Travel is always good. Especially when you do not need to coordinate your plans with other people and look for compromises. It’s even better when you can go on a budget to where you have long wanted to, without having to explain why you need to go to this particular country or city right now.

Do you know when this is possible? When you travel alone.

Why traveling alone is a great idea

You have five reasons for this:

1. You can leave as soon as possible. No need to check schedules with friends, trying to find a date when everyone will definitely be comfortable (three months from now, for example). Everything becomes much simpler: you see the action - you fly away.
2. Tickets will be cheaper. If the tickets are on promotion, then it can only apply to one seat, and the rest will go at full price. Plus, the larger the company, the less likely it is that you will all fly on the same low-cost flight.
3. You can choose a trip with the craziest transfers: no one will whine that they want to quickly arrive at their destination and don’t care about an eight-hour transfer in Prague with the ability to go to the city.
4. No shame: if you want to sleep all day in the room, you sleep in the room, without feeling guilty about the "seal" rest. If you want to have breakfast with tequila and chips - you have every right to do it without judgment from the outside. And no one needs to prove the historical importance of the light bulb museum, which you dreamed of visiting since the third grade.
5. If you're going somewhere alone, you can find yourself a new company (and hide from her in case of emergency, and not swear just because you live in the same room and are a little tired of each other).

How to travel alone and not worry

1. Luggage

It is clear that if you are going for one weekend, then there is no point in carrying a huge suitcase with you. But, surprise - even on a trip for two weeks, it is not really needed. For warm countries (like Israel, Spain or Italy) and summer trips, everything you need will fit in a good backpack. Assess your wardrobe and choose versatile items that will give you many options for combinations. Sneakers can be worn with anything.

• Important: if you plan to bring alcohol and delicacies with you, it is better to buy a return ticket with luggage and choose a stronger backpack.
• A shopping bag will fit into the most crowded backpack and save you from having to lay out all your things over and over again in order to walk around the city.

2. Finance

See in advance how things are with plastic cards in the country you plan to travel to. If in Finland cards are accepted almost anywhere, then in Germany there are serious problems with this. Depending on this, determine the amount of cash that you will take with you. Be sure to leave a reserve on the card, which can be withdrawn in case of force majeure. It is better to pay a withdrawal fee than to lose the entire budget at once.

3. Housing

With the rental of hotels and apartments on a solo trip, things are the saddest thing. It is clear that for two you can rent a separate room for the price of a bed in a hostel, and for 3+ - an apartment on Airbnb for the same price. But solo travelers increase their chances of staying for free with one of the locals on Couchsurfing.

• If you are embarrassed by the prospect of living in an apartment with a single man, just select the “Women Only” filter. The same is true with age.
• Be sure to read the reviews - so you can find out if the owner of the apartment bothers the guests and if there were any "difficulties" with him from previous travelers.
• It is best to look for accommodation a week or two before the trip. So the owner of the apartment will definitely be sure of his plans and will be able to immediately tell whether he will accept you.
• Feel free to ask for a tour - locals are usually happy to show their favorite restaurants and bars to visitors. A good gesture is to cook something from the national cuisine as a thank you.
• The maximum stay for couchsurfing is three days. You can agree on longer, but it will not be very polite. After all, this is a free stay, not a hotel, so there are limits.

4. Security

The main rules are: do not leave your drinks unattended, use only official taxis and check in advance for areas of the city that are considered unfavorable.

• If you are traveling to a religious country, it is better to clarify the rules of the “dress code” in advance. You may have to leave ultra-short shorts at home.
• In some countries (for example, in Georgia), it is better to take a ring with you to wear it on your ring finger. Yes, it's not very feminist. But this slightly stupid way can save you from unnecessary questions and actions.
• Write down the embassy number in case you lose your passport. For this, it is worth taking photos of all important documents and saving them somewhere far away in the cloud (but so that you always have access from any device).
• In southern Europe, girls are often approached with a request to sign a "petition" or "appeal". So you can lose the last large cash or all the contents at once.

We asked three questions to three girls who travel alone for different reasons and in different ways.

