Have you been dreaming of traveling the world but have no one to go with? Are you scared of doing it alone? Every solo traveler has been there before so don’t worry! In this post are some tips on overcoming the fear of traveling alone to finally start living the life you want!
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For most people, the idea of traveling alone is daunting and uncomfortable. This is a perfectly normal and rational fear. Solo travel can be scary and intimidating. It would be concerning if you weren’t scared!
Fortunately, there are ways of mentally getting over this fear. With enough practice, you can train yourself to view solo travel differently so you can get one step closer to finally taking that dream trip all alone!
Whether you have been dreaming for years and are finally ready to jump, or if you’re just starting to get curious about solo travel, I’ve got you covered! Here are 7 tips to help you get over the fear of traveling alone.
1. Stop Listening to What Others Are Telling You
This is the most important tip. Do not let other people’s opinions stop you from going after what you want!
People tend to project their insecurities on others, especially when it’s something they can’t fathom ever doing themselves. People also love telling you what you can’t do. You are the only person who knows what you are capable of and even you might surprise yourself.
Also on this same note, a lot of these people will tell you not to travel to certain countries or areas. They are generally only speaking from what they hear, not their own experiences. They are influenced by the media, the news, and other people’s opinions.
If only you knew how many times I got told to not go to Mexico, India, or the Middle East alone. The people who were warning me not to go have never even visited themselves. They have just “heard” that it’s dangerous. In actuality, some of these countries have become some of my favorite places to travel to alone.
So just don’t listen to what people are telling you! I cannot stress this enough. This is valid for all areas of your life but especially for when you are seeking to end the fear of traveling alone.
2. Practice Breaking Limiting Beliefs
One of the main things holding you back, besides fear, is your mentality. With enough practice and positive self-affirmations, you can break this thought process.
Limiting beliefs are the mindset or belief about yourself that is preventing you from doing something. For example, some limiting beliefs about traveling alone might sound like…
“I can’t travel alone because I’m not brave enough.”
“I can’t travel alone because I’m not outgoing enough to meet new people.”
“Traveling alone is scary, intimidating, and dangerous.”
The first step in breaking these beliefs is identifying what they are. So start by writing down all of your fears surrounding traveling alone. Notice the fears and thoughts that come up the most often for you.
Then it’s important to recognize that it is just a false belief. No evidence or support makes these beliefs true. It is all in your head. You can and will learn to overcome fear, meet new people, and be brave enough!
Whenever you catch yourself starting to think this way or say these beliefs out loud, try to stop yourself! Change how you view and word this belief. It may sound simple but it all starts with positive affirmations.
Instead of thinking “I can’t travel alone because I’m not brave enough”, start to tell yourself “I AM BRAVE ENOUGH TO TRAVEL ALONE!” Eventually, you will get in the habit of positive thinking and you will start to believe these constructive and useful affirmations which will slowly allow you to break the old beliefs.
3. Do as Much Research as Possible
It’s easy to be scared of the unknown so start researching everything you can about travel! If you have always wanted to visit a specific country then start to research everything you can about that destination.
Let’s say, for example, you’ve always wanted to visit Croatia. Start by Googling what language they speak, the local currency, the capital, if it’s travel-friendly, the best places to visit, public transportation options, flight tickets, etc.
The more research you do, the more you will learn about each country and I promise it will seem less daunting. Similarly, you can start by Googling ‘female solo travel-friendly destinations’ and go from there!
In my opinion, some of the easiest places to travel to alone for the first time are frequently visited destinations where they likely speak English already such as Greece, England, and even Thailand.
4. Get Inspired by Others Who are Doing What You Wish To Do & Connect With A Community
This is where social media comes in handy. If you’re not already following any travelers be sure to start finding pages that inspire you! Most creators are always posting helpful travel tips and great recommendations for places to visit.
My preferred platform is Instagram but there are plenty of creators on YouTube that will show you more of the day-to-day life of travel. This can be a great way to get a better idea of how to use public transportation, what activities/tours to go on, and what hotels/hostels to stay in.
