How to Avoid Being a Solo Travel Disaster (like me)

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Solo Travel throws up so many challenges and awkward situations lurk around every beautiful, foreign corner. You could stay at home in your fluffy slippers and watch re-runs of Friends to avoid all the potential mishaps – but where would be the fun in that? Instead, you can learn from my mistakes and find out how to avoid being a solo travel disaster!

Every adventure you undertake builds confidence, and whilst you might not realise it, you will take bigger and bolder steps each time. For example, in Lisbon I stayed in a hostel – something which I might not have considered before. It was still a private room though! Baby steps guys!

Lisbon (aside from being a fantastic, vibrant city) taught me that even after three trips I was still not a ‘perfect solo traveller’. There will always be more to discover and each travel experience is unique. Lisbon certainly threw up some solo travel disasters! 

Want to know more about Lisbon? Read my three day itinerary here. (I mostly ramble on about custard tarts but there is some useful info hidden in there as well.)

I want to share some of the lessons learned and the revelations I had on solo adventure number 3! So you can go forth and solo travel armed with what not to do! (Sometimes I do get it right, sometimes…)

1. Think Before You Pack

I learned a very important lesson in Lisbon: beware of clothes that are difficult to undo by yourself. Seems kind of obvious but it’s easy to throw in a new top only to realise it has one of those tiny buttons at the back of the neck that are so fiddly and awkward. Luckily whilst I was getting ready I spotted a couple in the hostel to ask for help. It was awkward, but I was buttoned!

It was only later when I got back to my room that I remembered I’d now have to undo it by myself. Nightmare! Cue what felt like hours of tussling with my arms behind my back. (It was now late at night and there was no-one around). I eventually got it off but I felt exhausted by the panic of wondering if I would simply have to tear the clothing off my body.

Pack wisely my friends.

2. Try Not to be a Useless Person

There were moments on my latest trip that I questioned my suitability for solo travel. I love love love solo travel – but am I really cut out for it? I was forced to ponder this because I’m easily flummoxed by the most basic of everyday activities.

Like unlocking/locking doors.

My hostel was perfectly lovely and I highly recommend – Lisbon RiverView Hostel – however it was like trying to get into Fort Knox for me! The building was old and there were three doors to lock and unlock and I invariably I failed to unlock two out of three doors. I would make a poor game show contestant! The poor owner had to help me so many times, often late in the evening – I was so embarrassed! Anyway, don’t worry, she told me that no-one else has ever had so much trouble with the doors so it was just me!

Excellent.

Solo travel means having to rely on yourself completely, there is no-one else to turn to, other than kind strangers. This can put you in frustrating and embarrassing situations!

Often I chuckle at myself for putting myself in a position to be challenged because I know how hopeless I am at everyday things.

You just have to accept that you are going to be challenged, no matter how capable you are, and it’s how you cope with it that makes you a stronger traveller. (I don’t know if I coped well with this… I didn’t sit and cry in my room for hours so I think it’s a win!)

3. Don’t do it all for the ‘gram!

I’m sure we all have a love-hate relationship with finding the perfect picture. I think it’s even more relevant for solo travellers because you don’t have someone to talk to and enjoy the experience with so capturing it on your phone and sharing it with the world feels even more important.

One moment that highlighted this for me in Lisbon was on a day trip to the palaces of Sintra. The famous and much instagrammed Pena Palace was crowded and tiring, whereas the quieter gardens (still very pretty just not quite so stand out photo op!) were an altogether more enjoyable experience!

Learn to balance experience with chasing that perfect picture. (I’m still trying!)

4. Don’t Get Lost in Translation

The main challenge I experience on my travels stems from being shy and softly spoken. This is something I cannot fully change but it would help me so much if I learned to be more confident on my travels.

In Lisbon it nearly cost me my lunch!

I thought I’d ordered food. Either there was a misunderstanding or the waitress just didn’t hear me, either way after a while I realised no food was coming! The combination of language barriers and shyness is an awkward one! Mind you this was a restaurant that left me sat half an hour without a menu or drink so perhaps I shouldn’t blame myself on this one! Then again if you find waiters are ignoring you as a solo traveller being more assertive might be necessary!

Although I didn’t expect solo travel to cure me of my shyness I did imagine that I would grow in confidence with each trip. Instead it feels like I start back at square one! This could be because in between I’ve been back at home in the familiar and comfortable routine, or perhaps it is because every destination is unique, with new languages to learn, new customs and transport systems to negotiate.

I think the biggest mistake I make is half attempting to speak their language, thereby making myself less confident when I speak even when I fill in bits in English. It would be better to speak loudly and clearly in English and not worry about throwing in some Portuguese!

