One of the biggest obstacles can be the price. That cheap hotel room meant for two suddenly isn’t necessarily such a bargain. That rental car to explore the countryside is quite expensive when there’s only one credit card to cover it. And those fun dinners where you share five of the best dishes off the menu? That’s going to be financially trickier when you’re on your own.

However, traveling alone offers some benefits not available to those sharing their journey with others. And if all goes right, you’ll come back from a solo excursion with a few exciting stories, fun photos, and maybe even some new friends. Here are a few tips to help you master the art of solo travel and save along the way.

Related: Tips for traveling solo in Paris

12 tips for solo travel in Europe

Why even travel alone?

There are countless upsides to traveling by yourself. It’s fun to make your own schedule, change plans on a whim, and just go wherever the path leads you. You are free, and as I’ll point out below, this freedom extends to what you eat, where you go, and even with whom you socialize. You’re in charge.

Traveling alone can be beneficial for introverts and extroverts. I’m happily married, but as an only child, I learned to enjoy spending hours on end by myself. As a result, spending a few weeks traveling solo in Europe might seem less daunting for me than for people who are used to constant companionship. However, even super social personalities who like to be surrounded by companions can benefit from taking off alone — shaking up your routine (even your social routine), can be a very rewarding experience.

A note for solo female travelers

I should point out right off the bat that, yes, I am a man traveling by myself. Other than a few sketchy characters and close calls with bags being stolen, I have always felt safe when traveling in Europe. Female travelers, of course, should also feel quite safe traveling solo, but they do have to be mindful of other safety issues that I might take for granted.

However, most of these are common sense concerns that you already follow when you’re not traveling (and we’ve chronicled them before, for example in these articles about solo female travel in Barcelona and Dublin). Europe is, overall, a very safe place for women to travel by themselves (and, in terms of crime, safer than traveling in the US).

For much on this topic, check out Journeywoman.com for great tips for both group and solo female travelers.

1. Get outside of your head and meet people

Although some argue that it’s easier to meet new people in a group setting, I believe that when you travel on your own, it forces you to make a decision really fast. And I’m not just talking about, “Should I go to the Louvre or Versailles today?” I’m talking about something philosophically deeper: Do I spend my whole trip inside my head or do I jump at the chance to interact with those around me?

My advice: Get outside of your head. It’s great to be contemplative, of course, but when you’re ready for it, look around and open up.

Just read the situation in which you find yourself. In a smoky bar in Berlin in the middle of the day where everyone is sitting alone? Probably not a good time to start up a chat. But if you’re at the convivial pub at happy hour and the locals are just settling in for a drink, then you can probably trust that you will find a welcome patron with whom you can strike up a chat.

My best advice for socializing on your own? Push outside your comfort zone. Don’t be shy. Put down your phone. Crack a smile. Attempt a “bonjour” or “ciao”, and just go with it. (Seriously, put down your phone.)

A “superior single” room at Hotel Rivoli is about €20 cheaper per night than a double. Photo: Booking.com

2. Book a small single to save

Accommodation can be the hardest place to save money when you go to Europe on your own. While one way is to opt for a dorm bed in a hostel (see below), what if you want your own room at a place with a bit of character? I recommend going for a small, independent hotel that offers deals on smaller single rooms.

While most chain hotels charge almost the same (if not exactly the same) price whether you are two or one in a room, luckily, in Europe, many of the classic cheapo hotels that we love offer reduced rates for one person. And if you don’t mind sharing a bathroom, you’ll save even more. Check out these favorite hotels in Paris, Rome, or any of these cities in Europe.

If you’re staying in one of these small, family-run hotels, try to book something with an included (or at least moderately priced) breakfast. It can offer a great chance to meet fellow travelers and exchange tips. You might also (if you want it) wind up hanging out or dining together.

