SoloBagging

Solo Travel - Stories, Gear/Tech Reviews, Tips and Pics

  • U.S.
    • Jelly Mill Falls – Southern Vermont
    • Finding Hamilton Falls – Vermont
    • 5 things to do in Vegas without Gambling
    • Hiking Pico Peak Mountain in Vermont
    • Fenway Park – A Boston Can’t Miss
    • Summer Chicago Visit
    • 2 Day Vermont Cabin Getaway
    • A visit to Wrigley Field
    • How flight attendants make or break the “friendly skies”
    • Travel vs The American Dream
  • Europe
    • Visiting The Ghent Altarpiece – The World’s Most Stolen Painting
    • Toast your stay in Dublin with a visit to the Guinness Storehouse
    • Getting from Prague Airport (Václav Haveld) to the City
    • KGB Museum Prague
    • Shaking Hands With A Mummy In Dublin
    • Street Food Prague – Trdlo
    • Celtic FC Supporters Show Strong In Amsterdam
    • 1st Visit Borussia Park Mochengladbach Germany
    • 5 Awesome Things to do in Bruges
    • Getting from Schiphol Airport to Central Amsterdam
    • 72 hours in Tallinn, Estonia
    • Amsterdam in January
    • Back to the CZ
    • Bruges
    • Dining in Prague
    • From Prague my Love
    • Getting from Tallinn to Riga
    • January in Riga
    • In Bruges
    • Red light myths and realities
    • When in Amsterdam
    • More from Bruges
    • Parisians are actually nice
    • Marseille
  • Scandinavia
    • Besseggen Ridge – Hiking Norway
    • Hiking in Ringebu Norway
    • Ringebu Stave Church – Norway
    • Helsinki in Winter
    • Helsinki to Tallinn via Viking Line XPRS Ferry
    • Lillehammer not Lilyhammer!
    • Norway in Winter
    • Oslo
  • Middle East
    • Top 5 Most Interesting Places To Visit In Bahrain
    • A Visit to The Cistern Basilica Istanbul
    • A Few Days in Tel Aviv
    • One Day Through Palestinian Eyes
    • Walking Around Jerusalem
  • Asia
    • Where to rent a motorbike in Kanchanaburi
    • Where to go for a tailored suit in Bangkok
    • Haji Lane, The Coolest Street in Singapore
    • How to get to Seoul City Center from Incheon Airport
    • I shared a bathroom with a transexual and I survived….
    • Kandal Market – Phnom Penh
    • Traveling to Bangkok after the Coup d’état – Is It Safe?
    • Coming Across A Monitor Lizard In Bangkok
  • Travel Gear & Tech Reviews
    • Travel Tech
      • How Apple Pay and Samsung Pay help you in Europe
      • Why you may need your credit card at the airport when you book online
      • TSA and Keeping Your Tablet and Phone Charged
      • Why Google Flights Should Be Used For Your Next Flight Search
      • T-Mobile international plan tested and reviewed
      • Understanding Southwests Seating Policy
      • Why The Kindle 3G Can Be A Travelers Ace In The Hole
      • Beginners Guide to Booking Flights on Kayak
      • Writing App, A Review for the Traveler
      • Backup Battery Power for The Traveler
      • XE Currency Exchange – Best Travel Apps
      • Tech Review- CityMaps2Go -Using your phone for maps offline
      • Filtered or unfiltered? Photos not beer
      • Writing with iPhone & traveling
      • Verizon, iphone and Europe, a quick guide.
    • Travel Gear Reviews
      • A travelers review- SunGod Classics Sunglasses
      • Zen and the Art of Traveling Strictly Carry On
      • The Bar From Jackery – A Travelers Review
      • Gear Review – Day Trek With The Osprey Comet
      • A Travelers Review of the Canon PowerShot SX510 HS
      • 6 Must Have Items For A Winter Trip To Europe
      • The Grip V – Gear Review
      • Gear Review – Going strictly carry on with Osprey Porter 46
      • Travel Laundry Soap Review
      • The North Face Half Zip Fleece for Travel
      • Some Pros and Cons of a Rail Pass
      • Gear Review- North Face Apex Bionic Jacket
      • Travel Gear Review – Rothco Urban Explorer Shoulder Bag
      • Gear – Lewis N. Clark Inflatable Travel Neck Pillow
  • Contact US
  • Pics
    • Pic of the week – Petronas Towers
    • Amsterdam’s Red Light District at Night – Rated PG
    • Awesome Thailand Afternoon Sky – Pic of the Week
    • Lighthouse at Dusk – Pic of the Week
    • Norway Mountain Fog – Pic of the Week. Beautiful view of a fog line in the mountains
    • The Blue Mosque Istanbul at Night – Pic of the Week
    • Chain Bridge Budapest – Pic of the Week

Go Travel Solo

By

There are a lot of advantages to traveling with a spouse, friends or a group. There is always someone to talk too , especially when you are in a foreign country and don’t speak the language . Someone to take pictures with, someone to dine with someone to just share the whole experience . But what are the pros of traveling alone ?
If you have ever taken solo trips your friends or coworkers may look at you like you are strange.

