Up until 2017
, solo trips were kind of like a handsome stranger who hovers in the back of the room at parties. People knew about them, but they weren’t acted upon very much. However, for contemporary travelers, solo trips have become far more popular.
How long a solo trip should be depends on multiple factors. Money, time off from work, and your own personal comfort zone all enter the equation. Today’s average solo trip lasts about 2 weeks. If you plan on traveling overseas, give yourself at least that long.
If you’ve decided to travel solo and have never done it before, the initial challenges can seem quite daunting. Though not all of these challenges are exactly paper tigers, they can be overcome; all it takes is a bit of foresight. In this article, I will cover the importance of planning ahead, plus some ways to budget your time during the trip, so let’s get started!
How To Decide How Long Your Solo Trip Should Be
As I briefly mentioned in the beginning of this article, when it comes to deciding how long your trip should be, there’s a wide array of factors you’ll want to take into account, some of which you might’ve already considered. So let’s make a neat, simple list of things to consider pertaining to time.
- How far you intend to travel
- How much time you actually have
- How much money you actually have
- Your personality and interests
In the movie “Crocodile Dundee”, the protagonist mentions going on a walkabout for 18 weeks. Very few of us have that much time for a solo trip. So how long should the adventure be?
As mentioned, if you’re going overseas, give it at least 2 weeks. Jet lag after a long flight can last up to 5 days, which certainly won’t add to the joy of your experience. And then there’s the feeling of being rushed—again, not a welcome emotion on one of these one-person extravaganzas.
You won’t need 2 weeks if you plan to stay inside the country (though it depends on what you plan to see and how you plan to travel). One week is perfectly viable for these shorter adventures.
However, whether you’ve decided upon 18 weeks or 2 weeks or 1 week, laying a little groundwork in advance will help you get the most out of your time.
1. Budgeting Time on a Solo Trip
There are people in this world who can—and do—rush into solo trips with little to no preparation. Indeed, for these people, there is no better way to go swimming than climb straight up the high-dive and jump with eyes closed. However, I suggest you plan your trip in advance, especially if this is your first excursion into unchaperoned territory.
Do Some Research
In his ancient book “The Art Of War”, Sun Tzu wrote: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles”.
Your solo trip destination is by no means your enemy, but Sun Tzu’s wisdom still applies. For instance: If a person living in Walla Walla, Washington, decides to take a trip to Rome, Italy; said person would be well served by doing some research on Rome before embarking. That way, he or she may know things like:
- The city is full of tourists, especially on Wednesdays and Sundays, when Pope Francis appears at the Vatican
- The city is full of scammers who try to sell travelers “tourist packages” that don’t exist
- You don’t need to leave tips for waiters in Rome (they already make good money)
- Wear covered clothing, as it is not appropriate to be “dressed down” in Roman churches and museums
As things relate to how much time to spend on a solo trip, knowing more about your destination diminishes the chances of getting lost or wasting hours picking out the perfect hotel. You get the idea.
Tell Friends and Family
So you’ve cracked a few books about where you plan to go and have a full itinerary worked out. On Monday you’re going to see the Vatican. On Tuesday it’ll be the Colosseum. For Wednesday, it’s the Rome Underground Tour.
You’re progressing nicely so far. However, don’t forget to let friends and family back home know where you will be and on which day. Do this before you leave (but try to contact them at least once per day afterward).
Let them know when your plane is supposed to land and at which hotel—or hostel or wherever—you’ll be staying. Giving loved ones at home an idea of where you’re going to be and when creates some peace of mind on both sides.
Have a Plan B
As you go about your little viaggio in solitaria, you’ll have your fingers crossed (way in the back of your mind) for smooth sailing. After all, you’re going to lose time should things not go according to plan.
If the museum is closed for the day, or the suntan got canceled by rainy weather, you need not waste the day twitching curtains at the window. That is, not if you arrived with a backup plan.
Even if your vacation is for a whole month, it’ll likely be a long time before you get another 4 weeks free for a solo trip. Have something to fall back on in case your original plans don’t push through. That way, you’re getting the most out of your free time (though I do not recommend running around in a mad rush, either—more on this soon).
2. Time Scheduling Tips for Traveling Alone
Besides having a plan B, there are other things solo travelers just like you keep in mind while they’re out and about. Things that help them save time without making the whole experience seem frantic. And speaking of frantic…
Don’t Rush Around
If your travel destination has a lot of things to see over a large area, you’ve got your answer when it comes to how to decide how long a solo trip should be. In other words, give yourself the time to see as much as possible.
