Shoestring Solo Travel
When you travel alone, you have the freedom to create your own itinerary and explore at your own pace. You can take part in activities that truly interest you without having to compromise with anyone else, your destinations are your own and the world is your oyster so to speak. Solo travel can also allow for self-reflection and personal growth, mostly because it will push you outside of your comfort zone and encourage you to step out of your shell. As well as that, solo travel often gives you the opportunity to meet new people and make meaningful connections along the way.
Solo travel makes you feel great for a number of reasons, but the biggest of all is probably the empowerment it brings. When you're able to navigate unfamiliar places on your own, it allows you become more self-reliant and helps you to develop confidence in your abilities.
Choosing Budget-Friendly Destinations
Traveling on a budget doesn't mean you have to compromise on the quality of your experiences. There are loads of budget-friendly destinations around the world that offer incredible adventures without breaking the bank. When you're choosing a budget-friendly destination, try to consider countries with a lower cost of living or those that offer affordable transportation and accommodation options. From the UK, these destinations may sometimes cost a little more to get there, ie. South East Asia, however the cost of accommodation and food is much, much cheaper.
Packing Tips for Budget Backpackers
When travelling on a budget, it's really important to try and pack as efficiently as possible to avoid unnecessary expenses. We've put together some packing tips for budget backpackers:
- Pack versatile clothing items that can be mixed and matched to create different outfits and used in different weather conditions.
- Opt for lightweight and compact travel gear, including backpacks to minimise baggage weight and maximise space.
- Consider packing a reusable water bottle and a reusable shopping bag to save money on bottled water (also take into account the destination and the availability and safety of drinking tap water) and reduce plastic waste.
- Research the weather conditions of your destination and pack accordingly to avoid having to purchase expensive gear on-site. If you have multiple destinations, try to pack at least 2 variations of clothing suitable for the conditions.
- Pack essential toiletries in travel-sized containers to save space and comply with airline regulations, or consider buying them at your destination.
By packing efficiently, you should be able to reduce the need to purchase additional items during your trip which can help you save money.
Overcoming Hurdles with Solo Travel
Solo travel can be incredibly rewarding, however it's important to understand that there will potentially be a few hurdles for you to overcome on your journey. We've put together some tips for overcoming the most common hurdles in solo travel:
- Safety concerns: Prioritise your safety by making sure you research the destination, stay alert in your surroundings, and trusting your instincts. Share your travel plans with someone back home and stay connected with regular check-ins.
- Loneliness: Sometimes solo travel can make you feel a bit lonely. When you can, take the opportunity to connect with other travellers or locals through activities, group tours, or online communities. Most of the time if you're staying in hostels, there will be some sort of social organised by the hostel itself, or potentially even the people staying there.
- Language barriers: Try to learn a few key phrases in the local language or use the Google Translate app to navigate communication challenges. Remember to be patient and open-minded when you're talking to locals.
- Planning and decision-making: Solo travel means you get to make all the decisions on your own. Sometimes this feels great, while other times it can feel daunting. Try to be as flexible and open to spontaneous adventures as you can.
It's often easy to pick up tips and tricks from other solo travellers in hostels or groups as well - try to take the time to get to know what other people are doing. They might even be able to help you make your own plans.
Connecting With Other Solo Travellers
One of the best things about solo travel is the opportunity to meet other like-minded adventurers. You'll probably find that staying in hostels allows you to meet fellow travellers, even more so if the hostel has a common area or organises it's own social events. You can check out Hostelworld for the best options for hostels around the world.
Try to join in on group activities or tours if you can. Some hostels offer "walking tours" which are usually free to join and as well as meeting other people, you'll get the chance to check out the local area.
There are also a number of groups on Facebook and other social media channels which are designed to allow travellers connect with each other. You'll probably find people planning to meet, joining roadtrips and boat trips, sharing costs for things etc in these groups.
Connecting with other solo travellers on your trip can help to make the planning and organisation of your trip a whole lot easier, but it also provides a support system and can potentially lead to lifelong friendships!