Welcome back to the fortnightly Weekend Traveller series where I share tips and strategies for travelling during the weekend so you can travel more using less work leave. You can find all of the previous posts for weekend end travel here.
Today, I want to share why a weekend trip is the best time to travel solo.
After travelling around the world alone for 4 months, I have come to appreciate travelling with companions. That is, companions whom I can get along with on the road. There’s just something nice about being to share a moment with another person.
However, I am still an advocate for solo travel since travelling alone is very liberating.
Travelling alone means you do not have to wait for someone to come along before you travel. Many times, people tell me they want to travel but their friends cannot go with them.
I’m quite puzzled why they cannot go on a trip themselves. Then I remembered that I wasn’t born a fearless traveller but I practiced to become one. (A future post about what a crybaby/scardy cat I was before I became a solo travel queen.)
If you have the same problem of wanting to travel but do not have others to go with you, then a weekend trip is the best time to practice solo travel.
- It is short enough that you will not feel lonely, especially if you have planned a full day of activities.
- If you follow my steps for weekend travel planning, you won’t be traipsing far and wide so you will not be in trouble even when you get lost. Plus, you have maps and apps ready in your hands before your trip.
- Weekends are for fun! Put your job and family responsibilities aside for 48 hours. I’m sure everyone can understand.
How to be prepared for your first solo weekend trip
It’s understandable that you will be very nervous about your first solo trip. Heck, I even feel nervous about my 16th solo trip.
The most important thing you need to do for your first solo trip is preparation.
Plan everything you can for your first solo trip: air ticket booking, hotel booking, sights to see, what transportation to take and everything you can think of.
Read about the scams and dangers of the place you are going to know what sort of tricks thieves are up to. But do not let this information cripple you.
For your first solo trip, ignore people who give you advice on not overplanning or going with the flow, you can do that when you are more confident about travelling alone.
Give your friends and family a copy of your bookings and your itinerary. This way, they will know where you should be at a given time.
Even if you have everything planned, there will still be a feeling of nervousness about travelling alone. Embrace it, it’s not everyday that people travel alone and you are taking your first step to a liberating travel experience.
While you are travelling alone, take note of your feelings. Do you feel happy that you can do whatever you want? Do you feel disappointed that you cannot share what you are seeing with other people? These feelings will guide you on whether you like solo travelling or not. Just because everyone says that solo travelling is cool doesn’t mean you need to do it.
That’s all the advice I have for now. If you have any solo travel tips, please share them in the comments below.
Check out the rest of the series:
Part 1: Pros & cons of weekend travel
Part 2: Where to go for Weekend Travel?
Part 3: Choosing transportation for weekend travel
Part 4: Travel planning for weekend trips
Part 5: Make your own travel guide for a weekend trip
Part 6: How to pack for a weekend trip
Part 7: How to use Foursquare to plan a day’s travel
Part 8: Why a weekend trip is the best time to start solo travelling
Part 9: I’m going to Melaka for a weekend trip
YQtravelling 
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