Sometimes, the plans never leave the group chat. Today, it’s so hard to coordinate any sort of plan with a group because we all have our own lives that come with our own dramas and conflicting schedules. However, that shouldn’t stop you from venturing out and exploring the world by yourself. As you embark on those adventures, always lead with caution. Whether you’re traveling alone domestically or internationally, it’s always a good idea to play it safe.
Over spring break, University of Miami freshman Gianni Echeverría spontaneously decided to travel alone to The Bahamas for jet skiing, shopping and swimming with pigs. While many college students pack-travel with their friends during the summer and spring break, Echeverría says having a good time doesn’t always have to be with other people.
“The best thing about traveling alone is that you get to do basically whatever you want,” said Echeverría, a psychology and biology major. “You don’t have to compromise on plans or spend time doing stuff you don’t want to do.”
Solo travel, also known as “solocation,” may have been new to Echeverría, but this summer, he will join thousands of other college students who will travel unaccompanied around the globe. Booking.com predicts 59% of travelers, many of them Gen Zers, will want to go solo in 2024, representing a marked increase over pre-pandemic solo travel, which was 14%.
Hila Meir, a 25-year-old travel influencer who has an Instagram following of 13,000 users, says she took her first solo trip after she was unsuccessful in getting her friends to go on a trip to Portugal last summer.
“I was asking all my friends: ‘Let’s go somewhere. I want to go somewhere. You know, it’s summer; everybody is going,’” Meir said. “Everybody was like, ‘No, I really need to work.’ They made a lot of excuses. And then I was like, ‘Hey, I can travel by myself.’”
The experience, she said, allowed her to gain a new form of independence, a sentiment expressed by other solo travelers. Meir, who has also amassed a large following on TikTok with more than 30,000 followers, said solo travel can be exciting and enjoyable.
“It’s crazy because I never felt like I’m alone, like I’m by myself,” Meir said. “People are so lovely and friendly.” Still, Meir said that although she builds connections and friendships with the people on her travels, she does not broadcast that she is traveling alone and waits until her trip is over before posting content.
To help ensure a safe and rewarding experience, Meir said tourists should do the following before traveling:
- Research the destination: How safe is the country and cities?
- Determine where to stay: What area is most convenient and has transportation?
- Plan what to do: Which restaurants? Which events are going on?
Meir has learned the key to packing: Less is more. However, she’ll never leave behind a swimsuit, which she somehow always manages to use on all her travels.
Additional advice for solo travelers from other online travel sites includes knowing as much as you can about the destination, staying in populated areas and not broadcasting to strangers that you are traveling alone.
“Be careful of where you go,” Echeverría said. “If you think an area you’re in starts to seem like maybe you shouldn’t be there, then maybe you shouldn’t be there.”
Mandy Becker, a UM junior marketing major, is currently studying abroad in the UMadrid program, a spring semester program allowing students to take language, culture and other courses at Universidad Nebrija, UM’s partner institution in Madrid.
“I try not to be on my phone all the time and do my best to be aware of my surroundings,” said Becker when she decides to explore on her own. “I don’t wear earbuds when I am alone or taking public transportation since I would be distracted.”
Alejandra Grijak, a program coordinator with UM’s Study Abroad Office, said UM prioritizes student safety. UM requires students to register all their outbound flights and travel plans through a system called International S.O.S. Students also receive live updates of any kind of emergencies such as a natural disaster, a protest or demonstration or an unsafe location to avoid. Studying abroad with a UProgram gives students access to onsite doctors, and their staff handles all the ground emergencies when it comes to student safety, Grijak said.
On her solo excursions, Becker said she noticed how busier and more crowded a city is, the more easily distracted you can become as a tourist. She said she has been in constant communication with her friends and family and actively updates them on her location and whereabouts to stay safe.
“I always have my location shared with others and a map handy, and I look at which areas are safe to walk alone in,” Becker said. Echeverria recommends carrying a safety device.
The Addalock portable door lock is a device that can be installed or removed on any door that opens inwards. The lock prevents people on the outside from gaining access to your hotel room once you’re inside. On Amazon, the Addalock sells for $17.95.
When traveling alone, it is important to draw attention to ourselves if we feel unsafe through isolation. The Birdie is a personal safety alarm that can be attached to a keychain, wallet or belt loop. The small device acts like a fire alarm because when you pull the top pin off it, it flashes a strobe light and beeps piercingly loud to draw attention to yourself if you feel unsafe in your surroundings. The retail price of the Birdie is $30 and is available for purchase on the company’s official website and on Amazon.
With all these pointers and tips in mind, pack a suit case and book a flight for just one traveler —because what company is better than your own?
Where to Go Solo
You’ve made up your mind to embark upon a solo adventure, and the list abounds with recommended “solocation” venues.
Travel influencer Hila Meir said top destinations abroad this year are Paris, Thailand and Portugal. These destinations offer easy modes of transportation which help you get around and explore the city on a budget without having to worry about ordering an Uber.
Paris offers visitors various experiences to immerse themselves in the culture and embrace the Parisian spirit. Everything from enjoying a baguette along the street to gazing out at the city, going to art museums and more.
Thailand is a popular location because the English language is a mandatory course taught in Thai schools, making it easy for American travelers to get around in their country.
Like Thailand, Portugal is inexpensive and has a low crime rate. Though Portugal is geographically small, it offers its visitors views of the mountains, oceanside and cobblestone-lined city streets.
words_brooklyn brezak, ariella green & jessica horowitz. photo_ethan dosa. design_charlotte deangelis.
This article was published in Distraction’s Summer 2024 print issue.
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