{"id":148607,"date":"2022-10-26T09:27:42","date_gmt":"2022-10-26T09:27:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?p=148607"},"modified":"2024-04-05T15:26:49","modified_gmt":"2024-04-05T15:26:49","slug":"13-lessons-learned-as-a-solo-traveler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/13-lessons-learned-as-a-solo-traveler\/","title":{"rendered":"13 lessons learned as a solo traveler"},"content":{"rendered":"

I love solo travel<\/a>. The unrivaled freedom is intoxicating. You\u2019re free to go where you want, do what you want, and journey at your own pace. Having backpacked the world for over fifteen years, I\u2019ve had all kinds of amazing adventures. From hitchhiking in Iceland to trekking in New Zealand to bouncing around Madagascar, I\u2019ve had the privilege of seeing some of the world\u2019s most incredible sights<\/a>. But, when I first started, I had no clue what I was doing. I had trouble making friends, got scammed on more than one occasion, and struggled to get by as a backpacker. But I stuck with it and over the years picked up more and more tips and tricks that helped me deepen my experiences, save money, and stay safe. As more of us go travelling again in a post-COVID world, I wanted to share some of my biggest lessons from my adventures:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1. The world is not as scary as you think<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"\"
@miss____backpack<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you read the news regularly or spend any amount of time online, chances you\u2019ve heard how awful it is out there. But, as the saying goes, if it bleeds, it leads. So we\u2019re constantly bombarded with bad news \u2014 regardless of whether or not that paints an accurate picture of what it\u2019s like beyond our borders. Contrary to what the news proclaims, the world is not a super scary place. Sure, they are some places you\u2019ll want to avoid. And yes, you\u2019ll need to take some precautions and use common sense. But that\u2019s true for any destination \u2014 including where you\u2019re from!<\/p>\n

Moreover, you are not the first person to head out into the world solo. People have been doing it for centuries. There are well-worn trails all around the world, which means it\u2019s never been easier to book a flight and head out on an adventure. If you\u2019re still worried, however, start small. Instead of a monthlong solo trip, start with a weeklong one nearby. Build up your confidence as a solo traveler in steps, so that when you\u2019re comfortable, you can head out into the world and explore for as long as you want.<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

2. Things will go wrong<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"\"
@dontwonderexplore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Just like life at home, sometimes things on the road don\u2019t go as planned. I\u2019ve been lost, scammed, robbed, and injured. I\u2019ve missed flights, had gear break, and everything in between. Sometimes, things just don\u2019t go your way. But that doesn\u2019t mean you should panic and stay home. It just means you need to be prepared.<\/p>\n

Whenever I leave home, I buy travel insurance<\/a>. I know: it\u2019s a boring topic to research and read about, but it\u2019s helped me on numerous occasions over the years. Broken bones can cost thousands of dollars; emergency evacuations can cost hundreds of thousands. Don\u2019t go bankrupt because you skipped out on insurance. And don\u2019t miss out on the peace of mind it offers. I never leave home without it. You shouldn\u2019t either.<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

3. You\u2019re more capable than you think<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"\"
@miss____backpack<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When you travel, especially alone, you\u2019ll end up in situations that stretch your comfort zone past its limit. Language barriers, missed connections, getting lost\u2026 the list goes on. While it might feel a bit uncomfortable while you\u2019re going through it, as a solo traveler, you have no other choice than to buckle down and figure it out yourself. There\u2019s no one else to lean on.<\/p>\n

But, once you\u2019ve taken care of the situation, you\u2019ll learn that you actually can <\/em>handle anything thrown at you, which is incredibly empowering. Next time you\u2019re in a tricky situation, you\u2019ll know that you can rely on yourself to handle it. You\u2019ll develop more self-confidence in the process, which is why I consider travel the ultimate personal development tool.<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

4. Making friends isn\u2019t that hard<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"\"
@hostelvalladolid48<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When I started traveling, I was super introverted. I had a hard time making friends in hostels and on tours. Eventually, after weeks on the road solo, I took the leap and finally started to put myself out there. It wasn\u2019t easy, but I eventually became comfortable with the process.<\/p>\n

Just because you\u2019re traveling solo doesn\u2019t mean you have to be alone. In fact, making friends is easier <\/em>as a solo traveler than if you\u2019re with a group of friends or a significant other. It\u2019s too easy to slip into a comfortable bubble with people that you know and end up coming home without having connected with anyone new.<\/p>\n

Here are three ways to make friends in a hostel:<\/h3>\n