1. Why are you traveling alone?
2. What hacks help you? From finding hotels and entertainment to basic security.
3. Three ideal places to travel alone?

Anna Polyakova, author of the @ru_girl_travel channel in Telegram.

Travels by car, a maximum of one trip - about 25,000 kilometers.

Why are you traveling alone?

Traveling in the company of only yourself is an opportunity to plan your vacation 100% the way you want. Someone likes to go to the museum in new places, someone loves architecture, someone likes zoos, someone likes food (like me). A single long-distance driving trip is a kind of meditation and an opportunity to put your thoughts on the shelves. While you are busy with mechanical work (driving), and beautiful landscapes are changing outside the window, you can think about what in ordinary life there is not enough time for in the bustle. And you don't need a companion.

• I search for all hotels through Booking. Even small hotels in the Amur region are marked there.
• With the search for entertainment, the site drom.ru and LiveJournal helped me. I entered a query, for example, the road "Irkutsk-Yakutsk" and the reports of people who passed this route, one could read not only about the pitfalls of the route, but also about interesting places.
• If you are going somewhere for the first time, look for the latest reports from other travelers to know where the grader will overtake you, which city is better to drive along the bypass and at what kilometer to make a small circle away from the highway so that wonderful roads open up in front of you. its beauty of the place.

1. It is not at all boring to be alone in Karelia and on the Kola Peninsula. The M-18 "Kola" highway is of excellent quality and easy to drive. Having passed all of it, you will see endless forests, Lake Onega, the White Sea Canal (despite its terrible history, this is an amazingly beautiful place), ancient wooden churches, waterfalls, raging rivers, marble canyons. And then the taiga will turn into an endless tundra before your eyes, you will cross the Arctic Circle and you can see the Barents Sea, which flows into the Arctic Ocean. Also, these places are very quiet and peaceful. The perfect place to take a break from stress and clear your head.
2. Incredibly beautiful in Kamchatka. The best option to get there is by plane. If you wish, you can rent a car, I did so. The federal highway here is short, 200 kilometers, until it turns into stones, but very beautiful. In essence, it doesn’t matter where you are going when incredible hills and volcanoes rise around you on the horizon. You can visit hot springs (including mountain and wild ones, where you can sit in hot water right in the middle of the snowy peaks for free). Not far from the City (as Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is called without frills) there is access to the Pacific Ocean (Khalaktyrsky beach), the Sea of ​​Okhotsk (it is especially beautiful in Oktyabrsky village). And in the market you can carry buckets of crabs and caviar. In the last days in Kamchatka, I ate just bread, because the caviar with crabs did not climb (for six months later, just thinking about them made me sick). By the way, buying a bucket of caviar is really cheaper than a cafe or ordinary products.
3. The third most beautiful place is Altai. The Chuyky Trakt is included in the list of the 10 most beautiful roads in Russia, because in just 800 km you will meet all climatic zones: from the icy taiga to the hot steppe. And here you can also try a bear, a deer, a moral, a wild boar and a hare, buy shampoo from antlers or deer blood, the most delicious honey or tea. In general, for a gastrotourist - a paradise, and landscapes - eye baths. I’m thinking of going there some other way, but most likely I’ll fly to Novosibirsk by plane and rent a car. With this option, the trip may well fit into a weekend tour. The places are beautiful, but the track itself is not long. 2-3 days, depending on your pace.

Sasha Bogino, Mediazona journalist

Travels around Russia to the courts and around the world for fun

I often go on business trips. If you just want to go somewhere from Moscow and relax, I usually go alone too: mainly because almost all of my friends work, and our weekends just don’t coincide. After the flight Moscow - Abu Dhabi - Melbourne - Hobart (almost a day, taking into account the time spent waiting for the plane), even the five-hour journey does not seem so long to me. By the way, on an airplane, I always try to find a free row so that I can at least lie down - if there are much more seats than passengers, no one will forbid you to do this. Enjoying new places alone is very simple: if the weather permits, it is enough just to take a walk in the company of good music and delicious coffee. Often on business trips, I just don’t have time for museums, bars and sightseeing, so I try to walk more to get at least some impression of the new city.

