Holiday

6 tips if you go on vacation alone

By Wieke Veenboer | #!31Sat, 13 May 2023 11:45:07 +0200+02:000731#31Sat, 13 May 2023 11:45:07 +0200+02:00-11Europe\/Amsterdam3131Europe\/Amsterdam202331 13am31am-31Sat, 13 May 2023 11:45:07 +0200+02:0011Europe\/Amsterdam3131Europe\/Amsterdam2023312023Sat, 13 May 2023 11:45:07 +02004511455amSaturday=9#!31Sat, 13 May 2023 11:45:07 +0200+02:00Europe\/Amsterdam5#05-13-2023#!31Sat, 13 May 2023 11:45:07 +0200+02:000731#\/31Sat, 13 May 2023 11:45:07 +0200+02:00-11Europe\/Amsterdam3131Europe\/Amsterdam202331#!31Sat, 13 May 2023 11:45:07 +0200+02:00Europe\/Amsterdam5#

It has been on my bucket list for years: going on vacation alone. I used to think it was a terrifying idea, but nowadays it seems wonderful to me. Just doing what you feel like doing for an entire vacation. Not having to consider anyone else: blissful. But it can still be a bit scary, because what if you don't meet anyone you click with the whole time? Will I start to feel lonely?

If a solo trip is also on your agenda, here are the six most important tips to take with you: this will guarantee a success.

1. Listen to your feelings
When you're on vacation alone, you are also your own advisor. Does something give you a bad gut feeling? Then listen to that.

2. Remember: it's YOUR party
When you go on vacation alone, you might feel the urge to plan every day full. You shouldn't do that; also look at what you feel like doing. Do you prefer to spend the whole day in bed with a book or Netflix? Just do it, you really don't have to feel guilty about it. Your vacation = your party.

3. Think of a backup plan
There may be a day (or several days) where you might feel a bit lonely, or that traveling alone is a bit heavier than you hoped. Make sure you have a plan for this, something you can do there and/or something that cheers you up at such moments.

4. Buy a tripod
This may sound a bit weird, but you want nice vacation photos, right? And it’s nice to have photos where you are in them too. A tripod is small and you can set it up anywhere; you can do as many photoshoots as you want with it instead of asking a passerby every time to take a photo of you.

5. Do good research in advance
This applies to both the destination and your accommodations. And especially the latter is important; read the reviews and think about whether this is something you feel comfortable with. For example, do you want to meet a lot of people or are you coming for your peace in your hotel or room? It is also often mentioned in the reviews whether it was really clean and whether there was, for example, noise disturbance.

6. Download apps to meet people
For example, MeetUp, Bumble, Travello, or Tourlina (the latter is an app specifically for women traveling alone). Very handy if meeting people doesn't come naturally and you don't always want to be alone.

Photo credits: Lily Collins in VMagazine