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Teahere is single TravelAnd it is a lonely journey. Solo travel means setting out alone, but often, the loneliness ends there. We join a group trip at the airport, or book into a hostel or hotel where we meet other travelers, or we travel alone to a place where we have friends.
I fully support all of the above, especially when I think about it womenPeople of color, LGBT+ travelers, people with disabilities, and other travelers who have historically not had the same freedoms and privileges as majority travelers.
Today, solo travel is for everyone. Google searches for “solo travel” have increased by 223 percent over the past decade, with a 60 percent increase since 2022 after the pandemic — and women make up the vast majority of solo travelers. From affordable, Gen Z and Millennial-oriented group travel organizations like fearless And flash pack (Tagline: “Arrive alone, go as friends”) Among the new high-end travel clubs geared toward discerning middle-aged people, such as Avandra ClubTraveling alone and going on adventure has never been easier.
However, the rapid generalization of “solo travel” and the proliferation of group travel providers has obscured one particular aspect of solo travel: solitary travel, a trip where I willingly, stubbornly, am alone. Eating alone, exploring alone, sleeping in the same room, being happily alone. Solitary travel can be magical, and solo travel requires an entirely different set of skills.
Like many other solo travelers, it was business travel that made me nervous… and proved that I had the skills to travel completely alone. As an international reporter and travel writer, I’m used to parachuting into an unfamiliar city and running around getting to know the place, interviewing people, visiting sites, trying to get to the bottom of the place (or the subject matter) in a matter of a few days.
I became addicted to the fast pace, the freedom, the balance between the rush of time and lying gratefully on a luxurious bed just for me. I have breakfast whenever I feel like it, no need to tell anyone else about my gym plans or plans to leave the gym. Typically, changing your plans at the last minute based on your mood or energy levels, without worrying about anyone else’s mood or energy levels. Booking travel at short notice, so it really does happen; we can probably all think Holiday Plans that never materialized out of WhatsApp group chats, due to conflicts of schedules and budgets and desires.
Solo travelers come in all ages, genders, shapes and sizes – and our tastes vary. I’m very much an urban solitary traveler. I never feel lonely in cities. I want to visit as many museums and galleries as humanly possible, and make very fast progress alone. I love walking down the streets with my headphones on, marveling at the architecture, walking 26,000 steps without hearing anyone else complain about their poor choice of shoes.
I like to eat at bar counters, in food markets, or in restaurants and tapas bars, where it’s perfectly fine to dine alone. In fact, in bar settings, where there’s a line for couples or large parties, being able to sit at a lone empty barstool is often beneficial to me.
Similarly, it is often easy for one to book a last-minute ticket to a theatre, opera or concert hall. This year I’m caught (alone) gypsy On Broadway in NYC, Tosca By purchasing an “orphan” seat for one – at the Vienna State Opera and the London Symphony Orchestra at Madrid’s Auditorio Nacional. We won’t be chatting to our peers during Tosca’s Lament anyway, so really, how social is opera?
When I was a younger traveler, I may have felt differently about social interaction and safety. But at 40, I’m happy alone having a cocktail or a glass of wine, and I don’t care about clubbing, and I don’t have to worry so much about getting myself home safely.
No one who knows me would ever call me lonely. My work demands extroverted qualities, and I can adopt this behavior while working well in a team of photographers and videographers on the road. Even in my home life, I am part of a close-knit family and have a wide circle of friends; My people are my greatest asset. I take my retired mom and dad on vacations every summer, I travel with friends and my boyfriend, and most of my disposable income disappears on visits to family and friends around the world – in California, France, England, and Ireland, where I’m from.
People are often surprised when I tell them I’ve booked myself a city trip: to Seville, Madrid, Rome, Bilbao, Naples, Marseille. “For work?” No, pure joy. “alone?” Yes, what a joy.
I know some solo travelers who would never dream of visiting a city alone, but feel comfortable walking the Camino de Santiago in Ireland, the Cami de Cavalles in Menorca or the Ulster Way Loop. Personally, I tend to be alone in rural or jungle environments. And I’ve learned the hard way that luxury alone doesn’t suit me; Being surrounded by honeymooners and big families makes me sad and awkward.
And yes, it has some disadvantages too. On every trip, something happens that makes me seek out a companion for a few hours – perhaps a late-night bar or some artistic avant-garde event that I couldn’t face alone. Inevitably, when dining or drinking alone, a man will often assume that I want company; Sometimes I carry a book to distract myself from unwanted attention, but I can say “Thank you, but I want to be left alone” in Spanish, Italian, French, and German. And being unable to split the cost of a hotel room always hurts a little. But then I remember what I have achieved, and it all seems worth it.
Top places in Anna to visit alone:
1. Madrid
Dazzling museums and galleries, fabulous food markets and nightly opera/ballet/flamenco performances. Just be aware that Madrid is a fun and nocturnal city, so walking past riotous bars at midnight may make you feel nervous.
2. New York
The most iconic bar-dining scene on the planet, electric streetlife, endless (if expensive) cultural treats, and reassuringly familiar surroundings because you’ve seen it all before in a Meg Ryan movie.
3. Singapore
Safe, smiley and stress-free, with great no-fuss solo meals at hawker centers and a variety of rainforest/beach/city-based activities. English is the national language, so there are no barriers for English speakers.
4. Cape Town
Breathtaking natural scenery, world-class food and wine, and lots to learn from the locals. You’ll need to book a few private guides and tours, and an Uber is necessary after dark, but these simple precautions apply to everyone, not just solo travelers.
5.Edinburgh
This is tough, as Glasgow has always been more charming and friendly, but there’s no arguing with Edinburgh’s stunning views, range of museums, walkable historic center and cozy pubs to hang out in.
6.Taipei
Friendly, walkable and leafy, with night markets, historic temples and city walks, Taipei makes it easy for solo travelers to immerse themselves in Chinese culture and cuisine. And who wouldn’t want to do that?
7. Mexico City
Proof that you don’t need to be part of the crowd to feel good, CDMX is an education in creativity, from streetfood to indie galleries to small fashion and homeware boutiques.
8. Sydney
With some of the best city beaches in the world – and fantastic surfing and sailing – as well as an equally fantastic dining and shopping scene, Sydney particularly rewards active solo travelers who like to pack a lot before 9pm and then lie in bed, ready to do it all again at 8am.
9. Vienna
Centuries as the seat of imperial power have given the Austrian capital some of Europe’s most impressive museums, galleries and palaces, not to mention the city’s excellent infrastructure. Solo travelers will feel right at home relaxing in one of the chic cafés with a book and a glass of Grüner Veltliner.
10. Seattle
Still renowned for being laid-back, warm, charming and cultured, solo travelers love Seattle for its OG coffeehouse culture, thriving brewery/distillery/craft cocktail scene, fabulous farmers markets, and museums/galleries that are just left of the mainstream.