15 Things I WISH I Knew About Solo Travel

My Favorite Travel Gear: ✈️

Digital Nomad Tools: 👩‍💻

Living Abroad: 🌍

Watch next: 👀

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:35 Free Travel Backpack
00:54 1 Emotions
01:57 2 Making Mistakes
02:59 3 Independence
04:10 4 New Skills
05:35 5 Sharper Senses
06:31 6 Meeting People
8:41 7 Romance
10:19 8 Loneliness
12:44 9 Freedom
14:48 Female Solo Travel
15:43 10 Fun
16:45 More Time
17:34 11 Knowing Yourself
18:53 12 How You Change
20:53 13 Your Memory
21:54 14 Escaping the Rat Race
22:45 15 Adapting to Local Culture

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

👱🏻‍♀️ About: Kristin Wilson is the author of Digital Nomads For Dummies, the host of Badass Digital Nomads Podcast, and known as Traveling with Kristin on YouTube. She's traveled to more than 60 countries and has been helping people move overseas since 2005.

PS: This video is for entertainment purposes only and is not consulting or advice. Video descriptions may contain affiliate or refer-a-friend links for products I use and recommend. Thanks for supporting the channel!

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

#solotravel #traveltheworld #traveltips

[Goldfinger]

Perhaps something to add to the list is that inevitability when traveling alone, you’re going to visit or witness something so amazing that you’ll wish you had someone to share it with right at that moment. I’ve seen so many of the world’s natural wonders and often thought if only there was someone with me to remember it together and re-create the excitement when reminiscing. But having said all that, I still love solo travel and will never stop.

[stavroskon]

You dont travel alone..u travel with ur self!!! Its very important! Ur self is ur friend!! Greetings from Greece 🇬🇷

[lol-ebpp]

i’m a 19 year old girl and just booked a solo trip to iceland in september, everyone i know is telling me it’s a bad idea and dangerous but i’m so excited! thank you for this video

[heathergoesrogue]

Thank you so much for this. I am 55 and made the decision to work remotely and travel starting in 6 months. I’m not getting any younger. This was a fantastic gift.

[wanderer]

I am 68 and on my 12th solo trip. Right now in Costa Rica. It had been 2 years since I traveled solo and had those anxiety feelings as the plane landed at night in San Jose.
Every trip is different, and I have found that I can talk to pretty much anyone and much more street smart.
I do carry my concerns from the US and my personal life of a long separation from my husband with me.
Feelings come to the surface.
I like to combine my travel with nearby yoga places in the jungle. That really helps to connect with myself and others.
The randomness and kindness of strangers is every day. Loneliness at times too. New friends on other days.
Thank you, Kristin!

[JLTravels]

Hi Kristin-You are right on! Solo travel is like a journey back to yourself! Fewer distractions & greater freedom! I learned to love myself without conforming!

[williamallan]

I am a retired man. Looking to travel solo. Somewhat fearful of language issues. Your video is encouraging for this introvert

[lindylee]

First time I traveled alone I was 21 and went to Mexico to study Spanish. Like you I remember being so afraid at the airport I almost changed my mind. I didn’t travel solo again until my 50s. At first I took baby steps taking a trip in my own state, then Europe and back to Mexico. It’s been life changing in such a positive way.

[helen]

Everything that you said is right on!
My solo travel began as an unplanned one. It began over 54 years ago, in early 1969, when I had decided to visit Europe for the 1st time, and I was only 20.
When I ran out of asking ppl to join me, I posted a request for a travel companion at our colleges. One responded, and off we went. After three weeks of travel, my companion found another group of ladies that she preferred and walked off, leaving standing and crying on the Isle of Capri.
Best thing that she could have done for me.
I was then forced to depend solely on myself, to make choices of where I wanted to go, for how long, etc. I experienced everything that you mentioned, including finding a boyfriend (in London). I went on dates with locals, other foreign travelers, and some American military young men. I mingled with everyone and learned so much. I met a family on the train from Barcelona to Madrid and was invited to stay with them in their downtown apartment. We partied every single day.
But I must say that back 54 years ago it wasn't the thing for such a young girl to travel all over Europe alone. And to complicate matters even more, the US was at war in Vietnam, and Europeans weren't so kind to Americans and so expressed their anger on us visitors.
I remember many events as you mentioned, I was in Greece when we landed on the moon, and I was in Madrid when I read the headlines of Sharon Tates murder.
I can hear songs popular from the Summer of 1969 that will take me back to many memories, and my emotions and feelings from that time all come back to revisit.
Huge difference between then and now. For example, the cost to fly to Europe was very expensive, as were phone calls back to the US. I was gone for 2 months, and I could barely afford to call home one time only. Picture taking was with roll flim, and I had to return home 2 months later to see what turned. There were no cell phones with unlimited photos and text messaging.

