Maintaining entertainment whilst travelling solo can be one of the most exhilarating aspects of trip preparation. While your primary focus may be on ensuring your safety, finding yourself with any leisure time is the right time to seek engaging activities to avoid boredom.
Whether you’re basking in some winter sun, trekking through a jungle or on a gap year travelling South America, here are some ideas to keep you entertained when solo travelling. And don’t forget to check entry requirements!
Photo by Steven Lewis on Unsplash
Compose a Journal
One of my foremost travel regrets is that I did not start journaling when I began travelling alone. Fortunately, I eventually decided to do so. However, those documented trips constitute a minuscule portion of my locations and an even lesser portion of my thoughts and emotions over that period.
Even if you do a weekly summary, be certain that you will value a handwritten chronicle of your life in the months and years ahead. Journalling is even more important for solo travellers who don’t have companions to remind them of parts during the amazing journey they may forget.
Research Your Upcoming Destination
The time before your trip may be rather hectic and stressful; nevertheless, there is no need to be concerned about feeling unprepared. Utilise the journey time to research your next trip, enabling you to identify available activities, local hotspots, and the finest dining establishments.
Leisure Entertainment
You’ll find consecutive periods of downtime during your trip, whether at the hotel, on public transport, or pool/beachside. Experiencing leisure time may enhance your enjoyment of solitary travel to its maximum extent. Engaging in personal time by downloading a podcast, listening to an audiobook, or reading a novel you intend to explore may assist in relaxation and rejuvenation before continuing your endeavours.
Puzzles and Games
Thinking of travellers glued to their phones while exploring the world makes me cringe. However, there’s a time and a place, and when it comes to downtime, entertainment, puzzles, and games on your mobile device are the exception.
Consider bringing many puzzle books, applications, and online games on your phone in your carry-on baggage to occupy your time.
Better yet, thrill seekers might want to keep their wild side alive even in downtime by playing on some of the best online casinos. So long as you have a WiFi connection, you can indulge at the roulette, blackjack, or poker table right from your mobile device, and great examples can be found at Bonusfinder UK.
Engage with Others
Travelling alone does not exclude the possibility of forming friendships along the journey. Hostels are celebrated as refuges for single travellers, providing shared dormitories and social areas facilitating interaction with other enthusiasts.
Although it is customary to feel apprehensive, do not hesitate to dialogue with others—they are likely experiencing similar sentiments! If you are worried about your conversational skills, you may consider acquiring some communication strategies for introverts before departure.
Dinner for One
Solo travel focuses on self-discovery and engaging in activities that provide personal fulfilment according to one’s own timetable. Dining alone is an empowering activity that allows for self-reflection and the enjoyment of tasting cuisine from an entirely different culture to your own.
Indulge in a delectable lunch at a restaurant or cafe while partaking in traditional people-watching. Dining alone enhances personal freedom while allowing the external environment to provide entertainment!
Find a Local Event or Festival
When alone, you have the liberty to participate in events occurring in your vicinity. Local festivals, pop-up markets, and nightly concerts provide an excellent opportunity to experience the essence of a community, enjoy entertainment, and connect with new people.
Course in Wellness, Linguistics, or Indigenous Arts
Current travel trends include skill acquisition and wellness getaways. An increasing number of tourists are endeavouring to perfect meditation techniques, enhance communication abilities, or acquire ancient trades.
Travel may be exhausting due to the amalgamation of activities, jet lag, and disruptions to our comfort zone. I consider it essential to include some pleasure in every journey to rejuvenate and enjoy oneself. Spa days represent the pinnacle of self-indulgence, including calming massages and revitalising facials.
Get Lost!
Many of my most cherished memories arise from aimlessly exploring the streets of unfamiliar locations. Just remember, there’s a chance that you may never experience your current surroundings again, so treat your surroundings as a once-in-a-lifetime experience and get lost by aimlessly exploring the streets unknown to you. In the absence of a timetable, one might uncover hidden treasures, encounter delightful stores, or identify an ideal location for relaxation and observation of passersby.
Final Thoughts: Stay Present!
Before you embark on your journey, preparing yourself mentally and emotionally before you start a solo journey is crucial. It’s like preparing to visit a friend’s home-you want to be fully present and engaged. Practices like meditation and mindfulness can be your best companions, helping you stay grounded and fully experience each moment of your journey.
Experiencing the present moment is an endeavour that many neglect, although it is very potent. Envision, for instance, that you are seated on a beautiful beach, although fixated on your cell phone. It is impossible to absorb the motion of the water fully, the ocean’s scent, the birds soaring above, or the hues of the sand shimmering in the sunlight.
These unforgettable events will substantially enhance your enjoyment, much more significantly than the fun side activities we’ve mentioned today. Remaining present precludes the experience of tension or worry. It is like possessing a personal pause button, allowing you to choose the duration.
Take our recommendations and use these ideas freely, but to truly have fun as a solo traveller, always remember to stay in the moment and embrace your new surroundings to the fullest.
