15 Myths About Traveling Alone You Should Never Believe

The idea of traveling alone to an unknown place can be intimidating. But solo travel can also be incredibly rewarding.

You’ll find countless tales online from travelers who describe the joys of exploring a new place on their own that will make you want to finally ignore some misguided notions and step up your travel game in 2024.

If you’re unsure about whether to embark on a solo adventure, perhaps some of the following common myths about solo travel are holding you back. 

Savvy solo travelers know how to enjoy their vacation without jeopardizing their financial fitness.

While it’s true that traveling solo means you won’t split the bill for accommodations, there are many ways for those on solo vacations to travel affordably.

Even if you spring for a private hotel room over something like a hostel, you can hunt for cheaper accommodations, use public transportation, and take many more steps to save money.

Those on the shy side might worry that traveling alone will feel lonely. However, you don’t have to be all that outgoing to connect with others when you travel.

Sign up for a tour group or stay in an area where many other travelers pass through. Simply asking people where they are from is a great conversation starter.

A common misconception about solo travel is that it’s dangerous, particularly for women. But the potential for danger lurks everywhere, even when you are at home.

Fortunately, there are steps solo travelers can take to make any destination safer.

Follow common sense safety tips when traveling solo. Don’t share where you’re staying with others. Also, try to blend in with locals by dressing and acting in ways that conform to the social norms of the place you are visiting.

Many people believe that solo travel is for single people only, and that those in relationships would never embark on a journey alone.

However, it is rare for partners to share all the same travel dreams. So, rather than dragging your significant other to some place that person would rather not be, consider taking a trip alone.

Many wrongly assume that solo travel is only for recent high school or college graduates, or those looking to explore before settling into a career.

However, people at all stages of life take solo trips. Don’t let stereotypes prevent you from fulfilling travel dreams.

It may not be as easy as asking your spouse or travel buddy to snap a few photos of you, but plenty of solo travelers take great pictures of themselves during trips.

There are many gadgets to help you capture great photos, from fancy compact tripods to simple selfie sticks.

It’s common to conflate being alone with loneliness, but that can be a mistake. A packed vacation itinerary rarely leaves time for loneliness.

If you need proof, the sheer popularity of solo travel should be enough. Solo travelers make up 17% of all who travel globally these days, according to data from WTM Global Hub, an online portal for travel industry professionals.

Certain aspects of traveling are boring no matter who you are with. For example, few travelers are thrilled by the prospect of a delayed flight.

However, when you travel solo, you can do or not do anything your heart desires. It’s rare to hear seasoned solo travelers complain about being bored on a trip.

No, solo travelers are not all young people bankrolled by parents or hefty trust funds.

Being rich is not a requirement for traveling solo. Plenty of solo travelers are folks of all ages who simply have become experts at vacationing on a budget.

Part of the allure of travel is sampling the cuisine in a new destination. However, many would-be solo travelers are deterred by the prospect of having to do all that eating alone.

Dining alone doesn’t have to be depressing. If you’re feeling self-conscious, bring a book along to keep you occupied. Or, consider sitting at the bar so you can chat with the staff.

The popularity of the book and subsequent film “Eat, Pray, Love” has left many people to assume that those who travel solo are running from something.

However, there are plenty of reasons people hit the road — or take to the skies — on their own. For most folks, solo travel has nothing to do with escaping some sort of pain back home.

Another common misconception is that people take solo trips because they can’t get anyone to come along. Of course, that is sometimes true.

However, seasoned solo travelers will tell you that planning a trip alone is often a choice. It can be liberating to travel without worrying about the wants and needs of a travel buddy.

In this way, solo travel can be a completely different — and incredibly fulfilling — experience.

Another side effect of the “Eat, Pray, Love” phenomenon is that some people assume solo travelers are doing so because they need to “find themselves.”

This idea makes it appear that anyone who travels on their own is lost in some way. However, most people who travel solo are simply trying to enjoy life, not hoping to find themselves or anything else.

Staying in hostels can be a great way to save money. Many solo travelers keep costs down in this way, and it can be a great method of meeting others exploring the area.

But staying in hostels is certainly not mandatory. In many major cities, it’s possible to book a hotel room for just yourself without breaking the bank.

Finally, those who travel solo — particularly for long stretches of time — are often stereotyped as flighty types who don’t take their careers seriously.

This is another myth. Solo travel doesn’t mean abandoning your career. In fact, with the rise of remote work, it’s possible for many to log into work from any destination.

The ability to work remotely means you can take a solo vacation without jeopardizing your job or your efforts to get ahead financially.

Solo travel can be an incredibly rewarding experience, and many travel enthusiasts even prefer going it alone.

So, don’t let the myths on this list keep you stuck at home. Instead, grab one of the top travel credit cards and book a solo vacation today.