The Ultimate Guide to Solo Travel

Are you looking at an itinerary that none of your loved ones fancy? You want to get away but no one’s free at the same time as you? Or you just purely want to spend time exploring some beautiful destinations by yourself. Don’t let the prospect of travelling by yourself put you off! There are lots of amazing benefits to solo travel….

Why do people travel solo?

There are many reasons people decide to travel by themselves, it’s an amazing way to meet other people and create connections that are hard to make if you’re traveling with others whilst also giving you a great opportunity to explore your spontaneity. People may solo travel to improve their self-confidence and truly explore who they are whilst spending time in their own company.

Why are some people nervous about solo travel?

The idea of traveling to an unknown place by yourself can be a daunting one, having to book flights and accommodation in an area you don’t know. The thought of getting lost in a country where you don’t know the language or the fear of losing your luggage whilst moving between destinations. All these rational fears are non-existent when you cruise with us. With Panache, you will be taken care of from the moment you leave your home until you return from your holiday, from arranging all your flights and transfers, to staff who are experienced in working with solo travellers, ready to point you in the right direction for all your queries.

Why should solo travel be easy and safe?

A main worry about solo travel, especially for women is safety, for you and your belongings. However, with research and a few precautions, you should be able to avoid any dangers. In fact, a cruise is one of the safest ways a female can travel by herself. With the convenience of an itinerary and secure accommodation you can travel to many different places without having to book multiple flights and hotels, so therefore, you’re able to keep all your belongings in one safe place without taking them everywhere with you. Some advice for solo travel so you can make the most out of your holidays:

• Consider what you want from your trip and where you are most likely to find this, for example a cruise around Australia and New Zealand has potential for many hikes and exploring of the beautiful nature and wildlife of the countries, whereas a tour of the Baltics may have more potential to explore the history of places and take in the chilled-out café culture of the cities.
• Take lots of pictures- to show your friends and family when you get home and to remember your trip. As well as taking your own, there are many opportunities for pictures on board the ships and at each port, so take full advantage of this.
• Look into local cuisine and try to explore the cultural food of the places are visiting for a full experience. You may want to research first or, if you are feeling adventurous, ask a local or restaurant staff what they would recommend.
• Ask for any time dining rather than a fixed time, this way you can meet new people each time you eat rather than just the same ones
• Look for slightly out of season for better deals and probably more solo travellers on the ship at this time of year
• When looking to book a solo cruise it’s much easier through a company who can find you the best solo travelling deals with the lowest solo supplements
• Let the cruise directors know that you are traveling solo, this will give them the opportunity to arrange things such as shared tables for you and let you know about activities that you can get involved with.

What are the benefits of traveling solo?

Travelling solo gives you an opportunity to spend time in your own company and learn about yourself. You will gain wonderful experiences whilst learning about local cultures and history. Another benefit is that you get to do what you want to, without having to rely on the rest of your party. You can make friends in a way you can only do solo travelling, whilst also exploring your spontaneity and being as adventurous as you’d like.

What are the best/ safest cruise destinations for solo travellers?

1. Iceland is famous for its night life and music scene so you will have an opportunity to meet locals. The land of fire and ice holds many breaths taking sights such as volcanoes, geysers, and glaciers take the chance to explore these amazing natural wonders.
2. Switzerland. The opportunity to see the Swiss Alps and all the wonderful nature and wildlife around them should not be missed.
3. New Zealand, from skiing in the winter to glorious sunshine in the summer, there are different things to see and do in New Zealand all year round.
4. Beautiful and diverse wildlife inhabit every part of Australia from kangaroos to grey reef sharks, there is so much to marvel at in this abundant country.
5. Canada is well known as one of the friendliest nations in the world. With stunning mountain ranges and fascinating wildlife, Canada is ideal for solo travel.
6. French Polynesia holds beautiful marine life and lots of coastal activities such as diving, snorkeling, and swimming. Don't be put off thinking this is a couples destination; solo exploration is fun and relaxing in the closest place you could find to paradise.
7. Amsterdam and the Netherlands. This wonderful destination is amazing to travel to by yourself; explore the café culture, interesting historical sites, beautiful architecture, and enjoy cruising down the canals.
8. The Canary Islands are a wonderful destination to visit solo, especially on a cruise. Join hiking excursions in Tenerife and relax on golden beaches in Fuerteventura.

Do cruise lines offer incentives for solo travel?

The incentives to travel solo depends on which cruise line you decide to travel with, as they all have different policies. However, most major cruise lines have cabins for solo travellers, (these are generally on newer ships), and most cruise lines will have offers where there is less surcharge at certain times of year, (this is the extra that can be charged to solo cruisers on a normal room). For example, AmaWaterways offer singles state rooms containing French balconies, with no additional supplement fee, or a normal state room with the supplement fee of 10%. Celebrity Expeditions offer singles state rooms, as well as having blogs and pages of advice to help you find the right cruise for you. On board an Avalon Waterways cruise, a remarkable 10% of its cruisers are solo travellers, so you will be able to explore great destinations on a river cruise with many like-minded people. Most of the cruises we offer at Panache Cruises have additional discounts and cabins specifically for solo travellers, so let us know what you are looking for and we will find you the best offers we can.

Join our Solo Sailors Facebook Group to connect with other solo cruisers!

Want to experience this? Give the Panache Cruises team a call on 0161 513 8200 and they'd be happy to help!