3. Mix and mingle at a hostel

By design, staying in a hostel is a very social experience that’s open to travelers of all ages. From the moment you check in, you are part of a community that loves the traveling way of life. Every hostel is different, but you can usually find people hanging out in the common areas or lobby, planning their day or chatting away.

You can also try to strike up a conversation with a dorm mate. Even if you book a private room, you still get the social aspect of a hostel by mingling or checking out a happy hour or special social event. Many hostel employees are great sources for local advice and can book cheap tours or local experiences that you might have missed staying at a traditional hotel.

We list hostels all over Europe (do a search for your city, then filter by “hostel”), but some favorites include the Stayokay Amsterdam, Circus in Berlin and Living Lounge in Lisbon.

4. Throw a picnic…

I don’t usually enjoy eating dinner at restaurants by myself when I’m on the road. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go for it, but with my philosophy, I actually spend a lot less on food when traveling alone. Grabbing street food, visiting local markets, and picking something up at the supermarket is more than enough to get a taste of the local cuisine in the evenings. In fact, having a picnic on a park bench is one of the best ways to experience a city and enjoy tasty food for only a few euros.

5. Spring for a prix-fixe lunch…

However, when I do decide on a big meal for the day, I almost always choose lunch. Not only are the tabs cheaper, but the scene is usually more relaxed, and I’ve enjoyed many more pleasant interactions with locals and staff on a weekday afternoon than any Friday night. Plus, many lovely restaurants across Europe offer incredible lunch deals.

In fact, finding a meal for €10 or less (including a glass of wine!) is not uncommon. Check out some of our favorite spots in Barcelona, Stockholm, and Paris. Just be wary of very touristy areas: If you see a menu in 20 languages with photos, keep walking.

6. Or eat at the bar

When you do eat dinner by yourself, don’t be intimidated by what sometimes can be a single-unfriendly scene. Go in, ask for a table for one, and make yourself at home. I find that it’s helpful to bring along a newspaper or book. This can also be a good time to catch up on your travel journal.

If you can eat at the bar or counter, it can also be a great spot to chat with other single travelers or with the bartender (and maybe get a nice top off on that drink!).

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a pint all by yourself. Photo: Matthew Black

7. Grab a drink after dinner

Rather than spending too much money on an expensive meal after the sun goes down, I save my euros and pounds for a few drinks at a local bar, where your cash will go much farther than back home. A single beer in New York is now hovering around $8-9. That’s usually two rounds in Europe! You see where I’m going with this. Plus, a friendly pub is almost always a better spot to strike up a conversation than in a restaurant. And if you don’t drink, many bars serve a decent espresso.

If I’m feeling less social, I might just bring a pack of postcards, grab a table in the corner of a pub, and spend a few hours connecting with people back home the old-fashioned way. It’s much more fun than typing an email on your smartphone.

8. Trains: Head to the cafe car

Buses may often be cheaper than trains in Europe, but trains are the perfect transportation for the solo traveler. You almost always sit with at least one stranger, so you might have a chance to make a new friend or learn a few local tips.

When you need to stretch your legs, you can head for the dining car. One sure way to strike up a conversation is to buy a glass of wine or beer in the dining car and hang out for a while. At some point, you’ll find someone in the same situation looking for a chat. (Read more about trains in Europe.)

For public transportation, buses can be a fun way to see a city. In London, the double-decker buses are a great choice for the solo traveler, especially if you can snag the front seat. Break out your camera and enjoy the ride.

9. Learn the language (at least a few words)

Knowing even a few phrases can go a long way in Europe and certainly help the single traveler socialize a bit. Even though many Europeans speak at least a bit of English (especially in the most tourist-friendly destinations), when you get to smaller towns or explore more off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods, you can’t expect your barista, shop owner, or bus driver to speak English. Why should they?

Spend some time learning a few basic words, to not only help you get around but to also show your respect for local customs. You’d be surprised how a little effort can go a long way. Plus, knowing the right words can save you a lot of money when placing orders at markets and restaurants. Here are a few phrases in French and Spanish to get you started!

