Top five tips for solo travellers

There are many reasons people choose to travel solo, and with growing popularity, it’s becoming one of the most appealing ways to travel—giving you the freedom to explore, with the comfort of knowing everything is taken care of.

Heading off on a tour without knowing a soul can be both challenging and enlightening. However, chances are you’ll meet like-minded people because they’ve chosen the same tour as you. Feeling social? Head to the bar for a pre-dinner drink. Fancy some downtime in your room? No problem.

There’s no pressure or expectation—you can simply enjoy the experience your way. You can just be you.

Ever wanted to go to a far-flung country but weren't sure of the best way to get there, what to see, where to stay, or what you need to take?

Travel today requires solid tech skills, especially if you’re travelling overseas. Apps are used for itinerary updates, gate changes, flight delays, and filling out forms. Who do you turn to if something goes wrong? How do you communicate if you’re in a country and don’t speak the language?

Group travel takes the stress out of the planning and logistics. As a solo traveller, you can rely on the trip planner/leader/host to take care of everything. Be ready to go with the flow, knowing people behind the scenes have thought through every aspect of your trip to make it the best it can possibly be. Local knowledge is gold.

It’s easy for life to get in the way of wanderlust. Who can ever forget Jack Nicholson in The Bucket List? Maybe, you have a burning desire to see elephants in the wild, take in the view from the Eiffel Tower, watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat, soak in the Blue Lagoon, dance under the northern lights, shuck oysters in Tasmania, be surrounded by penguins in Antarctica, sashay through a European Christmas market, learn the art of a Japanese tea ceremony, or hear the thunder of Niagara Falls.

The options are endless. Turning dreams into reality is all about taking the first step.

Within Australia, there are many fully escorted itineraries geared for solos with low single supplements. A seven-night foodies sojourn to Tasmania includes the famed full day Bruny Island Gourmet Experience; tip-toeing through the tulips on a Southern Highlands seven-night garden tour takes in Canberra’s Floriade, Bowral’s tulip festival, and the beautiful Tulip Top Gardens in Sutton; or a pack-free multi day walk along Tasmania’s famed Bay of Fires is just the ticket if you’re a keen walker.

Journey Beyond has an innovative, stylish ‘gold single’ cabin for great Aussie train adventures such as The Ghan. Or maybe you’d love to spend Australia Day on a four-day break in Sydney where you’ll have a perfect possie on the harbour to watch the action from the comfort of a window seat on a Sydney Harbour lunch cruise.

A soak in hot springs is a welcome surprise in the heart of Queensland’s outback. Cunnamulla, where artesian waters meet country hospitality, is just the ticket for dipping your toes into solo travel with a dedicated wellness for solos itinerary, in addition to other tours that focus on special interests like birdwatching.

Further afield, cruising as a solo is a popular choice, and with strong demand, cruise companies are meeting the market to discount or, in some cases, eliminate pesky single supplements. Scenic offer a saving of up to 75% off the single supplement on selected itineraries such as the Chilean Fjords, a wellness retreat cruise from the Caribbean to Portugal, and an expedition cruise from Iceland to Greenland. Regent Seven Seas have discounts ranging from 30% to 50% on selected voyages like Rome to Miami, Panama City to Papeete, and Lisbon to Cape Town.

APT waives the solo supplement completely on selected departures on the Mekong River and Lower Ganges itineraries. And, HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions), renowned for its sustainability values, offer no single supplement on selected expeditions departing within six months of booking.

Wherever you choose to travel, there’s a certain alchemy that comes from shared experiences—especially as a solo traveller. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to go, this could be it. With the right support and like-minded travellers by your side, it’s easier than you think to take that first step.