Boarding a flight to Bangkok back in 2016 – the beginning of my first ever solo trip – I remember thinking: I don’t think I can do this. Arriving in the hectic, humid city to a cacophony of voices screaming ‘TAXI!’ wasn’t much comfort, either.
But I was there for a reason. A few months previously I had split from my boyfriend, realising we wanted different things (him to settle down, me to see the world). After a good few weeks vegetating on the couch, it was my younger brother who finally gave me the courage to take the plunge and head out travelling – all on my own.
Sixty countries and a successful travel blog later, I’ve never looked back.
Here are some of my favourite spots, ones to avoid – and my top tips to master the art of solo travelling.
Sowing the seeds
This wasn’t my first foray into backpacking. The previous year, my ex-boyfriend and I had spent five months exploring South America together. It was this trip that had really given me the travelling bug – and driven us apart.
If I wanted to travel, I would have to do so alone. But this was 2016 and solo travelling – particularly for women – wasn’t having the moment it is now.
Google searches for ‘solo female travel’ have increased by 1,000 per cent in the past decade, according to the BBC, with nearly 40 per cent of women planning a solo trip this year. Back then, though, women were reminded constantly of how dangerous solo travelling can be.
Emily Luxton has travelled to more than 60 countries and has a successful travel blog
Follow your nose
While I’d recommend properly doing your research to any traveller, one of the benefits of going alone is the freedom you’re afforded.
In fact, some of the best experiences I’ve had are because I’ve followed my gut instincts. It was this mentality that led me to spend three weeks in India during that first trip – despite it being a country I’d previously imagined being far too chaotic to enjoy properly.
After meeting a fellow backpacker en route to India from Thailand, I discovered that relaxed – and relaxing – Goa, in the south, was far from the teeming Delhi I’d imagined. I’ve been back to India twice since, to Jaipur and Udaipur, each time charmed.
Keep your wits about you
Naturally, different countries require varying degrees of security. I’ve never felt safer than I did in South Korea, where you can leave your phone lying around without worry, and the seamless public transport is your friend.
On the flip side, I had more than my share of unwanted male attention while seeing the pyramids in Egypt.
Based on that experience, I’m unlikely to ever travel solo to countries in the Middle East, where it is already harder to live as a woman.
Emily discovered that Goa, in south India, was far from the teeming Delhi she had imagined
Hairy moments
Inevitably, though, even my best-laid plans have come up short every now and then. On a trip to Costa Rica, I was staying in a jungle lodge in the middle of nowhere and had made no preparations for my transport back to civilisation.
The following morning, when there was no way of calling a taxi or any buses to be seen, I ended up having to trek back through the jungle on my own and then hitchhike to town – something I would never usually do alone.
Luckily, a kind American couple scooped me up – scolding me for my lack of foresight. I learnt a serious lesson about proper preparation.
Best of the bunch
Taking necessary precautions – not travelling alone at night, wearing your bag on your front when necessary – has allowed me to explore countries generally considered ‘dangerous’.
Before I first went to Mexico, I remember my dad imploring me not to go, convinced I would be kidnapped by a cartel. And sure, there are parts of Mexico I’d avoid as a woman on my own. But my experience of the country as a female solo traveller, time and time again (I’ve visited seven times now), has been overwhelmingly positive.
In fact, if I had to choose one of the 60 countries that I’ve visited, I’d probably crown Mexico my favourite. I’ve been endlessly enthralled by the delicious food, vibrant culture and dedication to enjoying life.
On a trip to Costa Rica, she stayed in a jungle lodge in the middle of nowhere and found herself in a hairy situation after failing to make preparations for her transport back to civilisation
City escape
Inevitably, though, not all of my trips have been quite so successful. I was very disappointed by Los Angeles – which I had imagined to be supremely cool, tinged with Hollywood glamour. In reality you have to drive everywhere, which is a pain, and I found the city boring.
I prefer only spending a handful of days in cities. For me, mountains, beaches and outdoorsy activities are a more interesting way to get to know a place.
Making connections
Encounters are one of the best parts of travelling. It’s a cliche, of course, but meeting people from totally different backgrounds, who often challenge your world view, is a huge part of why I travel.
And being crammed together on 16-hour bus rides through the wilderness provides an opportunity to connect on a deeper level.
You skip the small talk and really get to know people.
It gets a bad rep, but I’ve always found Mexico warm and welcoming. The food is amazing, plus it’s easy to meet people, Emily says
Riding the hobby horse
Even for someone relatively shy like me, making friends while travelling is almost unavoidable – which was particularly so when I was younger and staying in hostels more often.
As I’ve started to value my sleep a little more, and my budget has loosened, I’ve found that doing activities wherever you are is a great alternative way to socialise.
On a recent trip to Rome, I spent the afternoon learning how to make pasta – something I’d never done before.
I not only met other pasta lovers, but learnt more about Italian culture than I did on any one of my three trips to the famous Colosseum.
Home for the summer
These days, as my business and profile as a travel blogger have become more established, I’m enjoying slowing down a little and exploring more of the UK.
Despite my wanderlust, I am something of a homebody at heart and cherish being with my family in Dorchester, my home town in Dorset.
Travelling around the UK has sparked its own problems, though. When I’m abroad, I rarely feel self-conscious dining alone anymore and find I can blend in relatively easily, giving the impression (I hope) of a mysterious traveller from a far-flung place.
For whatever reason, I have felt more watched, even judged, when dining alone in the UK.
It reminds me to return to my old principles: when solo meals start to feel uncomfortable or daunting, I arm myself with a book or a pen and paper and resume my enigmatic traveller persona.
To future solo travellers
If anybody reading this is considering embarking on their own solo trip, my only advice would be – as my own brother told me nearly a decade ago – just do it. This goes especially for women, all of whom I believe should have the experience of travelling solo at least once in their lives.
And that doesn’t have to mean hardcore backpacking either; a group tour is a great way to ease yourself in. All you have to do is turn up, be friendly and enjoy yourself.
At the end of the day, if you head out solo travelling and discover you can’t stand it, nothing’s stopping you from booking the next flight home.
Emily says that South Korea was one of the safest countries she has ever visited, and while the language barrier was sometimes an issue, people were happy to help
