20 Solo Travel Mistakes To Avoid
I love solo travel, and some of my best trips have been while traveling alone. I’ve journeyed through some great countries in Europe and even to some considered dangerous countries in Latin America. Traveling solo can be a rewarding and life-changing experience. Once you travel alone, you even feel you can accomplish anything.
However, my travels have taught me a few lessons along the way from the mistakes I’ve made. Read on to know some solo travel mistakes other travelers and I have made. Perhaps this list will help you avoid them.
20 Solo Travel Mistakes to Avoid
Table of Contents
Booking the Wrong Accommodation
Even though you’ll be out exploring more than hanging out in your room, this is one of the most crucial parts of travel. It can be tempting to save money, but getting a place that is comfortable, safe, has a 24-hour front desk, and is in the right location, can give you a better experience. But, again, the point is mainly to feel safe as a solo traveler.
When travel planning, booking a room takes me the most time because I read all the reviews, compare prices, check maps, and all its services. But, thanks to doing that, I’ve had very few bad experiences. Plus, there are some great-rated hotels and hostels at excellent prices, which even include breakfast.
Listening to People
When you’re headed to a country with a bad reputation, you will hear people tell you the many reasons that country is dangerous. The worst part about it, is they haven’t even been there. They’ve just watched the news. Don’t let fear stop you from going. You might miss out on seeing a great country.
I’ve been to some countries with horrible reputations for safety, such as Colombia, Mexico, and Guatemala, and I had the most fantastic time. Plus, there were many other solo travelers there.
Not Asking For Help
One thing to learn from solo travel is to get comfortable with asking for help. Back home, I figure things out on my own. But when I’m in a new city, it’s easy to feel lost and confused. Get comfortable with asking for directions from locals.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to local travel influencers on Instagram. If someone you know has visited recently, message them and ask for tips and recommendations. Become friends with the hotel staff and let them guide you.
Failing to Budget
Solo travel can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. Therefore, having a plan is essential if you want to save money. Don’t plan every detail before your trip, but look up information about the cheap and great restaurants, hotels, and activities. That way when you arrive, you know which areas to avoid because of the high prices.
Overpacking
As a solo traveler, the only one carrying your stuff is yourself. Trust me, carrying a heavy backpack through the airport or carrying your heavy luggage up five flights of stairs is not fun. It’s tiring. Plus, there are airline requirements, and if you go over the weight limit, you get charged an extra fee. If possible, try traveling with just a carry-on backpack.
Telling Strangers You're Alone
Telling a small lie to keep yourself safe is a good reason to lie. You want to avoid telling strangers who you don’t give you a good vibe that you’re alone. But, even if it’s an innocent conversation, you must remember your safety is first.
I’ve told drivers my friends are waiting for me at the hostel. When I meet a guy I’m uncomfortable with, I’ll say I’m married or tell them I don’t have social media. There’s no need to disclose certain information or extra information about yourself.
Not Befriending Locals
On the flip side, make friends with strangers. I love making local friends, but I always do it with caution. Many solo travelers make the mistake of only becoming friends with other travelers.
Becoming friends with the locals means you learn about their culture, customs, country, and more. So it’s a mistake not to befriend them.
They can also tell you about places to avoid and things to do. Plus, locals are ready to make international friends. They enjoy teaching you their language, and they like learning English as well.
Having Too Many Expectations
It’s easy to think that everything during solo travel will be great, but the truth is, some days will be horrible or boring, and other days will be very exciting. There will be destinations that everyone loves and you won’t.
Or, someone might love a place, and you hate it. The best thing you can do is arrive at each location and simply enjoy one day at a time. If you arrive with too many expectations, you might only get disappointed when it’s not everything you wanted it to be.
Wanting to be Solo All the Time
Some people take solo travel precisely as that, being alone. If you’re an introvert like me, this idea sounds great. However, you’ll be missing out on great opportunities to make new friends. It took me a while before I got comfortable with the idea of starting up conversations with strangers.
But with time, I learned a lot of other backpackers traveling solo feel the same. Stepping out of your comfort zone to talk to others will help you meet some great people, and sometimes you end up making new plans with them because you clicked so well.
Plus, it’s nice to have company and explore cities together. The great thing about people you meet on the road is that you don’t have to stay with them if you don’t make a good connection. You owe them nothing, so you are free to keep exploring on your own.
Never Wanting to be Solo
There’s a flip side here too. Some travelers make the mistake of never spending time alone, and they only do things if they are with someone else they meet.
As a result, they forget to take days to rest, think independently, read or learn, and more. Some even hate eating, walking, and even breathing alone. But let me tell you, solo travel teaches you so much about yourself.
You learn what you like and don’t like. You learn to listen to yourself and not others. It teaches you to control your emotions, and best of all, you actually learn to like yourself.
If you always want to be with someone, you’re not really experiencing solo travel in its complete form. Learn to get comfortable with being alone while eating at a restaurant, on a bus, or at a museum.
Being Unprepared for Emergencies
Unfortunately, many things can go wrong on a solo trip. There can be missed flights, petty crime, or sickness. Purchase travel insurance and make sure there is always one person who knows where you are. Also, keep extra cash somewhere in case of emergencies.
Leaving Valuables Unattended
When other solo travelers have shared bad things that have happened to them, most of those incidents happened because they left their valuables unattended. So never let things out of your sight.
