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Do What You Want

The greatest luxury of solo travel is decision making without negotiation. There’s no haggling, no rushing a trail, no skipping a stop because it doesn’t interest the group.

A favorite road trip was the Circle of Discovery through Northern California and Southern Oregon, with stops at seven National Park Service sites. There, I could linger in Redwood National and State Parks at sunrise, hike Trillium Falls at my own pace, and savor solitude on the beach after exploring Fern Canyon. In Lassen Volcanic National Park, I could hike around Manzanita Lake and take my time on the scenic drive through volcanic landscapes.

Solo travel gives you the open invitation to detour. Along the Circle of Discovery, I opted for a hike at Oregon Caves National Monument rather than climbing deep into the cave system. The next morning, I explored lava tubes at Lava Beds National Monument before making a stop at Tule Lake National Monument, where Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II. Experiencing places at my own pace changed how I connected with them, giving me the luxury of time to read every sign, deepening my insight into what I experienced as a sacred space.

 

Add Solo Days to a Group Trip

If going fully alone feels like a big leap, adding solo days before or after a trip with others offers the comfort of shared experiences while building confidence. Your AAA Travel Agent can coordinate both your group tour and the individual components when you set out on your own.

After spending a week with friends on Korčula Island in Croatia, I peeled off in Dubrovnik, a city well-suited for independent exploration. I walked the Old Town walls, wandered narrow cobblestone streets, and took a ferry to Lokrum Island to see Benedictine monastery ruins and botanical gardens. The best part was hiring a private guide through Dubrovnik Day Tours for a daylong road trip into neighboring Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since I was alone, I asked my guide if we could bypass a few normal tour stops after time in Kotor to allow for more time in Trebinje while in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hiring a guide allows for flexibility to experience what you’re most interested in while having the safety net of someone who knows the language and culture.

 

Do Your Homework

International travel can feel intimidating. One way to remove logistical stress is by joining a reputable outfitter that offers the added benefits of local expertise, built-in safety and a community of traveling companions.

I took this approach to hike the Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu, a demanding route where experienced guides are a requirement, not a luxury. For multiple destinations, I joined G Adventures in Belize and Guatemala. The company handled all the hotel and transportation logistics, allowing me to focus on scenery and new friendships.

Research is essential. Even if a tour outfitter is recommended by a friend, I still do my own research. Contact your AAA Travel Agent to ask about group size, and inquire about safety protocols, emergency plans and cancellation policies. For remote adventuring, the outfitter matters as much as the destination. Good operators welcome questions. If they don’t, there’s your answer.

Jennifer Broome hiked the Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu after finding a reputable local guide who offered group tours

Let Someone Track You

Independence doesn’t mean no contact. One of the smartest solo travel habits I practice is letting trusted people track me. That practice proved especially reassuring on a road trip to Great Basin National Park in Nevada, off U.S. Route 50, famously dubbed the “Loneliest Road in America.” With towns few and far between in Northern Nevada, I encountered particularly remote stretches of road with few passersby. (With limited gas stations in this area, I also followed one of my top solo travel road trip rules: Never let the gas tank get less than half full, especially when you’re driving off interstates and main highways.)

Sharing a live location isn’t enough on its own. Always tell at least one person when you’re heading into areas with limited cell service, give them a check-in time, and update them if plans change. It’s a simple step to create a safety net.

 

Let Your Hotel Handle logistics

When traveling solo, especially internationally, I typically stay in locally owned boutique hotels rather than vacation rentals because even small hotels are more likely to have cameras capturing guests’ comings and goings. Before booking, I always ask if they can arrange airport transfers and if they can recommend trusted local guides. This removes stress on arrival and adds valuable local insight at reasonable rates.

In Ecuador this strategy paid off. At Friends Hotel & Rooftop in Quito, the small hotel owner booked a local guide for me. While I could have explored the city and stood on the equator on my own, my guide provided context and insight into the culture and history on a half-day tour. He did the same the next day on an all-day tour hiking in Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Preserve and visiting Otavalo Market. This private guide, booked through my small hotel, was both knowledgeable and affordable.

 

A Rich experience

Traveling alone teaches you to trust your judgment, forcing you to solve problems and navigate uncertainty. And solo travel offers something even richer: perspective.

When you’re on your own, you talk with a barista, a park ranger or the bartender while you’re enjoying an early dinner—I often dine during happy hour because it’s cheaper and gives me time to get back to the hotel before dark. Without the buffer of a group, you’re more likely to engage with locals and uncover their favorites for a deeper dive into a destination. With thoughtful planning and smart safety practices, traveling alone is one of the most empowering ways to see the world on your schedule, at your speed and on your terms.