2. What life hacks help you? From finding hotels and entertainment to basic security.

• As a teenager, I went to Berlin for a couple of weeks: I still remember how I stuffed my suitcase with clothes, thinking something like this - what if I want to wear not this dress, but another, I'd better take both. Even better, I remember how my hands fell off while I was carrying this suitcase with me, so now I don’t take a lot of things with me on trips. Everywhere I go with a small comfortable suitcase (half empty, so that there is room for some purchases).
• Before traveling, I buy local currency in Moscow: it’s better to think about it in advance, because the exchange rate on the spot will obviously be less profitable. About a third of the money set aside for the trip, I leave on the map just in case. By the way, many banks ask their customers to inform about the trip in advance. If this is not done, when trying to pay in another country, the card may be blocked (I once in Canada, in front of a huge queue, scraped out the last little thing to buy myself coffee, it was unpleasant). I keep cash and cards in separate places just in case.
• When I check into a hotel, the first thing I do is pester the staff and ask where the nearest pharmacy and grocery store is, and also that there is a 24-hour nearby. In response to such questions, most likely, you will be given a map, everything will be drawn and explained in detail - do not neglect this, especially if you do not have mobile Internet during your trip.
• On the issue of safety: when I travel alone, I only use public transport or legal taxis (all this, by the way, can also be found out at the hotel). In the dark, I avoid the city outskirts and all sorts of dumb places. In the spring, for example, I was in Krasnodar: my hotel was not very far from the center, but in the evening I still called myself a taxi, because I had to walk decently from the stop, and I didn’t really like the area.

3. Three ideal places to travel alone?

1. Berlin is good at any time of the year (although if you are not a fan of the heat, then take a closer look at the local weather forecast for midsummer).
2. Budapest, and especially in spring!
3. It's also cool to travel around Russia. Of course, sometimes a plane ticket to New York is cheaper than to Kamchatka, but it is not necessary to travel so far to see something new. Think about the last time you traveled more than 50-100 kilometers from the city where you live. Surely even within the area full of interesting places.

Maria Sokolova, digital nomad, translator, author of the @marisokolova Telegram channel

Manages to work in a dozen countries per year

1. Why are you traveling alone?

I travel alone for several reasons, but two main ones. First, it is often better, more comfortable and more interesting for me to travel alone than in the wrong company. Second, my lifestyle and travel do not match the lifestyle of most of my friends. I like to come somewhere for a month or two, I definitely need to devote at least two or three hours a day to work, and it’s not necessary to see everything at once, so it’s quite difficult with those who go on vacation. The paradox is that when I travel alone, I am rarely alone. I have many friends around the world, I rarely go to places where I don’t know anyone at all, and it’s easier to meet new people alone, whether it’s hostel neighbors or the same dating app.

2. What life hacks help you? From finding hotels and entertainment to basic security.

• To find fellow travelers and companions for lunch and dinner in an unfamiliar city, I sometimes use the Hangouts function in the couchsurfing application, sometimes tinder (no, this is not only for sex, you can also just get to know different people, including the same sex). Sometimes specialized groups on Facebook help (I search by keywords digital nomads/expats in...).
• By the way, in such Facebook groups you can often find accommodation for a couple of months and a million different events.
• In general, I try to find out in advance what popular tourist routes are in the country, I keep track of my drinks at the bar, I use Uber wherever I can, and I check reviews of places where I am going to stay on the Internet. Well, I go on dates to crowded places :)

3. Three ideal places to travel alone?

1. If you choose, then in terms of comfort level for singles, I would choose Thailand and Southeast Asia in general, where you feel safe, you can always meet a bunch of the same solo travelers, and where it’s cheap enough to rent an apartment alone.
2. I also like to travel alone in the Balkans (one of my favorite regions in the world), because it's more interesting - stories start to happen to you, as soon as you leave the house.
3. The south of Europe, where it's just good, and if you don't have company, you still feel good.

If you do not know English well and are afraid to get lost in a foreign country, it is best to go on vacation on a package tour. The latter can be purchased from a tour operator who will book a hotel for you and offer all kinds of excursions. After that, it is enough to arrive at the airport on time, and upon arrival in another country, take a transfer to the hotel. Excursions will also not be a problem, because you will be traveling with a group.

