Solo Travel Mistakes You Need To Avoid

Solo travel is a great way to explore the world exactly the way you want while fostering personal growth in ways you could never imagine.

But as the practice becomes increasingly popular, it’s important for solo travelers to be aware of the potential missteps that can turn a fulfilling experience into a logistical nightmare or otherwise bad situation.

Below, seasoned globetrotters share the common mistakes people make while traveling alone ― and their advice for avoiding these errors during your next solo trip.

“Your phone is your best friend on a solo trip,” said solo travel blogger Madison Krigbaum. “Not for antisocial reasons ― I’m not recommending wasting time scrolling on TikTok instead of enjoying the beautiful scenery in front of you ― but for safety and logistics.”

On a solo trip, your phone is your best bet in an emergency situation, as well as your way to get a safe ride back to your accommodations, connect with your loved ones and navigate your destination.

“If it dies, you can’t rely on your friend’s phone ― you’re solo traveling, remember?” Krigbaum said. “Buy a power bank, pack it and keep it charged at all times.”

“Perhaps the most important mistake to avoid is ignoring your instincts,” said Sue Cockell, a travel coach and founder of Sue Where? Why? What?. “Trust your gut. If a person or situation feels wrong, step away without apology. Intuition is one of your strongest safety tools.”

She also advised against oversharing personal information.

“Nobody needs to know your accommodation details or full travel plans,” Cockell said. “If it helps, mention a ‘travel partner’ you’ll be meeting later. Be vague, and keep control over your own narrative. Solo travel is empowering, liberating and unforgettable ― but steering clear of these pitfalls makes the journey smoother, safer and far more rewarding.”

“Solo travel doesn’t mean you must be alone, but many travelers default to isolation out of shyness or fear,” said Kendra Guild, vice president of North America at the solo travel tour company Solos. “This can make even the most beautiful destination feel lonely.”

She recommended engaging with others by joining a small group tour, taking a class or chatting up locals.

“Part of the fun and excitement of traveling alone is that you’re well positioned to meet new friends all around the world,” said solo travel expert and author Nausheen Farishta. “I lean into it now, while striking a balance with my ‘me time’ on the road.”

Travel writer Matthew Kepnes aka Nomadic Matt tells solo travelers to look at websites like Meetup and Eventbrite to find locals to meet.

“Think about what you are passionate about,” he said. “There’s a local group that loves that too! Join their events as you’ll have a common language to speak around that passion, even if you don’t know the local language.”

If you’re seeking a young, social crowd, you can also book excursions through local hostels.

“If you’re not in the hostel age group anymore, I highly recommend posting in some solo traveler groups on Facebook asking for advice on the best tours in X destination,” Krigbaum added. “Bonus points if you invite other solo travelers to join you!”

“Being purely serendipitous can backfire and lead to feeling paralyzed or falling into usual routines, like being immersed in your email inbox,” said Liz Coffey, founder of On Leave Experiences. “I always have my first day mapped out ― not just to stay busy, but to get out of my usual headspace and immediately start engaging with the place I’m visiting. Having anchor points gives me purpose and prevents that awkward ‘Now what?’ moment.”

This is particularly important for meal options. Consider making a dinner reservation for your first night or at least lining up some options.

“Save a few solo-friendly spots with good reviews on Google Maps before your trip ― bookmark cozy cafés with bar seating, or restaurants that won’t make you feel awkward dining alone,” said travel blogger Annette White. “That way, when hunger strikes, you’re heading straight for delicious and authentic.”

Jen Ruiz, a solo travel expert and author of “12 Trips in 12 Months,” similarly advised that solo travelers at least research the air transportation for their arrivals.

“Travelers are most vulnerable when they arrive at a new destination,” she said, emphasizing the importance of safety and affordability. “Many travelers get to the airport and try to figure out what transportation option to utilize based on availability, from cabs to trains to Ubers. I recommend researching and whenever possible, pre-booking airport transportation to ensure the trip starts and finishes on a good note.”

On the flip side, you don’t want to over-schedule yourself either. White advised against filling every hour just so you’re “busy” and thus miss some of the magic of being alone.

“Lean into the quiet moments,” she said. “Sip coffee in a little café, journal in the park, or wander without a plan. When you’re solo, you don’t have to negotiate schedules or compromise ― you get to soak up the city at your own pace, and that’s where some of the best travel memories happen.”

Leave time for spontaneity and meaningful connections, either with the new people you meet or with yourself as you explore something new in the moment.

“My most memorable experiences have come from unexpected encounters and unplanned detours,” said Cockell, who also recommended prioritizing rest time to stay healthy, and break up the physically and mentally draining aspects of solo travel.

“Trying to see everything can leave travelers feeling rushed,” Guild said. “Find a balance. Choose a few must-see experiences but leave room for spontaneity.”

“Expecting to meet people and make friends for life in a short trip is typically one of the biggest mistakes people make,” said Meg Jerrard, co-founder of Solo Female Travelers Tours. “They set high expectations about the relationships they’ll form from fleeting moments while traveling, which leaves a feeling of disappointment over the whole trip when their visions of connection don’t come through.”

