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A composite image of the author standing on a cruise ship and sitting on a train
Business Insider's reporter travels solo on overnight trains, cruise ships, and long-haul flights.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

  • Solo travel can feel daunting, but it can also be empowering.
  • Traveling long distances by plane, train, and ship has taught me lessons on how to travel alone.
  • Here's what I've learned, from combating loneliness to making the most of your solo trip.

I wasn't always a solo traveler. In fact, there was a time when I wouldn't have even considered it.

My college years living in Austin were filled with group road trips, where I'd pile in a car with my friends to spend a week or two camping in the desert, sleeping in Walmart parking lots near national parks, and staying in the occasional cheap Airbnb.

Growing up, I also often flew with my mom to visit family members in faraway places like Guam, which is more than 7,000 miles from Austin.

At the time, travel felt like something that was meant to be done with company. I never considered traveling on my own until seven years ago, when I graduated from college and moved to New York City alone.

This meant more solo flights to visit family members in the States and across the world. But on top of that, my job as a reporter gave me the opportunities to take overnight trains in the US and Europe, spend seven nights on one of the world's largest cruise ships sailing the Caribbean Sea, and explore new cities and unique accommodations — all by myself.

Now, at 30 years old, traveling solo is my norm. These trips take me out of my comfort zone as I learn new things about myself and how I can make the most of these special times alone.

Before you take your first solo trip, be a tourist in your own city. This mindset helped me prepare for many solo vacations.
The author in front of the NYC skyline
The author enjoys sightseeing in her home city, New York.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I started taking mini solo adventures in New York before I ever traveled alone. I hunted down the skinniest homes in the five boroughs, summited observation decks, and took daytrips to see unique sights like this abandoned castle on the Hudson River.

These excursions helped prepare me for my first reporting trip, which took me to Miami by train. I spent five days exploring the city, which I had never been to before.

My mini solo adventures in NYC gave me experience planning out and executing a day with several specific locations using public transportation. So when I got to Miami, I felt confident enough to explore on my own.

If you're considering solo travel for the first time, I recommend spending a few weekends touring your own city to build your navigation and planning skills.

In solo travel, the weight of planning and executing will all fall to you, so be sure to make plans and backup plans.
A hand holding a pen above a notebook on a train table in front of a window
The author writes down her travel plans on a long-distance train.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

When I have a lot of ground to cover during a solo vacation, preplanning eases my anxiety about getting it all done.

When I was in Miami, I spent an hour planning out the next day each night. I prepared my clothes and gear, mapped out where I needed to go, and wrote out potential itineraries while leaving room for error.

This preparation relieved my stress around transportation and timing and helped me feel ready to conquer the next day. 

But when I'm not traveling for work, I remind myself that it's OK to cancel my plans if I'm not feeling it. It's only my vacation, after all.

From flights to trains, long-haul transportation can be extra lonely. Distract yourself with entertainment.
A composit imagr of the author playing Nintendo on the train and and reading The New Yorker on a plane

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I've taken trains as long as 53 hours. I've had 24-hour travel days with back-to-back long-distance flights. Trust me, the isolation sets in while in transit.

I make sure I have several forms of entertainment downloaded, from movies and games to books and podcasts, to help distract me during these times.

Podcasts can be great company when traveling solo because it almost feels like you're with someone else. Whatever your preferred form of entertainment is, download a surplus of it for long-haul trips. You'll thank yourself for having so much to choose from.

When you feel lonely, practice gratitude.
The author lays in bed on an overnight train

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Solo travel sometimes leaves me stuck in my own head since I have no one to talk to, which is no fun when I'm feeling lonely. But remembering why I am on the trip and the perks of being alone — like total freedom to do what I want — helps me feel better. 

In lonely moments, I think to myself, "I'm grateful for a job that allows me to travel and take pictures, and being alone helps me grow and learn more about myself."

Solo trips are opportunities to try new things and find out more about your likes and dislikes.
A composite image of the author laying in the top bunk of an Amtrak bedroom with her legs hanging over the ladder and laying in a lower bunk looking out the window in an Amtrak train bedroom

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Traveling alone is the perfect time to try new things because, typically, when in new places, you have access to things you wouldn't normally have back home, and you have to make all your own choices about how to spend your time since there's no one else but you. 

My most recent overnight train ride lasted 53 hours. Since I had two nights on board and two bunks to choose from in my room, I spent one night in each to find out which I liked better.

I ended up preferring the top bunk because it made me feel like a kid again, but I never would have known that if I hadn't tried both bunks.

Make a long, eclectic playlist for the in-between moments to keep your spirits up.
The author's hand holds a phone with a spotify playlist on the screen
The author made a 15-hour playlist for a solo trip.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

When I'm traveling home from Guam on 7-hour flights with multiple layovers, it's nice to have some background jams to keep my spirits up.

I recommend creating a long playlist packed with your favorite songs for all your typical moods to make the trip go by faster.

Another thing that might make long-haul travel more bearable is comfy clothing.
The author wears comfy clothing on a train (L) and a cruise ship (R)

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Being in a new place can be uncomfortable and, at times, nerve-racking for me. So every time I travel alone, I pack my most comfortable outfits. Feeling comfy on the outside definitely helps me relax in a new area. 

Once you get to your destination, you may find that the more you unpack and move in, the more comfortable and at home you feel.
The author unpacks on in her cruise cabin

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I often get homesick when I travel alone, especially at night when I'm getting ready for bed. This was especially present on my first cruise in 2022.

To feel more at home, I put my clothes and accessories in closets and drawers, and I even decorated my cabin by putting up pictures from my planner on the vanity. 

I found that the more I unpacked my belongings in the cabin, the better I felt about being away from home. 

Having someone who knows where you are to check in with could make you feel safer on solo trips.
A pug on facetime in a dark room

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

For safety reasons, I shared my cruise itinerary with my mom so she would always know where I was. I also checked in with her via text and FaceTime every day as time allowed. This not only made me feel safer but also less alone on my trip. 

If you're anything like me, centering yourself after mishaps will make you a more confident solo traveler.
The author wakes up on a train

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Across transportation modes, I've made a few mistakes on my trips that could have derailed my plans, like missing buses, getting lost, and forgetting key items.  

I used to worry that these mistakes would waste precious time, but solo trips taught me to stay calm in these moments. To do this effectively, I realized I need to practice mindfulness and remain present in the moment.

When I mess up during my solo travels, I stop what I am doing, observe what is happening, and remind myself that everything is fine and I am capable of figuring things out.

It's not easy to stay mindful in stressful situations, but the more you practice it, the less difficult it feels. If you practice it in challenging moments while traveling alone, you might develop a sense of ease over time, as I did. 

Although I've gotten better at it, solo travel is still challenging for me. But I welcome and look forward to more opportunities to grow as an individual through these trips. 

Read the original article on Business Insider
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