Solo travel: top 5 awkward situations and how to avoid them

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Solo traveling is empowering and can teach you how to rely on yourself in ways that you couldn’t before. It’s a way to enjoy your own company and to discover new things, not about your destinations but also about yourself. However, there are times when even a solo traveler wishes they had a companion, especially when a situation gets awkward.

A bit of awkwardness every now and then is a natural part of traveling solo, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be avoided from time to time. So here are top 5 awkward situations and how to avoid them when traveling solo.

Not knowing the language

If you don’t know the basics of the language that’s spoken at your destination and you have to communicate with a person with whom you don’t have any languages in common, you’re in for a very frustrating time. Going to the pharmacist and having to explain through pantomime what ails you, or attempting to tell the taxi driver where you’re going are just a few of the possible situations.

Ask a nice local who speaks your language to write down cards for you that you can show at the restaurant, pharmacy, train station, etc.

Solo travel blues

When traveling alone for weeks it’s normal to get lonely, especially when you end up sitting alone among a throng of people, with no means of communicating with them. Remind yourself why you’re traveling and list the reasons why you enjoy it, and if you really hate the solitude, go to places where other travelers hang out and make some friends.

Sticking out

Everybody is bound to stick out like a sore thumb is some destinations, and sometimes locals will look at you strangely and maybe even make remarks about your appearance. This can happen to anyone, and while it can be uncomfortable, you just have to develop a thick skin, a sense of humor and answer with a smile unless you’re being bullied, in which case you need to turn to the authorities.

Unwanted friends

When you’re traveling solo, it’s easier to approach people and making new friends, but you also automatically become more approachable. While this is usually a good thing, being approachable can also mean that you’re approached by the wrong kind of people, or that simply sometimes you just don’t want to be approached.

Ignore unwanted attention and hope it goes away, but if you need to be rude, then be rude. If that doesn’t work, either walk away, or ask for help.

Being asked why you are lone

Although solo female travelers are often the targets of questions about where their husbands or boyfriends are, anyone can be questioned about why they are traveling alone. Sometimes this is the result of cultural differences, which you have no choice but to accept. If the questioning becomes unpleasant, just tell people that you’re going to meet up with your friends/partner later.

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