Solo Travel Tips From Amsterdam

You miss so much if you’re always waiting for someone to go with you. I’ve never minded having time to myself, I’m a fairly independent person, but five days alone was still daunting. I’ve always had some sort of support system near me but this would be a whole new country where I didn’t know anyone. But the alternative was not to go at all, I’m so happy I made the choice I did. I am by no means an expert but for anyone considering solo-travel here are my tips:

1. Book a guided tour: this can be a great way to meet people (or at the very least interact with them). I did a bike tour through the tulip fields and a canal cruise, both of which were great experiences and made me feel like I’d been somewhat social that day.
2. Carry a book: okay, hear me out, you will feel way more uncomfortable if you just stare out into space at meals, on the train or on a park bench. Yes, you could scroll through your phone but with a book, you’re hot and mysterious. I carried The Secret History by Donna Tartt with me on this trip and in my head I looked very intellectual and cool. If you aren’t a big reader, drawing or writing in a notebook has a similar effect.
3. FaceTime: this isn’t a perfect solution if you’re in a different time zone than your loved ones, but otherwise, FaceTime is a pretty good substitute for having an actual person with you. I worried sometimes that other people would be annoyed, but that’s kind of silly because you’re just talking. As long as you’re relatively considerate about it, it’s fine. I would keep a phone charger on you though, FaceTime drains my battery and I heavily relied on Google Maps to get around.
4. Offer to take pictures for people: another good way to get some human interaction in and once you’ve taken someone’s picture you can ask (or they might offer) to take yours.
5. Be safe: Be sure to research the area you’re visiting, make sure you aren’t alone on the street late at night, be early for your transportation, etc. (you already knew this but be careful:))

If you’re still feeling nervous, starting out with a shorter trip can be a good way to ease yourself in, three days by yourself might be more manageable for you, totally up to you but I think that solo travel is a great way to take advantage of your time abroad, it’s an opportunity to travel completely on your own doing only the things you want to do on your schedule. So if you’re thinking about traveling by yourself don’t miss out! Time with yourself isn’t always going to be easy but you can also learn so much and get some really valuable perspective.