“Why would you want to go solo” ?

Well maybe you don’t have a choice. Maybe you are the only person you know who wants to go see your particular destination, or stay in hostels to save money to see more countries . Whatever your reason for going solo , you have made the choice and are wondering if you by yourself has an advantage.

You will still do the usual details of booking your flights , train, hotels or play it by ear and go day by day. Your on your own , it’s your choice. I tend to think that traveling by yourself may “force” you into more awkward social situations than you are comfortable with and that is a good thing. Put yourself out there and meet new people . Over the last five years I have meet more strangers across Europe in bars and restaurants than I meet when I am at home . Why? You are at a different comfort level . Put down your iPhone a bit , stop texting and engage in some non-social media for a while . Clink a beer stein with someone you don’t know in Germany. Enjoy the company of others . You may be surprised that you can communicate better than you think with people of a different language . You are in there country and you want to be. Most people recognize this and are happy to talk about their country or city . To tell you some history , what to see and where to eat or drink. Be respectful and open minded along your trek and you most likely will find friendly people everywhere you go . Smile…… a lot.

share Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on tumblr
Tumblr
Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on google
Google
Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on stumbleupon
Stumbleupon
Share on reddit
Reddit
Share on linkedin
Linkedin

Tags: Europe, Germany, iPhone, social media, Solo Travel, travel Categories: Travel, travel Europe

Prev
Next

Comments

  1. blinkpack says

    October 8, 2012 at 10:48 pm

    Josh here from the BlinkPack blog. Just wanted to say that I am enjoying your blog and looking forward to following it. I love to travel, but have some serious time and budget restrictions — this is how I found your blog and why I write mine. Traveling solo is a mixed bag for me — so freeing and so lonely all at once. Because of my life situation, I mostly have to travel alone, but I try bring a balance to that by traveling with my family and my friends as well. A good mix keeps me happy. Cheers!

    • solobagging says

      October 9, 2012 at 12:25 am

      Free & lonely , I agree mate. Thanks for commenting , cheers.

  2. ilivetotravel says

    October 11, 2012 at 2:58 am

    Captain – I agree wholeheartedly. I travel solo more than I’d like – sometimes it would be fun to travel with someone as you say to share the experience with someone or when going to semi-questionable destinations it is good to have someone who has your back and vice-versa. However, traveling solo can be neat as you get to drive your own bus, so to speak. I wish I were a little more extroverted when I find myself, say, at a bar or pub. Putting down the darn smartphone is very wise advice!

  3. Pola (@jettingaround) says

    October 11, 2012 at 5:28 am

    I usually travel with hubby, but I’ve gone solo too – near and far. It can get lonely of course, but you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned meeting new people. It certainly happens to me a lot on the road, and people are generally curious to hear your story or share recommendations.

    As far as the decision to travel solo, some people love to question that. And if you’re a woman, oh man, don’t get me started on the comments… 😉

  4. Kiwi says

    October 18, 2012 at 10:43 am

    Traveling solo is an experience in itself for sure.

    “Put down your iPhone a bit , stop texting and engage in some non-social media for a while .”…… More people need to do this at home as well as overseas.

  5. solobagging says

    October 18, 2012 at 4:46 pm

    I agree, I am guilty of this when I am at home at times myself. It is a social crutch or shield. Sometimes social media is not so social

  6. lola says

    October 27, 2012 at 6:15 pm

    i enjoy traveling alone because then it pushes you to get out there and make new friends. one of my favorite things about traveling! friendship & fun times make the best keepsakes from traveling, in my opinion 🙂

    • solobagging says

      October 27, 2012 at 8:15 pm

      Thanks for the comment Lola , unfortunately I am going to miss you and Leah in Praha by 6 days…Karl

Keep Up To Date

Adventurous Traveler? Stay up to date! Have a post to share? Head over to contact us in the header bar
no worries no spam :)

Meet The Author -

Karl is a ferry boat captain by trade. Traveler and hack writer while he's not piloting boats. Born in the U.S. to a German father and a Norwegian mother, Karl has been traveling internationally since he was just 2.
Trying to see as much of the world through the eyes of locals. Budget minded solo travel. An avid obstacle racer, skier and former motorcycle racer.










SoloBagging
Follow on
Twitter
Copyright © 2025 SoloBagging · (in)SPYR Theme by Genesis Developer: SPYR Media