At this point, I feel as if I was a pioneer, who spent 2 months away from family and country, without contact but one single solitary phone call, and very few tourists 54 years ago.

Thanks for sharing. 😊

[marykane]

Very helpful. Loneliness is my biggest concern.

[Saigonchic]

I’m 55 single and no kids and I have yet to have the courage to do what you do. Thank you for this video. U give me inspiration 😊

[lottie]

One way to try solo travel without it being so scary the first time is to go on your own, but on an adventure travel tour, with other people who you meet when you get there. That way you get the difficult bits like booking accommodation and getting from A to B done for you. It gives you the experience of travel and how everything works, before embarking somewhere entirely on your own the next time. It worked for me.

[alinebrandau]

Traveling alone is good for the brain. It is the only time I write poetry and reflect deeply.

[earlofsmeg]

I usually travel solo and it's easier. I don't have to be responsible for anyone else and that is a burden less when traveling alone. I don't have to change or rearrange my schedule for anyone. There are many other perks when you travel alone and for me it's my favorite way of traveling.

[eymudlv]

Hola Kristin, I have been traveling alone for 7 years now. Being 66 yo it's not as easy to meet people who have the same type of life. What I miss more is to be hable to share the beauty you see with other people. Loneliness is often there in front of a beautiful sunset.

[DB]

I have been traveling mostly solo, ( I also love traveling with a very few friends and family members who share similar interests ) for a long time, thirty years. As a single woman it was nerve racking in the beginning, specially before cell phones and social media, like WhatsApp, which allows you to stay connected with friends and family. Now, it has become a new normal. Definitely, I always travelled to relatively ‘safe’ countries in Europe and Asia. I still don’t feel brave enough to go every place I want, since safety is my top concern. My first solo trip was to Edinburgh, Scotland. As you said, slowly I became confident and comfortable traveling by myself and it gave me a great sense of freedom and achievement for a painfully shy and introverted woman. BTW, I love your videos. ❤❤ You are one of the few solo female travelers I love to watch and appreciate your tips, suggestions etc. I am planning to retire in near future and travel long term if everything goes well. Happy Travels!🎉

[CaliWeHo]

Hi Kristin, I've been traveling solo since the middle of May in 2022. I've had many highs as well as lows. I've learned so much about myself; I have the resourcefulness of a lioness! Originally from Virginia; I'm in Belgrade now for a month. Everything you're saying is so so true! After traveling in a group on a study abroad to Italy seven years ago, I knew I'd never want to travel in a group again! I'm an older lady, haha! I enjoy my own company and having the freedom to do what I want when I want. I can't imagine traveling any other way. It would be nice to have dinner with someone sometimes though, so thank you for the meet up suggestions. I am braver than I ever thought; coming to terms with not "fitting in" with my old social network from high school except for being a parent, has been challenging for me. I have come to realize I *must* create a new life for myself and that means letting go of just about everything I thought was "normal!" It's scary! Sometimes it's really hard but more often than not I wake up being so thankful that I'm still here to have these experiences. I appreciate what I have in this moment; I do miss my son terribly sometimes. He lives in L.A. Thank goodness for FB Messenger and Viber! He thinks what I'm doing is so cool and I know he is proud of me; having his support has given me even more confidence and has kept me going on the dark days. 😌

[lindadorman]

I've traveled every which way of solo travel for 30+ years now, living/working in 40 countries and can relate to all your insightful points. I'm not sure if it's travel or just getting older but I no longer care what people think or try to keep up with trends. In fact, I recently decided to wear the same style of black cargo pants and slip-on shoes every day, and only switch up the top. As a chef, I wore a uniform every day so it feels natural to me - frees up a ton of packing space too! The people who know me don't care...and the people who care don't know me.

[MrChazasaurus]

I noticed that solo traveling for me, being away from all of my normal hobbies and past-times, really allows me to see just what exactly I miss most and wish I had, maybe just because of the isolation. Like, it's sort of a compass pointing me to what I want to do with the rest of my days. Which was really the purpose of me traveling, rather that just checking out the awesome sites.

[StefSharkySchultz]

BE BOLD, folks - make your world bigger! Thank you for sharing these pro tips, Kristin, the light you shine on travel continues to be so helpful, and we are grateful!