10 Tips for Travelling Solo

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According to the 2011 Australian Household census about 1.3 million Australians aged between 40 and 69 live alone.

That’s a lot of potential solo Aussie travellers. Travelling on your own can be daunting. Who will you talk to about the sites you’ve seen? Who will you eat breakfast or dinner with? And you’ll have to work everything out on your own – from reading local maps to working out currency conversions.

When you’re travelling solo, it can feel like you’re surrounded by couples, families with children and young backpackers.

But travelling solo doesn’t have to be as daunting as it seems. Don’t let fear or loneliness stop you from seeing the world.

Top tips for travelling on your own:

Keep an eye out for special solo deals where the single supplement is waived. Check out regular travel lift-outs like Escape and Traveller. Also, solo specialists (like Two’s a Crowd) often has independent solo specials on their website.
Pack light – don’t be tempted to buy a huge suitcase and fill it to the brim. A medium case or larger backpack is ideal – remember, you’ll probably have to do all the lifting yourself and you don’t want to struggle getting it off the airport conveyor belt or up the stairs to your Tuscan villa!
Book a flight that arrives during the day – it’s much easier to find hotels, airport buses or drivers during the day than in the dead of night.
Book a hop on/hop off bus when you get to a new city. It’s the best way to get your bearings and identify the best the city has to offer. Do a full loop of the bus route before getting off to check out the highlights.
Do your research – know local customs, religious protocols, handy phrases, the local currency…
Keep safe – don’t tempt local thieves with fancy watches, gold chains and diamonds. Either leave your bling at home or in the hotel safe. Unless local law requires it, don’t travel with your passport – leave it in your hotel safe or have the hotel keep it in their main safe.
Book into a couple of day trips or local classes such as a cooking class in Italy or a salsa class in Cuba – it’s a good way to meet new people and to share at least part of your trip with others
Keep in touch – use skype, facebook messenger, Whatsapp and other free apps to keep in touch with those at home. If you want to have web access on the move buy a local SIM with lots of data, or check out local cafes and restaurants – they often provide free wifi if you buy a meal or a drink.
Download a map app for your chosen destinations before you go. Apps like Googlemaps or Citytogo allow you to use maps of specific destinations offline so you’ll never get lost and won’t have to stop to pull out a huge local map. An app like GPSmycity allows you to read up on your destination on popular travel blogs before you go and download maps with GPS locations for the top spots mentioned in the blog post.
Book a trip with a solos-only tour company like Two’s A Crowd and travel with like-minded individuals.

Ken Morgan is the Founder and Director of Two’s A Crowd.

What Our Clients Say

20 out of 10!

The trip was just great - I can't really think of any negatives. Diane will back me up when I say I usually give 10/10s - I gave her 20/10. Trish, Canada/Alaska

Excellent trip

I found the overall trip excellent. I believe Diane's professionalism, inclusive personality and ability to relate to all contributed to this. She worked to ensure the group was cohesive without individuals impinging on the personal space of others etc. a good skill to have and one she applied effectively. Kate, Canada/Alaska

Fantastic value for money

Fantastic value for money paid. Russell our guide is an asset to your company... he was fantastic! Overall the trip was magical from start to finish. Well done Two's a Crowd ... the best trip ever. Barbara, Canada/Alaska

Fantastic first solo trip

I had a fantastic trip. Absolutely loved Canada and Alaska. It's the first time I have travelled solo and was pleasantly surprised to find a bunch of people that all got on so well. Diane our host was great. She did a good job of getting us altogether for meals, excursions, shopping trips etc. I liked that she quietly got things done without being loud or "in-your-face". She was good at being one of us as well as our leader. Wendy, Canada/Alaska

Good balance of activities and spare time

Had a great time. Good mixture of organised activities and spare time. Diane was an excellent tour host. Russell the tour guide was great, very knowledgeable and personable with his insights into growing up and living in Canada. Sharon, Canada/Alaska

Well organised trip with an excellent host

The trip was well organised, with a good mix of activity and free time. The scenery was spectacular and fellow travellers were a great bunch. Diane is a excellent host - helpful, courteous and above all a pleasure to know. I found her bubbly personality a bonus and can only speak highly of her. Gary, Canada/Alaska

I had a fabulous time

I had a fabulous time. Lake Louise and the hotel were magnificent. The cruise was excellent. Diane made sure that she was available for group meals and sightseeing, and was alway in good humour and great fun. I would recommend your company to everyone and am very interested in the Scandinavia tour at the end of 2017.