Carry your valuables in your carry-on, take a waterproof bag to the beach, and don’t leave your phone on the restaurant table. Don’t hang your purse on a chair, don’t ask someone you just met to watch your stuff, and don’t leave your valuables unlocked at a hostel. The list could go on and on, but you get the point. Again, get travel insurance just in case!
Overplanning
If you are going on a quick one-week vacation, perhaps you want to see it all, and that’s okay. But if you’re on a slower journey, it’s a mistake to plan every detail of your itinerary.
During solo travel, you meet a lot of people who quickly become great friends. When you let yourself be flexible, you wind up changing your plans to go together to new places.
Also, when you arrive in a new city, locals or other backpackers may recommend new places that the internet didn’t tell you about. If you are on a tight schedule, you might miss out on some great friendships or activities.
The best thing you can do is go with the flow and allow yourself to be spontaneous.
Not Doing Your Research
Not doing your research beforehand can cost you time and money. For example, some countries have regular or religious holidays that make places pricier or close down businesses. If it’s high season, it can change your experience and mood when there are a lot of tourists at some sites.
The weather can also put a damper on your plans if you aren’t able to carry on with your plans because of rain, snow, or natural disasters, such as hurricanes. Make sure to do some research to get an idea of what to expect.
Not Joining Groups and Tours
I’m all for discovering places alone and skipping tours if they aren’t necessary. When I first started solo traveling, I was determined to do it all “solo” to save money. However, I quickly discovered sometimes a local tour is best and that it’s also the best way to make friends.
As much as I love being alone, I also enjoy being around new people. Also, sometimes it’s the easiest and safest way to get to certain places. For example, in Peru, I could have gone on my own to save money on many hikes. But, that required possibly getting lost or waiting around for local transportation.
I concluded that I would pay a few extra dollars for a tour for my safety and to avoid the hassle. Going on a tour is also an excellent way of helping the local community since many of them depend on tourism to survive. But, of course, the downside of tours could be large groups, so do your research of the companies and pick the one best for you.
Not Try New Things
Although the majority of solo travelers are open to trying new things, some aren’t. Many let their fear of heights, or water, or other things get in the way of new experiences.
The best thing you can do for yourself as a solo traveler is to try new things that are out of your comfort zone. You might end up loving it. And if you hate it, at least you tried.
Some new things to try are food, hiking solo, diving, surfing, camping, and the list goes on. Here are some ideas on adventures solo travelers can have.
Forgetting Your Alcohol Limits
Forgetting alcohol limits can easily be one of the worst mistakes solo travelers make. Of course, having fun is nice, but losing your conscience will put you in situations you could have avoided.
When you go over your drinking limits, you become vulnerable to people who want to hurt you or steal from you. You can get lost or end up doing embarrassing or stupid things you didn’t want to. Not to mention drinking is expensive!
Leaving a Drink Unattended
On that note, if you’re a female solo traveler, I recommend never leaving your drink unattended. I may sound a bit paranoid, but I recommend you trust no one!
You don’t know other people’s intentions, so make sure that if someone buys you a drink, you see it prepared by the bartender and don’t accept any open beverages.
Once, I was dancing on the beach of Koh Phi Phi in Thailand with my drink in my hand. One guy who started dancing with my friend and I decided to drop what seemed like a pill in my glass.
I caught him, and my first reaction was to yell and throw my drink at him. Then, I kept my eye on him. When he went dancing with other girls, I walked over and told on him. Like I said, trust no one.
Arriving Late
Everything about exploring during the day is much nicer and safer. But, unfortunately, many cities experience more crime during the night. So, make sure that you head out as early as possible so that you can be back in your hotel before or just a little after sunset.
If possible, book your flights to arrive with daylight and try to avoid buses that arrive late or too early in the morning when there is no light.
Not Taking Safety Precautions
Winging it is not always the more brilliant thing to do if you want to be safe. Everything mentioned above is a safety precaution. Learn what places to avoid and what things not to do in the country you visit.
For example, in Thailand, it’s illegal to talk bad about the royal family. In Singapore, it’s illegal to enter with chewing gum. Then, in Cuba, talking about communism isn’t a great idea. These things can cause you to get in trouble.
Learn the cultural norms and customs, know emergency words, don’t flash your valuables, avoid being out late alone, never compromise your safety to save a few dollars, and remember the things mentioned above.
20 Solo Travel Mistakes to Avoid
Nothing here is meant to scare you. On the contrary, it’s intended to help you. So remember to avoid these mistakes, and you’ll probably have a great experience traveling.
Travel Booking Resources
Book Your Flight:
To find cheap flights, check Skyscanner and Google Flights. These search engines check airlines to find you the best deals. The more flexibility you have, the better flight deals available.
Book Your Accommodation:
Booking.com is my favorite booking site for hotels but it also shows great deals on hostels and apartments. Plus, when you reach Genius Level, you get special discounts, included breakfasts, and upgrades on some hotel rooms. Hostelworld is specifically for budget travelers who enjoy hostels. This is the best place for finding great options.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance and Visa Applications:
Travel insurance will protect you against theft, injury, illness, and cancellations. Sometimes unexpected things happen during a trip and protections will keep you covered. Two great options are: Safety Wing and World Nomads. Also, iVisa can help you get a visa if you need one.
Book Tours:
Sometimes the best way to see a place is through tours. I recommend checking out Get Your Guide for some fun and unique adventures wherever you go.
Check out my other travel resources to help you book your trip!
Disclaimer: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase a product, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Please note I only recommend products and brands that I personally use or have used and believe in.
