How to Keep Yourself Entertained When Traveling Solo
There’s much to love about traveling solo. It’s an opportunity to step outside your comfort zone, learn more about yourself, and just simply have the kind of trip that you want to have. While traveling with others is nice, it usually involves some compromise. When it’s just you, there’s nothing to stop you from doing exactly what you want to do.
While we love traveling solo and even recommend that everyone should do it at least once in their life, we’re not going to pretend that every aspect of taking an individual trip is automatically awesome. Without a traveling companion by your side, you will inevitably find yourself experiencing moments of boredom that probably wouldn’t have arrived if you had an old friend by your side.
But does that mean that you shouldn’t take solo trips? Absolutely not. With a little bit of planning and a few insights, you can ensure that you easily ride out those long journeys and solo downtime in style.
Stay in a Hostel
Most people opt to stay in hotels, rather than hostels, if they can afford to do so. However, when you’re traveling by yourself, we’d recommend hostels. Those places tend to be significantly more social than hotels, and so you’ll be much more likely to meet fellow travelers with whom you can exchange tips, see sights, and have dinner.
Want the social side of hostels, but don’t feel like sleeping in a dorm room with strangers? Most hostels offer private rooms, which, while naturally more expensive than dorm rooms, are typically cheaper than hotels.
And if you really don’t want to stay in a hostel but still want the social aspect, then see what events they’re hosting. Most events are open to the public, so you can go along even if you’re not a guest.
Pack Your Journal
One of the many benefits of traveling by yourself is that you’ll find yourself thinking and reflecting a lot more than you might have done if you were traveling with others. A long train journey, for instance, or even just sitting outside watching the world go by, can be a great time to let your mind wander without being interrupted. It’s quite rare how infrequently we get those moments in life.
Don’t let your wise thoughts become lost memories. Write them down. Packing a journal is a great way to jot down your thoughts and impressions of the places you’re visiting, and we promise you that you’ll read back on your journal entries with fondness when you’re back home.
Online Puzzles and Games
Of course, there’s only so much time you can spend journaling. Once you’ve hit the three-page mark, the good thoughts will have mostly dried up, and you’ll be entering ‘rambling’ territory.
Having less intense, but still good-for-you, entertainment options is key to navigating your solo travel adventure in style. In the past, we’ve found that classic puzzles and games are a great way to pass the time in a healthy way. Games such as spider solitaire, mahjong, sudoku, chess, and Minesweeper aren’t just freely available to play online from within your smartphone’s browser, but they can also be played with just a single person, which makes them ideal for solo travelers. These types of puzzle games also offer additional benefits beyond entertainment, such as enhancing memory, focus, and cognitive function.
Open Up a Book
Most people find that they don’t have too many opportunities to enjoy reading a good book during their usual day-to-day lives. But when you’re traveling solo, you will have time, so make the most of it!
In truth, you can bring whatever book you want. However, if you’re not sure what to read, then consider looking at books relating to the destination that you’re visiting, either non-fiction books that outline the history/culture/etc, or fiction books that take place there.
Travel Photography
Trying your hand at travel photography can be a great activity when traveling by yourself. Most of the time, people traveling with others take photos of their traveling companions. When it’s just you, your eyes will notice things that you might otherwise have missed, and that can be a great starting point for taking photos that will one day have pride of place on your shelf.
If you’re serious about taking photos when you’re traveling, then we’d recommend moving beyond simply taking photos with your smartphone. While that camera will likely be great, it doesn’t offer the same experience as taking a photo with a 35mm travel camera. Plus, having a “real” camera will get you into the right mindset; you’ll be more likely to take National Geographic-worthy shots when you’re not just mindlessly pointing and shooting with your iPhone.
Listen to a Podcast
Part of the reason why podcasts have become so popular is that they offer an intimate experience that feels as if you’re listening to a friend. That makes them a pretty awesome option for people who are on the road by themselves.
But when we say ‘listen to a podcast,’ we don’t just mean any old podcast. We’d recommend listening to a podcast about the specific area that you’re visiting, particularly ones that are aimed at travelers. You might just discover some hidden gems that you would have otherwise missed.
Consider a Workout
When in doubt, work it out. If you’re taking an extra-long solo trip, then it’s possible that stagnation will set in at some point. When that happens, it can be a good idea to jump on the treadmill and work up a sweat. It can be a great way to open up your mind and get things moving — you might just leave the workout center with a renewed sense of purpose to make the most of all the opportunities that solo travel brings.
Call Home
Finally, remember that this isn’t the 1800s — if you want to entertain yourself by speaking to friends and family back home, then you have the device — your smartphone — that can make it happen!
