5 Solo Travel Tips That Actually Make the Trip Better
By Diana | Between Chapters
Solo travel, for me, is less about checking things off a list and more about how the trip feels. The small choices you make, where you stay, where you sit, what you pack, end up shaping the entire experience. These are the five things I come back to every time.
1. Where you stay matters
This is everything.
I always gravitate toward boutique hotels, especially ones that offer a cocktail hour. It's such an easy, low-pressure way to be social without forcing anything. You can chat with other travelers, talk to staff, or just sit back with a really good drink and take it all in.
And if you don't drink, this still works beautifully. Ask for a mocktail, a sparkling water with a twist, whatever you like. The magic of cocktail hour was never the cocktail. It's the ambience, the people, and having somewhere to be.
Some of my favorite stays:
Kimpton Fitzroy London, where the cocktail hour was next level
The Darcy Hotel in Washington, DC: one signature cocktail, no choices, but great conversation
86 Cannon Historic Inn in Charleston, SC: cocktails, charcuterie, music, the whole vibe
The Hoxton Amsterdam: no formal cocktail hour, but a lively bar and guest-only spaces that made it easy to feel part of something
Perry Lane Hotel in Savannah, GA: cocktail hour plus champagne available throughout the day, which says enough
2. Sit at the bar
Always.
Bring a book, your Kindle, or a notebook. It gives you something to do, but it also makes you approachable if you want conversation. I've had some of the best, most unexpected conversations this way.
And the bartenders? They know everything. Where to go, what's worth it, what to skip. It's one of the easiest ways to get a real feel for a place. I've gotten hidden gems, bookstore tips, and entire evening plans from a single seat at the bar.
This works exactly the same if you don't drink. Order a coffee, a soda, or a zero-proof cocktail; good cocktail bars now treat their non-alcoholic menus with real care. The bar seat is about the conversation and the front-row view, not what's in your glass. (If you are ever in Washington, DC, and want an amazing cocktail experience, GO to Death & Co. I wrote about that martini in my newsletter, and I still think about it weekly.)
3. Pack light
I will never not say this.
Traveling solo means you're carrying everything yourself, and you don't need as much as you think you do. I stick to:
a great pair of walking shoes
a few easy tops or sweaters
one dress (or five, no judgment - I have this one in 5 different colors, runs a bit loose, not too short, perfect with sneakers or sandals, a great travel dress)
a lightweight raincoat (make sure it has a hood, and be weary, some countries/cities frown upon umbrella usage) which saved me in Amsterdam more than once
You end up wearing the same favorites anyway, and moving through a city is so much easier when you're not weighed down.
4. Stock your fridge
This is one of those small things that makes a big difference.
I'm mostly vegan, so I like to have a few basics on hand: non-dairy yogurt, oat milk, some snacks. It's saved me so many times when I don't feel like going out, can't find what I need, or just want something easy in the morning.
It makes your hotel feel a little more like your own space. And a tip from hard-won experience: find the nearest grocery store on night one, not on the morning you desperately need it.
5. Look for local events
If you want connection without pressure, this is the way to do it.
I'll check Facebook events or Meetup wherever I am. When I was in Boulder, I joined a local hike and ended up meeting a few great people. It felt natural, low-key, and not forced in the way some social situations can be.
You can always leave, or stay longer than you planned.
Final thought
Solo travel doesn't have to feel lonely or overwhelming. When you build in small moments, a good hotel, a seat at the bar, a walk, a familiar snack, it starts to feel less like "being alone" and more like being with yourself in a new place.
And honestly, that's the best part.
One last thing, because it matters: always bring a portable battery charger for your phone. The last thing you ever want to be is STUCK with a dead phone in an unfamiliar place. I have one I love and it lives in my day bag permanently.
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