Build your confidence, learn the language well, or focus on being clear and confident in English!

The more confident you are the less likely you are to have mishaps! Or miss your lunch!

5. Don’t Plan too Hard

Speaking of food I have realised that the one area of your trip that is the hardest to plan is the restaurants.

Either it’s inexplicably closed, you have to have a reservation or it turns out to be terrible. All of these things happened to me in Lisbon and I only ate at one place that was on my list! And that was the terrible one!

Be prepared to be flexible with eating out. I spent a lot of time researching restaurants which turned out to be wasted time! Of course don’t miss it out altogether, just don’t spend too many hours of your life on it!

6. Check Your Tech

Make sure your technology doesn’t let you down. My problem is I’ve gone from being a girl with a Nokia to a solo travel blogger who needs to take a million pictures, use google maps all the time, etc. 1. You need a portable battery source, 2. You need storage on your phone. Otherwise you’ll end up deleting almost every app you have to make room for photos! (Well it got me off tinder anyway).

The other disaster is having to go back to your room in the middle of the day to charge your phone! And to begin with it would help if you didn’t attempt to buy a portable charger at the airport, refuse the cashiers help (I automatically say I’m fine thanks) and end up buying the wrong thing!

Yeah, oh dear.

And finally

7. Don’t Get Lost

You remember what I said about being kinda impractical and useless? Yeah that also means getting lost trying to find my hostel on numerous occasions.

It’s obvious really: tiny sign, streets that all look the same, hopeless sense of direction. I should have prepared better.

Always make a note of the street name, door number and any clear landmarks or shops, anything distinctive close by. Don’t rely on google maps.

More Solo Travel Challenges

Um, Hi! Can you take my picture please?

You want to travel alone, you are an independent, don’t need no man, badass, but guess what’s that means? Yup, no photos of you in your fabulous summer dresses lounging by the sea, cocktail in hand. Or in this case no photos of you with palaces, trams or the million and one custard tarts you consumed.

If you own an Instagram page, this is an official disaster.

Now, when I started my solo travels it was quite enough just to be there! I was new to blogging, new to marketing via social media, in essence I was still just a girl on holiday, having a little solo adventure. This is probably why Barcelona will always hold a special place in my heart!

If you want to make some memories in the city of Gaudi yourself, this is my three day itinerary.

Nothing lasts forever. The way we live changes, our obsessions change, the way we travel changes.

On one hand – do not spend your holidays searching for the perfect pic for the ‘gram! It becomes addictive and unhealthy!!

However, as a solo travelers it’s nice to get some pics where you get to be in them! Especially if you enjoy fashion and want to get your outfit in! And it’s great challenge and confidence builder!

Top Tips

• Don’t stress over it. Take opportunities that come your way but don’t obsess!
• Seek out friendly faces and those already taking pictures, just let them get theirs first!
• Always offer to take a pic in return and try to do a good job for them!

Yes it’s awkward, yes it makes you feel creepy as you hover around sizing people up. Yes you then have to pose for a complete stranger.

But it’s a great confidence boost and you might get some great pics out of it!

Making the Most of the Day

I tried out a different day plan in Lisbon which I found to be very successful. Often evenings can be an awkward time as a solo traveller. You want to go out and have fun and soak up the atmosphere, (especially if you live in a quiet place back home with zero nightlife!) However, you end up surrounded by groups of friends laughing and joking together and you automatically feel very alone very and left out. Oddly enough this feeling could happen in the day as well but it feels much more intensified at night.

You’ve had a shower after a long day of sightseeing, primped and preened yourself and put a pretty dress on for the evening (as is my custom). You don’t want to go out for half an hour, feel awkward, eat and head back to your room early feeling like you’ve wasted feeling fresh and nice!

To avoid this, re-arrange your day. It isn’t possible to do it every day (unless you love early starts) but it makes a nice change to throw in one different day.

Try this:

• Get up early
• Enjoy the peace and quiet
• Have a sunrise to yourself
• Head back to your room after lunch
• Quick snooze if you wish, shower, freshen up
• Breeze back out into the city feeling fabulous for the afternoon and maximise your day!
• Whether you stay out late or not, you will have got the wear out of your evening outfits.

What’s the worst solo travel disaster you’ve had? Share your stories (funny, nightmarish – whatever!) in the comments below. Also feel free to share your top tips for being a fabulous solo traveller! (I could still use them!)

More on Solo Travel…

A Solo Travel Guide to Paris

Why Introverts Can and Should Solo Travel

Solo Travel and Loneliness

Five Reasons to Give Solo Travel a Go