I don’t know how much travel you do by yourself but if this isn’t something you do . . . you should. Solo travel allows you to experience only the things you want to experience. The best part is you don’t have to convince others to partake! With that being said, I do enjoy traveling with others. It is nice to share memories. I recently just came back from a trip that I took by myself. It was an off-grid trip, meaning I couldn’t reach out to others if I was bored or lonely. That time gave me the opportunity to reconnect with myself and what is important to me. So here are 5 tips when traveling alone no matter where you are in the world.

1. Have a general outline of what your trip should look like and let others know before you go that outline just as a precaution. BUT leave a ton of room for adaptation once you are there and in the thick of what is going on around you.
2. Pick a destination that speaks to what you are needing. Are you needing some quiet relaxation after a two-month work project? Do you need some excitement to get you out of your routine? Do need to go for an experience-driven trip because you don’t feel connected with life?
3. Spend time with the locals in their local lives. Go ahead and go to their grocery store, walk in their parks, and visit their local favorite diners. Mingling with the locals gives you a better sense of life in that area and opens up other opportunities for you. On one such trip for me, I made the decision to move to the location.
4. Take a class. Much like point 3, this one gives you the opportunity to develop a new skill with new friends. I love taking cooking classes in the new locations that I find myself in. I develop a new skill and I always make new friends that I end up keeping long after the trip has ended.
5. Go with the intent that the souvenirs you will bring home are the memories that are made. Those are the trips that stay with us LONG after it has ended.