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<\/p>\nLet me guess, you\u2019ve been dreaming about leaving the rat race for years. Your Pinterest board and Instagram feed are full of wanderlust-inducing destinations. Your Facebook is full of everyone else\u2019s exotic airport check-ins and sickening selfies. So now, enough is enough, you\u2019ve decided to throw caution to the wind and go on a solo travel adventure of your own.<\/p>\n
Or in other words, you\u2019ve finally seized the reigns and saved the money, carved out the time, and booked those flights (fist pump). However, reality is settling in. Those doubts and fears about solo travel are creeping in, no matter how hard you try to stop them.<\/p>\n
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Well, guess what? This is 100% normal.<\/p>\n
Over the years I\u2019ve lived in the South of France, Madrid and Chile. I\u2019ve taken long-term expeditions, impulse holidays and what-the-hell-am-I-doing trips. I\u2019ve travelled extensively alone, and will champion solo travel to everyone (or anyone) who\u2019ll listen.<\/p>\n
Read more:\u00a0Solo travel unlocks this secret to fulfilment<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n At first, all I can think about is jetting off, meeting interesting characters, having deep discussions about the meaning of life and dancing the night away at a spontaneous street party with said new friends. The excitement is intoxicating.<\/p>\n But do you know what? I still get those butterflies in my stomach as the solo travel trip gets nearer and nearer. The same fears resurface, and still manage to take me by surprise. The key to owning those fears is to not let them stop you. Here are some of the most common, and how I handle them.<\/p>\n 1. \u201cI\u2019ll be really lonely\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Ok, so unless you\u2019re a seasoned socialite, it can feel a bit bold walking up to random strangers and sparking a conversation. What if they think I\u2019m weird? What if I come across too forward? What if they can tell I haven\u2019t showered in two days? (You\u2019re travelling. I\u2019m not judging).<\/p>\n With the fear of sounding like a hippy guru, it\u2019s really all about your mind-set during solo travel. You don\u2019t have to corner everyone you see for a chat, but try to approachable and open. Be interested in others. People love to talk about themselves \u2013 so a simple \u201cwhere have you been so far?\u201d is an easy opener that can trigger some awesome travel tales.<\/p>\n Read more: Why I set up a group tour company for 30-40 somethings<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n There are so many people travelling solo who, just like you, are craving the same kind of meaningful interaction. Plus, you\u2019re likely to have loads in common \u2013 every solo traveller has at least one hilarious hostel story, trust me. Who knows what amazing discussions you\u2019re going to end up having over a bottle of Malbec?\u00a0Forget dating sites, how about a cosy campsite with a bunch of adventurous solo travellers?<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not staying in hostels, it can feel hard to meet people. Yet there are some amazing tours, activities or courses you can do to connect with others. Meet-up lists local groups and events, and there\u2019s tons to choose from. While travelling for work in New York, I was bored in my hotel room and signed up for a Supper Club. I was the only non-local and everyone was surprised I was there, but they were so intrigued to talk to me. It was one of the most fun evenings of my life and I still message some of the people I met that night. You just have to throw yourself in, head first.<\/p>\n 2. \u201cBut I\u2019ll get bored on my own\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n This is a big one for us busy professionals who are used to being bombarded with information, noise and deadlines all day.<\/p>\n I have two words for you: let go. Trust me, solo travel gives you the space and freedom to choose what you do with your time and energy, and it\u2019s liberating. There isn\u2019t much Wi-Fi on top of Machu Picchu, and you\u2019re not likely to understand the Thai TV programmes, so fill up your time with something meaningful and self-improving instead.<\/p>\n Read more:\u00a0The reality of going on a group tour with strangers<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n If you have some juicy books and audiobooks, new friends to make and local culture to explore, there\u2019s no way you could get bored. Why not use this time to brush up on your photography skills or start a travel blog?<\/p>\n I\u2019ve done some weird and wonderful courses on my solo travels, which I\u2019d never have had time for in London. I signed up to a Reiki master course in Santiago, I made sushi in Rio, I crafted chocolate truffles in Mendoza and learnt how to build a bridge and renovate a 16th century house in La Camargue (because you never know when that might come in handy…). Nothing is too \u201crandom\u201d or \u201cwacky\u201d. If some small part of you fancies giving it a go, do it – and the more out of your comfort zone, the better.<\/p>\n 3. \u201cI\u2019ll get homesick\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019ll be honest \u2013 yes, you might. You may miss your friends and family (or even just a good cup of tea and a roast dinner).<\/p>\n Sadly Skype and\u00a0FaceTime haven\u2019t quite mastered the virtual cuppa, yet they are amazing at helping you stay in touch during solo travel. When I was living in Chile, there were times when I felt so disconnected that I forgot I had a family. There were times when all I wanted was a cup of chai with my mum.<\/p>\n Read more:\u00a05 daring desert adventures to book now<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n How did I get through that? I made sure I got in touch with the person I was missing and just had a long and well needed catch-up with them. In fact, I became so much closer to some members of my family during this time – due to the distance, we opened up so much more and didn\u2019t take each other for granted.<\/p>\n When you do go home, you\u2019ll be stronger as a result of your experiences. You\u2019ll have so many stories to tell, whether it’s\u00a0the time you spontaneously hiked up a mountain at sunrise, or when you left your passport in the hotel (you\u2019ll see the funny side one day\u2026)<\/p>\n 4.\u201cWhat if I hate solo travel?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n So what? At least you tried! If your adventure isn\u2019t what you wanted it to be, you can come home whenever. You haven\u2019t failed \u2013 you just haven\u2019t found what\u2019s right for you yet. Mountain trekking in Peru might not be your bag, yet a safari in South Africa could be just the thing you\u2019ve always dreamed of. The world is a big place \u2013 keep exploring.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Radha-solo-travel.jpg\")
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