The Hidden Downsides of Solo Travel

I’ll just go ahead and admit it. Travelling alone is hard sometimes. It’s not for everyone. At times, you’ll be lonely, you’ll think solo travel is overrated and you might even feel unsafe. These are the downsides of solo travel.

Why solo travel sucks sometimes

Okay, it’s time to come clean about something.

Remember when I went on my first solo trip to Dublin in 2017?

It wasn’t as much fun as I made it out to be.

Sure, I experienced some great things. I talked to people I had never met while I was having dinner in the pub, I got to discover what would become one of my favourite solo travel destinations in Europe. I got a tattoo, for God’s sake.

And, while it was nice to do things I had never done before, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows.

In the interest of full transparency on this blog, I’m going to tell you why my trip to Dublin in particular and solo travel in general isn’t always amazing.

The disadvantages of solo travel

The main downsides of solo travel stem from the prejudices that often still exist about being on the road alone.

People say solo travel is hard, overrated and lonely. They say it’s too expensive, it’s unsafe and it’s not for introverts. They might have had a bad experience with solo travel and write it off forever.

Solo traveller sitting on brown wooden windowsill

And, the thing is, I can’t blame them for thinking that.

Because solo travel can be all of those things.

Here’s how.

It can be more expensive

Why is solo travel so expensive, you ask?

There are a few ways in which the travel industry puts solo travellers at a disadvantage by making them pay more for essentially the same thing.

Think about accommodation. Hotels and cruise ships often have a single supplement (i.e. a way to compensate for the profit they won’t make off two people staying in the same room).

And even if there’s no solo supplement, you still have to pay for everything yourself instead of splitting the cost with your travel companion.

Solo travel may take a bigger bite out of your budget than travelling with friends or family

Similarly, you might end up paying more for transport than non-solo travellers. Sure, things like airplane tickets and bus fares are just as expensive. But hiring a rental car or scooter will definitely take a bigger bite out of your budget if you’re travelling alone.

Lastly, when you’re eating out at a restaurant, it tends to be a disadvantage to be alone. You’re unable to share plates or drinks with your buddies, so if you want to try something, you’ll have to pay the full price.

In the end, everything comes down to your personal travel style. If you’re a shoestring-type solo traveller, chances are that your trip won’t be much more expensive than a trip with your friends. Hell, it might even be a bit cheaper. But if you’re not on a tight budget, you should keep an eye on your bank account anyway.

Solo travel safety

In general, it makes sense that travelling alone is less safe than travelling with other people.

However, that’s not necessarily a reason to write it off altogether.

As a solo traveller, you need to take some extra precautions. After all, you’re the only one who can prevent problems from arising and decide how to handle those problems when they do arise.

One of my favourite travel blogs, Solo Traveler World, wrote an article about solo travel safety. It’s more eloquent than anything I could write on the subject, so I’ll just link you to what Janice wrote about it.

Travelling alone can be lonely

You know, I get it.

You are out there by yourself.

One of the big downsides of solo travel: it can be lonely.

So I get why you would think that solo travel is lonely. And, if you’ve never done it before, it could be a bit lonely. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

When I visited Dublin by myself in 2017, it was my first time travelling alone. And I really got to see the downsides of solo travel.

I felt lonely sometimes. I second-guessed my decision to travel alone.

But that only motivated me more to make my next solo travel experience even more memorable.

And, sure enough, when I travelled to Malta six months later, I talked to more people. I went for dinner with my Airbnb host (who now runs a successful coliving and coworking community called CoCoHub).

After all, it’s not as difficult to make friends as a solo traveller as you might think.

I didn’t feel lonely anymore, even though I still did many things by myself.

When you start being content by yourself without feeling lonely, that’s when you’ll realise that solo travel is a great option.

Tips to make solo travel more enjoyable

You might have made the decision to take the leap, but you’re still worried about the downsides of solo travel.

Here are some tips to help you deal with the disadvantages of solo travel.

Here are a few tips to help you deal with the things that may go wrong.

Not everything will go according to plan.

And that’s okay. If you’re prepared to improvise, adapt and overcome (like Bear Grylls), you’ll be fine when you’re out there on your big adventure.

Come to terms with this fact and chances are that you can handle whatever the world throws your way.

Stay in touch with friends and family.

This helps if you’re afraid you’re going to feel homesick when travelling.

It also helps keep you grounded and remember that people are waiting for you at home – whether it be to listen to your adventurous stories or to tell you it’s all going to be okay if it didn’t go the way you wanted it to.

Book accommodation suited for solo travellers.

This one goes without saying. As a solo traveller, you probably don’t want to be stuck in a big, quiet hotel room.

Instead, opt for hostels, Couchsurfing, housesitting, river cruises, or any other solo travel-proof option.

Pro tip: you can also find great options for solo travellers on Airbnb. (Get €41 off your first booking by signing up through this link!)

Take a book.

A book (or digital alternative) can make any plain coffee shop interesting. Besides, if you don’t feel like going out exploring, you can just stay in and delve into your book.

The best part? Nobody’s there to judge you for it.

Walk and take public transport.

One of the best ways to get an accurate feel of your destination is to walk around and take public transport as locals would.

Solo travellers can benefit from taking public transport because it's usually much cheaper than the alternatives

Furthermore, taking a taxi, Uber or Lyft is usually much more expensive for solo travellers.

Drink responsibly.

I’ve personally never gone out on a solo trip, but if you do, consider refraining from alcoholic drinks. They cloud your judgment, and that’s something you want to be clear when you’re alone.

If you do drink, please do it responsibly.

Don’t overplan.

One of my biggest mistakes on my first solo trip to Dublin was planning too much.

I figured I was only there for a few days, so I had to make the most of that.

But in reality, you can travel at whichever pace you prefer. Again, there’s nobody there to slow you down or to rush you.

All I’m saying is: leave some room for unexpected activities, like going for a drink with one of your hostel roommates.

How to deal with anxiety as a solo traveller

Disclaimer: I personally do not suffer from anxiety or panic attacks when I travel solo.

However, I have noticed that social anxiety is a big barrier for people who are considering solo travel. For people who suffer from them, panic or anxiety attacks are a big downside of solo travel.

Since I have no personal experience with this, I’ll let other people do the talking.

In the following video, Alanna from Adventures and Naps explains how to deal with anxiety when travelling.

If you haven’t quite made the decision to travel solo yet because you’re afraid it won’t be what you expect, watch this video. Nadine from Hey Nadine gives tips on how to get over this fear.