In this way, you can visit any country. In summer it is good to relax on the beaches of Turkey, Greece, Croatia, Spain, Montenegro and other European countries. In spring and autumn, it is best to go to the UAE, Israel or Egypt. And in winter - to warm Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka or Bali.

If you are not afraid of long flights, you can have a wonderful time in the Maldives or Canary Islands, in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Cuba or on the beaches of Brazil. Almost all year round, the weather is wonderful on the island of Mauritius. In addition to a beach holiday, there you can enjoy a rich excursion program, unusual gastronomic delights, relaxing SPA treatments or acquaintance with the underwater world.

Excursion holidays abroad

Fans of a more active holiday are best to go on a tour of one or more countries. During daily excursions with a group of tourists, even alone, you will not be bored, and there will always be a guide nearby who controls your trip. To get acquainted with the rich history or see the beautiful architecture, it is best to go to Europe. Each country there has a unique flavor and keeps ancient works of art in museums.

If funds allow, you can go to the East. Japan and China, for example, amaze with the contrast of high technology and ancient traditions. There you can see many unique sights and plunge into a completely different atmosphere. True, it will be difficult to travel around these countries without a guide or knowledge of the local language, because few people speak English there.

Holidays in Russia

In solitude, you can have a great rest in your native country. In summer, you should go to the Black Sea coast and admire the beautiful nature of the Kuban. At this time of the year it is also good to spend holidays in Karelia or Siberia. And in late spring or early autumn, it is better to travel around the cities that are part of the Golden Ring of Russia. In winter, if you are not afraid of frost, you can enjoy the beauty of Lake Baikal, where excursions are organized on off-road vehicles.

It is believed that resting alone is a bad idea. Like, dangerous, and boring. But the main character of the film "Eat, Pray, Love" did not think so, and for good reason. In her travels, she made interesting acquaintances, got a lot of new emotions, completely “rebooted” her life and, ultimately, found true happiness. Maybe it will work for you too? In any case, rest from the gray everyday life can be guaranteed.

Where to go on vacation one girl?

Vacationing on your own, you are not tied to the vacation schedules of your husband, boyfriend or girlfriend. You are free to manage your time, choose places without coordinating with anyone else. And in a place of rest, you can do what you are really interested in, without adjusting to anyone. You can go abroad, but you can travel without going far.

Where to go to rest for one girl abroad:

Where to go to rest for one girl in Russia:

1. Karelia- this is the place where you can go on vacation both with the whole family and alone for a girl. The most beautiful part of Russia, with a lot of picturesque places and a wide range of activities: contemplation of nature, outdoor activities, kayaking, rafting. Or maybe you are a fan of fishing - here is just a paradise for fishermen.
2. Golden ring- a tourist route covering mainly religious sites of Russia. The route includes 8 cities, in which everything that Russia is proud of has gathered: white-stone churches, laurels, cathedrals, monasteries, three Kremlins, unique belfries.

Everyone can have such a situation: it seems that the vacation is signed, and the money is set aside, and the plans are lined up. But the companion is not enough: the passion was not released from work, the friend was dragged out by family affairs, and the relative simply does not want to go ... So come ...

Going on vacation alone: ​​pros and cons

Memo to the tourist, Beach holidays, Active holidays in Montenegro

Everyone can have such a situation: it seems that the vacation is signed, and the money is set aside, and the plans are lined up. But the companion is not enough: the passion was not released from work, the friend was dragged out by family affairs, and the relative simply does not want to go ... So you have to decide: go on vacation in splendid isolation or postpone the trip until better times?

Some in this case resort to the help of the Internet: in the vastness of social networks and travel forums it is not so difficult to find a travel companion for a week or two of vacation. It turns out a convenient option for discount vouchers to hotels or to find new friends. However, you will have to come to terms with the fact that a fellow traveler found via the Internet will remain a pig in a poke until the very vacation, which can prove itself from the most unexpected side.

Hemingway's dictum "Travel only with those you love" can be understood in two ways.