Alternatively, if you’re okay with cramming a robust itinerary into a tight week or five days, great. Just remember: These solo trips should be more than just zipping from one exotic place to the next. You’re out here to do a little soul searching, too, right? Did you give yourself enough time?
Take it easy and try to enjoy the present. Absorb the wondrous surroundings. Your troubles aren’t going anywhere, but this is a temporary respite from the bonds of their tyranny. Schedule time enough to enjoy it.
Make Sure You’ve Got the Money
When scheduling the length of your trip, the amount of money in your bank account is sure to pipe up with a few opinions. It’d be wise to listen.
The flight alone from Boston, Massachusetts, to Tokyo, Japan takes over 20 hours, with ticket prices over $1,000 for a round trip. So: How much money do you have for your trip, and how many days do you think that money will last?
Try to miscalculate on the positive side. This way, you won’t find yourself wandering around the Akihabara District with your pockets empty and your soul sliding away.
Talk Things Over With Your Boss
None of the above—and I mean none of it—matters in the slightest if you can’t get time off work. Don’t schedule a two-week trip to Tierra del Fuego without first ensuring you can get that much time, plus one or two days’ re-acclimation, away from your job.
Should you come back to work late, your boss will not be quelled by stories of your fabulous adventure. Rather, they may present you with a crisp sheet of pink paper to sign. Was Tierra del Fuego worth it?
Yeah, okay. Maybe it was. But try Las Vegas next year.
Places You Can Visit on a Short-Time Budget
I mentioned Las Vegas for a reason: For those of us who can’t get away from real life for longer than a few days, Vegas can work just fine.
It can—but there are better places to go for the solo traveler on a time budget. It is even possible to leave the country, even if you have less than a week to be away. If you don’t have much time to spend on a solo trip, you can still visit some fine places in different countries. Places such as:
- Cancun, Mexico
- Toronto, Canada
- Costa Rica
- The British Virgin Islands
These are only a few examples. Where you decide to go with your free time will depend heavily on what you like to do.
Is the beach your thing? Cancun. Prefer to shop instead? Toronto. What about swimming and diving? Try those British Virgin Islands. Costa Rica is well-known for its gorgeous national parks. For a complete list of the top beach destinations for solo travelers, check out my comprehensive guide. [XX Best Solo Beach Vacation Spots in the US].
In each of these cases, your timeframe is already decided. However, if the clock remains open for discussion, and you’re still unsure about how much time to put aside for your solo trip, keep reading. I have a few more tips.
Outline Before You Leave
Your solo trip is a pretty big deal. You’ll soon be exploring unfamiliar territory with nothing but some loose, comfy clothing and a spirit of adventure. An outline can do wonders to reveal how long the trip is going to take.
If you’re interested in seeing a place you’ve never been to, collect some data highlighting the aspects you fancy the most. You’ll also want to know how long it’ll take to travel there and back.
Ready to do some typing? Outline the journey from start to end, using days as “chapters” in a book. Day one: I want to do this, this, and this. Day two: Go here, here, and there.
Once the outline is complete, you should have a good idea of how long the trip is going to take…and how much time to put aside. Now all there is left to do is ask your boss—sweetly, oh so sweetly—for a break. Don’t forget to buy flowers.
Ask Others About Their Experience
Okay, so this one might fall into the “Do Some Research” category above, but I’ll include it here for you subheading skimmers.
If you’re planning a solo trip to Tokyo or wherever, track down someone who’s already “been there and done that.” Ask them about their experience. Keep your questions time-related at first because, hey, we’re still trying to decide how long your solo trip should be.
Who knows? Maybe their information will put you off the whole idea of going. You’ll pick a different place and end up having so much more fun. “Know Before You Go” is the name of the game, my friend.
“But…but I want to be spontaneous!”
Who said that? You in the back! Stand up!
Look, solo trips are spontaneous whether you want them to be or not. You’re traveling by train across Asia or on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean (pack an extra pair of binoculars). You’ve got spontaneity. [XX Best Greek Island Cruises for Solo Travelers]
Now you also have a solid idea about how long the trip will take. Friends and family will know when to expect you home. Your boss will keep their pink slips on their desk. And you, gentle reader, can fully enjoy your solo trip, keeping it on a long leash rather than letting it run completely wild.
Final Thoughts
Solo trips can last anywhere from three days to an entire month. The whole package depends on how much money and freedom you have, and where you intend to go. While traveling alone may conjure some fairly wanton, exciting spirits of the soul, don’t neglect to lay plans.
Surprises are no fun—nor is getting lost in a strange place after dark. To quote that old Cat Stevens song: “Ooh baby, baby, it’s a wild world”. Don’t give it too much freedom to do with you as it will.