Some of my favorite travel creators are @theloverspassport, @nikkitomlin, @lifeandpauli and @mahnaghafori. However, there are so many creators out there so try to find people you resonate with. And don’t be afraid to shoot them a message. Most of them (especially smaller creators) are likely to respond and help you.
Feel free to reach out to me as well at any time with any questions or if you just need advice, or motivation to get started. You can easily shoot me a DM on Instagram! I love to connect with other travelers.
Community plays such an important role in our lives. No matter what the ultimate end goal is, it is always easier when you have similar-minded people to rely on and connect with. So start finding and speaking with other travelers or women who aspire to travel. This will help get rid of the fear of traveling alone.
5. Think About All of the Wonderful Moments Ahead of You
It can be easy to focus on the ‘why not’ because it is a scary thought. So instead try to focus on the WHYS! Think about why you want to travel and what originally drew you to the idea of exploring the world.
Here are some of my favorite reasons why I love to travel that maybe you haven’t thought of yet!
- You will meet so many amazing people from all different cultures and parts of the world with the common desire to travel! It’s so special to connect with people on a similar path as you.
- You will see and experience so much beauty away from your mundane day-to-day life that it will revitalize and motivate you to see even more of the world.
- You will start to feel empowered knowing that you are capable of doing anything alone. This empowerment will become addicting and it will change the way you view yourself and your life.
- The endless possibilities for adventure… (i.e., animal safaris in Sri Lanka, island hopping in Thailand, hiking volcanos in Guatemala, scuba diving in Australia)
6. Start Manifesting & Speaking Your Dreams Into Existence
If you are not already in the habit of positive speaking and manifestation, this may seem a little weird at first but I promise it works wonders! We are creatures living in a world full of energies and vibrations. I don’t believe in coincidences.
I think everything in life happens for a reason. There is so much power in our words and thoughts. If we focus on what we want out of life, then we are putting that positive energy into the universe so it becomes more receptive to granting our desires and wishes.
Start telling yourself you will travel someday! Think about places you want to visit or experiences/adventures you want to have. Write them down. Tell people about them. Do whatever you must to put it out there for the world to hear!
Eventually, the universe (and you) will start to listen and it will happen for you. I believe manifestation is one of the strongest tools we have to create the life we want for ourselves. So don’t be shy. Start speaking these desires into existence and the fear of traveling alone will start to fade away.
7. Start Small (Go On Small Weekend Trips Alone)
Lastly, start by practicing solo travel. Even if it means going on a day trip out of town by yourself. Or maybe you can take yourself to dinner or the movies. Get in the habit of doing things alone and you will slowly become more comfortable with the idea.
Eventually, you can plan short weekend trips to a nearby place. The idea and the point is to get out there and start trying. Even if it’s just a new town in your home state – it will give you the practice and courage you need to take those next steps whenever you eventually travel abroad.
The fear of traveling alone is normal but it will fade the more comfortable you get with the idea. I hope you find these tips useful. Start slow and be patient with yourself. Eventually, you will get there, look back on the fear, and be so proud you overcame it! Remember to focus and practice on changing your mentality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal to be scared to travel alone?
Yes! This is a perfectly normal and rational fear. Solo travel can be initially scary and intimidating. It would be concerning if you weren’t scared! However, you can overcome this fear by changing your mentality. The more research you do and experience you get, the more comfortable you become.
How do I gain confidence to travel solo?
- Focus on changing your mentality and practice breaking limiting beliefs.
- Do as much research as possible! The unknown is always scary so learn everything you can to get more comfortable with the idea of solo travel.
- Start by taking small trips by yourself. Whether it’s a short weekend trip to a nearby town or even dinner and a movie alone.
- Follow travel creators on social media and start to connect with other similar-minded travelers. Building a community around travel will help you gain the confidence to do it alone.
Can traveling alone be fun?
Solo travel is thrilling, exciting, and life-changing! It can also be a roller coaster of emotions but this is all part of the journey that will inevitably lead you to your higher and most authentic self. Traveling alone is so worth it and the pros absolutely outweigh the cons. So take the leap!