Either you should not go on the road at all if there is no way to capture your loved one, or it’s still worth it - but in this case, all alone.

There are even travelers who, on principle, do without fellow travelers - they have so deeply felt the taste of absolute freedom that overtakes when a person is away from home, without anyone close to him. As eternal opponents, they are opposed by sociable people who do not see holidays without a crowd of relatives and friends, or without a life partner. Moreover, in the discussions of both one and the other, there are arguments for and against solo travel.

Pros: Freedom of choice and movement.

This item is undoubtedly the leader in the list of advantages of solo travel. Instead of endless disputes and discussions, you can simply expand the world map and choose a point on it where you would like to go for a long time. You can prescribe your route to the smallest points, knowing that no one will challenge or disrupt it; on the contrary, you can not draw up any plan and, having arrived at the initial point, play "tumbleweed": do what your mood suggests. You can collect materials for a whole novel, wandering around Asia in the company of only a backpack; you can lazily lie on the beach without any reproaches from more active friends. Only you and the road - and no decrees!

Opinion: Andrey, 29 years old:“For the last seven years I have been traveling alone. I love a rich adventure program that allows improvisation; at the same time, coordinating plans with someone is a problematic task. When two or more people go to rest, everyone tries to pull the blanket over themselves. The exception is a really beloved person with whom I would think in the same direction. But there is no such woman yet, so I enjoy absolute freedom. All other options seem unacceptable to me.

Against: Costs cannot be divided between two.

A room in a restaurant, a taxi and a pizza - all this costs much less money when two people pay. A single person will have to come to terms with the fact that on average one and a half times more money will go to a single room than when placed for two, last-minute offers rarely apply to single tourists, and all sorts of household expenses significantly chew the budget when they are not who to drop.

Pros: Lots of new acquaintances

Paradoxically, solo travelers often get more social interaction during their holidays than those traveling with friends or couples. Of course, it all depends on the openness of each individual: some may not meet anyone in two weeks in a youth hotel, and some acquire new friends while walking through quiet national parks. However, in general, the trend is as follows: those who dare to go to another country without a company have every chance of making new friends.

The fact is that loners do not lock themselves in the company of their fellow travelers, and the relaxed atmosphere of a vacation, as a rule, contributes to making new acquaintances. Yes, and a simple solution to organizational and everyday issues requires more contacts with others - hence more reasons to start communication. In the end, it is much easier for single tourists who are not related to relationships to diversify their love life on vacation - however, you should come to terms with the fact that a new romance will most likely end where it began, leaving only pleasant memories behind.

Opinion - Veronica, 22 years old:“On my first solo trip, I broke down suddenly - and immediately for a month. Traveled a bunch of places along the Adriatic coast, lived in hostels and the private sector. How many people I met - it's scary to count! Probably, with a hundred people from all over the world, I communicated. All of them, of course, did not sink into my memory, but I still write off some of the guys (mainly from Serbia). In the summer I plan to host guests from the Balkans.”

Against: Longing for loved ones

Opinion - Sergey, 24 years old:“I traveled a lot, mainly in Western Europe. Mostly with family or friends, but a couple of times I had to go on long trips alone. It was not boring, but after some time after returning, it became sad that there was no one who would share the memories. That's probably because I can't slap my friend on the shoulder and say "Do you remember how you and I were in Paris ...", I forget Paris faster than, say, Amsterdam, from which my friends and I brought oh what happy memories."

Pros: Opportunity to try on a new look

This plus perfectly complements the opportunity to make new friends and start a romance. Just as many people love to unfurl in front of random fellow travelers on a train or plane, so single travelers can show off new looks before they travel. Indeed, in a distant land, apart from everyone who knows your characteristic features and weaknesses, it is much easier to instill in yourself unusual (but desirable!) qualities and appear before people in a completely different light. The main thing is not to play too much and not to exaggerate - and you will get an excellent training!

Opinion - Anna, 25 years old:“Last summer, I was alone in Ibiza - a profitable trip turned up. But there are youth parties, going to bars, dancing until the morning. "The very thing" for a girl brought up in a greenhouse at home. Of course, I didn’t get carried away with drinking there, but on the other hand, with a little effort of will, I turned myself from a home girl into such a good soul of the company, making friends with the hotel neighbors (mostly with the British). It really helped to liberate myself - I returned home completely renewed!