10. Join a guided tour

A guided walking, bike, or bus tour can be an excellent way to gain a deeper understanding of local culture and history and offer a chance to meet new people along the way. Just make sure you’re prepared to commit to the duration of the tour (they can sometimes eat up several hours of your schedule). You can also book super social tours that include meals and bar stops, as well. These can be great ways to bust out of your shell if you’ve been feeling a bit introverted.

I prefer to roam and wander on my own, but I have taken a few tours that have really opened my eyes to new places. Museum tours are highly recommended to get an overview of a collection, especially when your flying solo and want to get your nose out of a guidebook!

11. Find your scene

What’s your “scene” back home? You can probably find something related to it wherever you travel — but with a twist. Whether you love the theater, art, music, or tango dancing, most big cities in Europe will offer a community that you can tap into. These can offer wonderful opportunities for meeting people and experiencing what you love, but with a new twist, that’s specific to the place you’re visiting.

For example, I’m an independent cinema buff, and Europe is a paradise for this. While many small theaters have died off in the US, cities like Paris boast beautiful movie theaters where you can see everything from classic revivals to new indie films. Seeing Federico Fellini’s “Roma” in Rome on my first trip to Italy is still one of the highlights of all of my travel experiences.

12. Get out of your comfort zone

Traveling with a friend or a significant other is, of course, wonderful — and it’s how many of us spend most of our time traveling. However, when traveling with others it’s easy to get into a routine, similar to that of your normal non-traveling life, that might also shelter you from new experiences.

When you’re traveling solo, however, you have the chance to do something different. Push yourself outside your comfort zone to try new experiences. If you usually sleep in, try getting up early on your trip. You’ll see a totally different city at 7 a.m. than 10 a.m. when the city is buzzing with people rushing to work. You’re normally a bit introverted? Push yourself to start up a conversation with the guy at the table next to you.

You’re traveling on your own. Take advantage of the fact that right now, this very second, you’re free to break your own rules. Go for it.

Your tips for traveling solo?

Do you have any tricks for traveling on your own in Europe or any stories from your adventures? Let us know!

The post 12 tips for traveling solo in Europe appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Tips for solo travelers and couples

If you plan more than three rides on public transit in the AB zone per day, you’ll start saving money on your fourth trip with a day ticket purchase. Three rides or under, and you’ll want to purchase the 4-single trips ticket for 9€, which saves you 1.80€ over the price of buying four separate single trips.

If you plan a trip out to Potsdam and back, the ABC day ticket will save you money on your third trip of the day.

If you are staying anywhere between four and seven days, the 7-day AB ticket is your best option. Even if you are flying in and out of Schönefeld and planning a day trip to Potsdam, it is cheaper to buy four zone extension tickets for your 7-day AB ticket than a 7-day ABC ticket.

A 48h CityTourCard is 3.50€ more expensive than two AB day tickets and 4.20€ more than two ABC day tickets; the same WelcomeCard is 5.50€ more expensive for AB, 6.30€ more for ABC!

Best tickets for small groups and families

If you and two to four of your friends or family members are attached at the hip while visiting Berlin, the small group day ticket provides an even cheaper alternative to individual day tickets. Savings begin after adding the third person; a group of five will save 17.70€ over the price of five AB day tickets!

Three friends will save 17.90€ purchasing two small group tickets vs. three 48h CityTourCards, or 23.90€ vs. three WelcomeCards; bump that up to five, and the savings go to 52.90€ and 62.90€, respectively!

Will the CityTourCard or WelcomeCard ever be worth the extra charge?

In order to understand whether these cards may save you money in the end, you need to know which sites you’re planning to visit, then subtract the 15-50% rebate at any partners (while also remembering to calculate in the deficit from the higher price of these cards) for each entry price before you’ll know the answer. I believe that most such “discount cards” offered by tourist information services  are sometimes meant to squeeze more money out of you rather than truly save you money, and for this reason, they are purposefully obtuse.

