For many people in this world, traveling and going on amazing vacations is part of life. We don’t just exist to work all day and then go to sleep. This entire planet is full of amazing things, so it’s lovely that we are able to experience plenty of it. Most of the time, we travel with people we love while looking to save money here and there. There may come a time every now and again, however, when we travel alone.

While solo travel can feel quite scary, it’s actually rewarding.

Countless people struggle with confidence when it comes to this kind of thing. Not everybody is brilliant socially, and not everybody has fantastic charisma. The idea of traveling alone can be very scary and make you feel quite awkward. Fortunately, there are plenty of things that can be done in order to make this kind of experience a lot better for everyone.

Here are three things you can do if you are heading out on a solo vacation:

Embrace Opportunities For Small Talk 

Small talk is never usually something people are great at. This is because people are just looking to fill the time with words, and things can sometimes get awkward. Fortunately, when you are traveling, you run into a variety of people from all over the world. It is always a good idea to ask questions, and listen with intent. While dining alone, ask the wait staff for their recommendations (and why!)...this can lead to discovering new dishes you absolutely love (or, a good story. We've all been there).

You'll discover interesting things and make new friends. In doing so, you can build up your confidence with your verbal abilities and feel at ease with creating more opportunities to chat with interesting people! 

Join In With Group Activities 

The idea of joining a group with strangers can feel quite daunting. When traveling or vacationing, however, people are a lot more welcoming to others, as they are in a jovial mood and you are having a shared experience. You could meet amazing people. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should just force yourself into doing anything. Choose something that you are genuinely interested in and something that will make you happy. You could choose a walking tour with a local, an educational tour around a specific theme, or a day outing to a new place; the opportunities are endless The bonus is that you can learn something new, be part of a group, and then head back to your solo travel feeling your social needs met. 

Utilize Social Apps And Platforms 

Apps have become great for those looking to navigate around the world. They can save us when we are lost and they can stop us from feeling lonely. There are even chat apps that can help us to meet like-minded individuals. For instance, by the second hour of my trek, I get chatty about the scenic mountain trail I am on, and wish to share my day with those who are interested or have been there and have tips to share. One of the downsides of solo travel is not having someone to talk with about what you're experiencing. Apps can help with that!

Have you traveled solo? How did you unlock your solo travel confidence?