"Solo" travel is a great way to relax, delve into self-discovery, expand your comfort zone and, perhaps, meet love. This must be done at least once in a lifetime, of course, without forgetting about safety. Let's talk about places where it's not boring alone, it's not dangerous, it's beautiful and there is someone to make friends with.

The capital of a country known for its romance, delicious food, beautiful people and high fashion, Rome affects all five senses at once. The stormy streets of the old city are full of surprises and don't be surprised if you receive a marriage proposal on the very first day of your arrival. Taste all the flavors of gelato, ride a bike, drink clean water from the fountains, pet the cats in Torre Argentina Square and think of an offer.

An hour flight from Bangkok and you are in Chiang Mai, a city in northern Thailand, the cradle of Thai culture and a place to search for "zen". An abundance of vegetarian dishes, all kinds of yoga styles, more than 300 Buddhist temples - Chiang Mai is an ideal place for connoisseurs of a healthy lifestyle.

It's safe enough to roam the back alleys in search of a restaurant or a temple. You can go on an elephant ride or visit a village where women with long necks live. And don't forget the night market on Sunday - you can buy local decorations there.

A palm-lined beach town of eternal summer, Goa welcomes almost two million tourists a year. They have long been accustomed to Europeans here and women can safely walk in familiar clothes without fear of the disrespectful attitude of local men.

There are 30 beaches in the city - on any of them you can have a good time, lying in a sun lounger and sipping mango lassi. You can find a company for yoga classes, and in the evening all have dinner together in a restaurant on the beach, watching the sunset over the ocean.

Melbourne is the informal capital of culture, fine dining, live music, the best shopping in Australia and just a beautiful city.

Using a well-thought-out public transport system, you can be in time everywhere. The tram will take you to the bohemian suburb of St. Kilda, where cafes offer great food and good books, and then you can rush to Luna Park or go shopping on Chapel Street. Visit free music festivals and watch the Australian Open tennis match.

Tulum is located on the Caribbean coast, a few hours drive from and Playa del Carmen. It is a beautiful city, quite safe and more peaceful than other tourist areas in Mexico. Friendly locals assure that a single woman can rent a bungalow on the beach and spend the night there alone. Spend a day at the sea or head to the city for cheap delicious food and live music. Do not forget to go to the ruins of Chechen Itza and swim with turtles on Akumal beach.

Peaceful and safe Hawaiian island will touch a woman's heart with its beautiful coastline and sea of ​​flowers, colorful sarong skirts and the famous frangipani scent.

The city of Makawao hosts street parties every third Friday of the month, which are definitely worth a visit. Also, go to the waterfalls and set the alarm to get up early and meet the sunrise on the Haleakala Crater.

ubud,

Ubud is surrounded by picturesque rice fields and dense forests and lies almost on the ocean - this is a real paradise for lovers of a solitary holiday. Here you can walk everywhere, buy delicious local food for less than $ 5, choose high-quality clothes in boutiques of local designers.

Be sure to greet the monkeys in the Sacred Monkey Forest, don't miss yoga classes, and book a relaxing and inexpensive massage in your room.

santa monica,

Santa Monica, a cozy city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, offers plenty of entertainment for women traveling alone. If you are tired of sunbathing on the beach, you can ride a bike to Redondo Beach, run there on the promenade or go rollerblading, meeting some celebrity along the way. Santa Monica has many cafes and bars with organic food and drinks, and the famous Cafe Gratitude offers vegan lunches.

The ancient capital of the Incas, the city of Cusco, lying at an altitude of 3.4 kilometers above sea level, has now become a home for expats and an attractive point on the map for tourists. Admire the remains of Inca architecture, walk along the ancient cobblestone road, dine in a cozy cafe on the colorful Plaza de Armas, buy a llama wool scarf at the Mercado market. It is worth riding along the horse trail to the sacred place of Sacsayhuaman (sounds almost like a sexy woman), and then buy souvenirs created by local needlewomen.