The only clear exception to this supposition would be for visitors planning to visit at least two museums on Berlin’s Museum Island. The WelcomeCard Museumsinsel costs 42€ euros for 72h AB, 44€ for ABC.

Your a la carte alternative is to purchase three-day tickets (21€/22.80€) and three-day entry to the museums with a Museumspass (valid in nearly 60 museums for three days) for 24€, or a one-day Bereichskarte for Museumsinsel for 18€.

Depending upon your interest and the length of your stay, this may be one instance where a WelcomeCard saves you money; however, if you plan to visit any other museums in the same period of time, you are likely better off spending just 10€ more (i.e., the equivalent of one museum entry) for a Museumspass, considering all the other institutions you will also be able to visit at no extra charge. Alternatively, you can buy a year-long basic membership to the SMB museums (including all of Museum Island) for just 1 additional euro; museum lovers should check out this EuroCheapo post for more information.

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Here are some tips I’ve developed over the years for Paris “tout seul”:

Dining

It can be tricky in any city to go to a restaurant on your own. It takes guts. Those looking to eat in Paris’ trendier addresses and gourmet restaurants may find them slightly awkward for solo dining. They aren’t necessarily relaxing experiences, but more than that, these long drawn-out meals are meant to be shared, and doing it alone can be, well, a bit depressing.

Opt instead for an outdoor dining experience, like a picnic in a park if the weather allows it. If not, find a nice terrace where you can enjoy your steak frites in peace, with a bit of street theater to keep you occupied between bites. No one will look at you funny, you won’t feel pressured to give up your seat, and you won’t feel left out in a dining room full of chatting friends and acquaintances.

Nightlife

Going out alone at night is easier said than done. But fortunately in Paris, you can forget the clubs and glitzy nightlife and hunker down in one of the many bustling bars or cafés to enjoy a glass of wine or potentially meet some new people. The wine bar at Verjus, for example, is a great place to make new friends, or head to the Belle Hortense in the Marais for a drink with people spilling out onto the street at night.

In any case, if you are looking for something specific – dancing, gay nightlife, parties – do your research beforehand. Many a night has been spent wandering the streets of Paris with nary a hint of where to go when a group of out-of-towners decide they want to stay out all night.

Meeting people

Paris has plenty of options to meet new people. Meetup.com is popular in Paris, as is the Expatriates in Paris Facebook group. There’s also a website called OnVaSortir (“We’re Going Out”) that offers random group meetings from happy hours to walks along the Seine for free.

If you want to dine with new people, there are plenty of ways to do it, including Colunching, a website that allows you to lunch or dine with new people at a variety of restaurants around town. And the Jim Hayne’s dinners each Sunday were legendary ways to meet new people from across the globe while, of course, eating. Unfortunately, he passed away in January 2021.

Go on tour

Some people feel that walking tours are touristy – and they are. If you’re a tourist, there’s no shame. But they are also great ways to meet new people.

Paris Walks, for example, offers daily tours in English for just €12, and all you have to do is show up.

Paris by Mouth also offers culinary tours that will introduce you to new people and tastes – two birds with one stone, right? If nothing else, at least you’ll discover a slice of Paris you may not have known before.

Don’t worry

A big problem for people traveling alone is that they worry. It’s understandable, but try not to. Thousands of people before you have survived a visit to Paris on their own, if only for one day, and some for years, so just relax. Have some addresses jotted down and a book on hand for any downtime, and enjoy.

Your tips for enjoying Paris “tout seul”?

How have you enjoyed Paris on your own? Share your tips with other solo travelers below in our comments section.

The post Solo Travel in Paris: Simple tips for visiting Paris on your own appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Back story

When I came to Barcelona in 2005, I came alone. When I tell people that they always ask, “Did you have friends here?” No, I didn’t. “Did you come for love?” No, I didn’t (anything but!). “Had you been to Barcelona before?” No, I hadn’t.

