27 October 2021
Travelling Solo
A guide to wandering the world on your lonesome.
Solo travel is about asserting your independence, finding or rediscovering yourself, and feeding your curious mind. No matter your age, it can be one of the most liberating and eye-opening experiences.
But if you’ve never done it before, it can be as equally daunting as it can be exciting. To help make sure you’re prepared and make the most out of your trip, here are some tips for marching to the beat of your own drum in wanderlust.
Alone but not lonely
Travel is not to escape life but for life not to escape us. The beauty of being solo is you can act on a whim and embrace spontaneity.
Singles holidays are changing the face of solo travel. Gone are the days of single room supplements or the daunting prospect of group tours, surrounded by couples and families. There are lots of ways to travel independently with like-minded explorers.
Single travel agencies
Australian travel agencies for solo and singles are popular, and the choices are endless – singles, holidays, cruises, adventure travel, accommodation, and all women and mixed groups are just a few of the options available.
Below are five Australian travel sites that cater for the solo traveller:
According to adventure travel company Intrepid, over 50% of their travellers trips are travelling solo and taking advantage of having local guides and trusted and affordable activities and accommodation along the way.
Across the globe for over half a century, travel company Contiki has offered group travel for 18–35-year olds. The company also offers re-imagined group travel for those who don’t want to be steered by itineraries, wake-up calls or group sightseeing, but instead, like the idea of travelling with others but want to control where, when and what they do.
Real time travel buddies
Travelling alone but want to meet people on the journey? SoloTraveller is a social travel app which instantly connects you with the travellers who are close by. Use the app if you want to meet locals, go sightseeing or even to just share a taxi.
Not only is SoloTraveller great for backpackers and solo travel, but also a complete travellers community, which is a helpful tool for people who normally wouldn't feel comfortable travelling alone.
Research everything
If things go bung, travelling solo means there’s no one else to blame. For this reason, it’s important to do your homework and it’s a wise decision to pre-book all your accommodation and flights before you leave so you’re not stressing about it while you’re on holiday.
It’s also sensible to give a copy of your itinerary to family and close friends, in case of an emergency or for them to check in on you to ensure that you’re safe.
Are you thinking about travelling solo for your upcoming holiday? NRMA offers Travel Insurance for nomads across Australia, including WA, QLD, and SA. Travel to unknown destinations with a peace of mind knowing that you’ll be taken care of incase anything goes wrong.
