s friendliest destinations and welcomes solo travellers with open arms and, more than likely, a pint. Head to the streets of Galway and listen to live music, and you’ll be dancing with the locals within half a pint! It’s an often overlooked country for walking, too. Get some time to yourself during the day and then live it up at night.
EXPLORING VIETNAM
Perhaps the curveball on the list, but the country is popular with solo travellers, especially backpackers, exploring its fascinating cities, luxurious beaches and big-ticket locations such as Ha Long Bay. The hotels are set up for solo travellers, and travelling around is safe and cheap. Given the fairly common route around the country, you’ll likely bump into the same people as you travel.
READ ALSO: 4 places to visit in Zanzibar
STUNNING NEW ZEALAND
Beautiful, fun, set up for tourists, very safe, English-speaking, and forward-thinking for solo travellers, New Zealand has it all. Younger solo travellers love jumping on the hop-on, hop-off buses that seem to wind from party destination to party destination, while older travellers can join tours, hiking groups, or a self-drive tour—the perfect destination.
SOLO IN STOCKHOLM
Capital cities sometimes feel intimidating for the solo traveller, with fear of getting swallowed up in a mass of people busying themselves with life, but Stockholm is different. With its wide boulevards and river walkways, it never feels like a maelstrom. But it’s more about its residents, who generally have a relaxed take on life, making time for Fika to relax with coffee and pastry every morning—savouring a beer in a bar in the Södermalm (Söder to the locals) neighbourhood on any given evening.
PICK AN EVENT
Plan your trip around a specific event—a British folk festival, a Ramadan celebration, or the Montreal Comedy Festival. If you are travelling for a specific reason, you’ll find people who share similar interests. And usually, you can spot them a mile away, even in cities. Sporting events like rugby games, football tournaments, or marathons are also great opportunities to connect with others.
TAKE A CRUISE, BUT CHOOSE CAREFULLY
One of the great bugbears of solo travellers is the odious single-person supplement—the extra payment to take a room by yourself just so the operator can maintain some of the profits expected from double occupancy. Find tour operators that don’t charge extra or go through a solo travel expert. More and more cruise offerings, including Saga and Antarctic Expeditions, have single cabins, eliminating the need for a supplement.
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