Honestly, I knew little about the city and had exactly zero connections. But I wanted to be here, to live here, to give it a shot.

Coming to Barcelona was not my first solo journey. Prior to hopping over the Atlantic I had lived in Central America for three years, and had traveled extensively around the area and Mexico. Usually I traveled with friends, but at times I also traveled alone. I was a “solo female traveler,” (a term made popular by blogresses such as Kate and Jeannie), but didn’t really realize it.

Fast-forward

When I compare my time living in Guatemala to my years here in Barcelona, one of the biggest differences is how I feel as a “solo female traveler” or just a “solo female.” In Central America I had more problems and even a few scary run-ins with shady characters. While I don’t want to paint Guatemala as dangerous, it is not as safe for women as Spain… not by a long shot.

This is something I love about Europe. I have more freedom here than I would in other countries and feel safer. Barcelona is not a dangerous city. As a “solo female” I can walk home at 2 a.m. and it’s no big deal because there are people on the street and it’s acceptable for women to be out late.

Still, here are a few things to keep in mind if you’re a woman on your own in Barcelona:

1. Don’t stay in El Raval

I’ve been harassed countless times in El Raval on busy, well-lit streets. About a month ago some guy tried to lift my skirt as I walked by him on Carrer Pintor Fortuny; I thought he was trying to rob me but then realized he was just a perv. He did this while a whole group of men looked on. I wondered, Don’t you have sisters? Mothers? Why don’t one of you tell this freak off?

But instead I did the telling off and then rushed away angry and flustered. I’ve also been robbed in El Raval, as have many other people. If you’re going out in El Raval (which is fun) keep your wits about you and stay away from dark alleys. Better yet, get someone to walk with you up to a main street.

2. Recommended safe places to sleep

Do stay in any of the following hostals which are safe for “solo female travelers”:

Eixample area: Hostal Fashion House or Hostal Girona.

Uptown/Diagonal: Astoria Hotel

City Center/ Pl. Catalunya: H10 Cataluyna Plaza

La Ribera/ El Born: Hostel Orleans

Meet people

Take a tour, or a class, or if you’re in town a bit longer join Meetup.com and check out the plethora of groups listed for Barcelona. Staying in a hostel also increases your chances of linking up with fellow travelers.

Safety on the beach

This could apply to “solo female travelers” or anyone really. It’s a drag but you can’t leave your belongings unattended at La Barceloneta beach (or any of the beaches in Barcelona) because they will probably be stolen.

You’ve got a few options: 1) skip the beach and go to Park Ciutadella instead, 2) find a friend to go with, 3) leave everything of value at your hotel, including the key at the reception and go with stuff that you don’t mind losing (I doubt they will steal your flip-flops, but you never know), 4) ask the person on the towel next to you to watch your stuff for you while you swim…

Paella for one?

It’s Spanish rice and it’s delicious. Sadly, most restaurants have a two-person minimum for paella orders. This means if you’re “solo” you’re out of luck. Solution? Just have tapas, they’re good, too, and “solo-sized.”

The metro

The metro is safe in Barcelona. However, I have had a couple unpleasant experiences as a “solo female” on the metro late (after 10 p.m.) in the outskirts of town. Stick to the center if it’s late at night and avoid distant stops like Besos or empty metro wagons. Issues with far-off metro stations late is another good reason to book a hotel in the city center.

Getting cat called

I don’t think sexual harassment is that bad in Barcelona. However, that’s not to say it won’t happen, and it takes places more frequently if a woman is alone.

Deal with it however you like. As it is usually in the form of whistling or some guy coming up real close and whispering some obscenity, more often than not I choose to completely ignore him or tell him where to shove it. It’s probably better to ignore him.

Honestly, compared to a lot of destinations Spain is an easy option for women traveling alone, as is most of Europe.

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