She recommended focusing on becoming your own best friend instead.

“This value in your own self and own company is honestly the most priceless gift you can give yourself, one which will accompany you throughout your whole life,” Jerrard said. “Any connections and friendships you do then form, are a bonus on top of the personal development you’ve made in loving yourself first.”

“I’ll admit that I’m guilty of this too, sometimes, but remember that when you’re traveling solo, you’ll have to be schlepping all your stuff all the time,” said travel blogger Amanda Williams. “Need to run to the restroom at the train station, or climb a mountain of stairs to get to your hotel? Just remember that you’re the only one responsible for your bags.”

With that in mind, she advised ensuring you can comfortably carry all your things at once by yourself. You’ll be grateful for that when you encounter cobblestone streets and airport shuttle buses.

“My rule of thumb is only pack what you can lift above your head into a plane’s overhead locker without help,” Cockell said. “Think layers instead of bulky clothes, travel-sized toiletries or solid bars, and no more than three pairs of shoes. Every item should earn its place in your bag based on weight and space. I aim for 15 kg, but seasoned solo travelers often swear by even less!”

“Don’t assume you’ll have the exact same experience of a destination as someone else,” Farishta said. “We all have our own expectations, personalities, preferences, likes, dislikes and even interactions.”

Instead of taking one person’s positive or negative experience in a certain place as a prediction of your own hypothetical visit, she recommended getting in touch with your own interests and desires for travel.

“Do some research that goes beyond what’s trending on social media and choose the destination that sounds best for you as an individual,” she said. “Plan and prepare the best you can, and then release expectations. Let the journey unfold and allow yourself to adapt as needed.”

Coffey similarly emphasized thinking about your own goals for a solo trip and asking yourself what you want to feel. She pointed to a client who reached out after a spring break trip with her two young children and said she wanted to spend a weekend where she would feel “like an adult again.”

“Her impulse would have been to go to a classy hotel in nature and hang out,” Coffey said. “Instead, we sent her to New York City and put her up at a boutique hotel in Queens. We designed her itinerary around her natural curiosity, including a private walk with a guide passionate about the makers in DUMBO and a Thursday night food tour in Jackson Heights. These weren’t experiences she would have found in typical NYC recommendations and definitely not at a resort in nature, but they gave her exactly the adult energy she was seeking.”

“Solo travelers often try to save everywhere and miss out on meaningful experiences, or overspend impulsively, creating stress mid-trip,” Guild said. “Prioritize what matters most ― that local cooking class, sunset boat tour, or cultural festival.”

She also specifically advised against overpaying for accommodations, especially if you’re on a tighter budget.

“Look for accommodations or tour operators that don’t charge single supplements or have hidden fees,” Guild said. “You can enjoy the comfort and privacy of your own room while keeping your budget intact.”

Meanwhile, Ruiz believes solo travelers often pay too much to stay connected with expensive phone plans on long trips.

“Use eSIMs or purchase a physical SIM card at your destination, ideally not at the airport since they charge more,” she suggested. “Communicate with friends and family over apps like WhatsApp that work with a WiFi connection, and get excited about dining alone since a lot of restaurants have free WiFi, so it’s a chance to slow down, send updates and regroup.”

Ultimately, thoughtful planning allows solo travelers to spend more time on exploration and connection, and less on logistics and money anxiety.

“Most solo travelers tend to be penny wise and pound foolish,” Kepnes said. “I get the desire to make your money last as long as possible but you get what you pay for. It’s worth spending a little extra to get to your destination quicker and to stay in a nicer hostel. You’ll be grateful for it later.”

“Travel can pass by in a blur, and solo travelers often forget to pause and capture memories,” Guild noted. “Keep a journal, take photos thoughtfully, or share highlights with someone back home. Reflection deepens your connection to the places you visit and helps you remember the moments and the growth that happen along the way.”

With documentation in mind, White also recommended bringing some sort of selfie stick so that you can appreciate nice photos of yourself on your adventure that aren’t arm’s length selfies.

“Pack a lightweight retractable tripod selfie stick,” she said. “It lets you capture full-body shots, gorgeous backgrounds and hands-free videos without relying on strangers or cutting half your head off.”

“Think of solo travel as your first choice every now and again,” Coffey advised. “So many people approach solo travel like, ‘Well, nobody else can come, so I guess I’ll go alone,’ but that mindset can rob you of what makes solo travel special.”

Her favorite thing about solo travel is how present and open folks become to noticing other people, places and things in the world around them. She recalled a summer trip to Burlington, Vermont, when she wandered into a small business hub.

“I peered through the windows of a boutique beverage company’s office and ended up being invited in to taste mocktails that I now seek out at home,” Coffey said. “I doubt I would have stopped to look through that window if I’d been with someone else. At its best, solo travel isn’t about running away from our roles and responsibilities, but about reconnecting with the parts of ourselves that get buried in daily life.”