Cathy, Adelaide - Canada/Alaska May 2016

Great holiday

What a great trip! I experienced so much and participated in all that was offered. I had read and reviewed as much as time allowed me but was not prepared for what the trip gave me and that is a better understanding of the beautiful people of both countries. - Lesley on Vietnam/Cambodia

In good company

I thought the suggestions for optional things to do, in the "free" time were very good. So good, we really ended up with very little free time. So much to do! - Mary on Vietnam

Great time together

I found the trip interesting and eye opening with a great overview of both Vietnam and Cambodia. The other travellers on the trip were fabulous and we had a great time together. - Anonymous on Vietnam/Cambodia

Fantastic first experience!

Extremely well organised with fabulous guides throughout - especially in Vietnam! First holiday with your company and certainly not the last. - Glenys on Vietnam

Great group to travel with

Having a small group meant that the days were more relaxed and flexible and I really felt spoilt and looked after. Melinda on Borneo

Thoroughly enjoyed Uganda

Thoroughly enjoyed my trip especially Uganda. There was so much variety of things to do on this trip. Jaros & Julius were great. Thought in Kenya the Maasai Mara were beautiful people, so easy to get along with. Judy

Can’t stop talking about my experience

I just feel so privileged to have shared with the Maasai the most awe-inspiring majestic sights and sounds of Africa. The fantastic memories will be with me forever. Maureen

Absolutely enjoyable

Gillian was a fantastic host. She was there for us from the moment we reached Hotel Troy. Heather on Africa

Best holiday I’ve been on!

One of the best holidays that I have been on - really well organised. I would never have travelled to Vietnam or Cambodia on my own. Bronwyn

Well organised

Fun, well organised and a really great group. Barbara on Vietnam/Cambodia

Great time together

I found the trip interesting and eye opening with a great overview of both Vietnam and Cambodia. The other travellers on the trip were fabulous and we had a great time together.

Great value

Well done. No complaints. Very pleased with this trip. Great value for my hard earned dollars! Really enjoyed the [Vietnam/Cambodia] tour.

Fabulous rapport filled with much humour!

A great bunch of people & I can't believe how we all had such a fabulous rapport filled with much humour!!!

I couldn’t fault anything.

The (Uniworld River) cruise was great, I met up with some wonderful people who treated me like part of the family !
The ship & crew were fantastic & the excursions were very good, I couldn't fault anything. I'd recommend this cruise to anyone. Peter

Informative and educational

The entire trip was one of the most enjoyable and exciting. Also so informative and educational. I was so pleased to make the trip. Wish I was over there in that magical place. Marjorie

Delighted

I’ve just returned from the wonderful Kimberley trip. It was my first experience with Two’s a Crowd and I was delighted. Kay

Opportunity to experience

I have had the opportunity to experience things I would never had done by myself. Solo travellers is a fantastic concept and use of social media has been a great way to share and keep in touch with friends and family. Judi

I need not have worried

Being my first tour and a senior member, I admit I was apprehensive but I need not have worried. It was great and I was very well looked after. Can’t wait to go to Kenya with Two’s a Crowd. Maureen

Smooth and seamless

A memorable trip of a lifetime, a wish fulfilled. A fascinating cultural country steeped in history which I found totally enthralling. Two’s a Crowd service was smooth and seamless. Pam

A wonderful experience

It was a wonderful experience visiting Cambodia and Vietnam and gave me a better understanding of these countries. I had a great time with new friends, we had a good bunch and Leonie was the perfect host. Eric

Value for money

Value for money and outstanding co-operation from your staff and tour operators. Joan

Safe and secure and totally looked after

An awesome adventure for my first time overseas alone. Leonie was excellent and both guides were also fantastic. At all times I felt safe and secure and totally looked after. Melinda

Well done Two’s a Crowd.

Leonie was an excellent host, the ideal person. I never felt any pressure to be involved in every activity so I could explore alone during free time. Having 2 or 3 nights in most places was great – you could rest up or party. Well done Two’s a Crowd. Jenny

A completely different experience

It was a nice surprise holiday, a completely different experience from all my other holidays. Thanks. Piroska

I’ve had at least 10 travel agents.

In my travelling life, I’ve had at least 10 travel agents. Two’s a Crowd is the first one where I haven’t had to correct anything in my travel documents. Piroska

I’m so excited to have found you Two’s a Crowd.

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This is perfect for me.

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I really wanted to meet the people behind it

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Two’s a Crowd on the internet was definitely meant to be!

I’m really enthusiastic about the niche you are determined to cover in the market, and have the feeling stumbling on Two’s a Crowd on the internet was definitely meant to be.

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Thank you for providing a service for people like me

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Excellent throughout.

The entire 14 days ran so smoothly from Two's a Crowd booking my flights to airport transfers and then the 12 days camping in the Kimberley. Excellent throughout. Congratulations. Marjorie

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