Solocation Meaning (Plus Why You Absolutely Need One)

Updated February 28, 2023
About the Author: Denise Cruz has lived in 4 countries and visited 35+ others. After her second sabbatical, she began sharing travel advice at Wander Her Way.

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Solo travel can be both liberating and terrifying. 

On the one hand, you have the freedom to do what you want when you want without having to answer to anyone, which can be very freeing. But, on the other hand, you have a lot of responsibility on your shoulders when you’re all by yourself. 

So if you have never traveled by yourself, a solocation is a great first step!

Traveling alone will change your worldview in ways that you never thought possible. You just have to ease into it.

In this article, you’ll learn the meaning of solocation, the benefits of traveling alone, and ideas to get you started.

Solocation Meaning

A solocation is a solo vacation. It’s a short holiday or weekend getaway that you go on your own. You can go anywhere in the world, explore different cultures, and get to know your true self. Solocation encourages you to get out of your comfort zone and can prepare you for solo travel.

Typically, a solocation can last up to two weeks. Solo travel, however, is a much longer and more immersive experience. So if you have never traveled alone, start with a short solo trip. Before you know it, you’ll have a bucket list of places to go alone!

You might also like: Reasons to Travel Solo

The Benefits of Traveling Alone

So why do you need a solocation? Well, there are many benefits to being in a place you don’t know by yourself. Here are some of the benefits of traveling alone:

Opportunity for Self-Discovery

Traveling alone creates space for self-discovery and learning who you are as a person. And that’s an incredible thing to do. You get to slow everything down and be you. When you spend time with no one but yourself, you’ll start to notice the choices you make on your own. There’s no one to judge you or to offer an opinion. You get to decide where you go, who you talk to, and what you do. As a result, you’ll be more open to experimenting with new things and start to learn what makes you happy. 

Have More Room for Spontaneous Activities

When you’re someone else or in a group, you need to plan at least some of your travel to make sure everyone has a good time. Traveling alone means that you don’t have to plan at all. You don’t have to go to the museum you bought tickets for three months ago. Instead, you can make a spur-of-the-moment decision that will make your trip go in a completely new direction.

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

It’s inevitable: whether you travel alone or not, things go wrong. But that’s part of the fun! When you’re alone, you will feel pressure to resolve the issue, whatever that may be. You will ask for directions if you’re lost and will find a place to sleep if you miss the last flight connection. Traveling alone will challenge your problem-solving skills every step of the way. You will end up doing one thing (or many things!) that scares you each day.

Improve Your Self-Confidence

There is something to be said for heading out into the world on your own with no social safety net. Forging a path in solitude and making your way through unknown terrain can do wonders for your self-confidence and personal authenticity. 

Meet Like-Minded People

Traveling solo doesn’t mean you have to be alone if you don’t want to. On the contrary, there is something about solo travel that makes you more sociable. You become more open to meeting strangers and will make friends in unexpected places.

Disconnect from Work and Life

Solo vacations give you a chance to disconnect from work and life. You can take time off to reflect on your goals, reflect on your habits, figure out your priorities in life, or get away from it all. In addition, you get to listen to podcasts, catch up on your reading, do a little bit of research about your destination. And you can also create a bucket list for your next trip!

You might also like: 24 Inspirational Books Like The Alchemist

You Get to be Totally Selfish (and That is Okay) 

The single best thing about traveling alone is doing what you want when you want. You choose the destination, pick the dates, create the itinerary, and set the budget. You can spend hours at a museum, enjoy a siesta at the park, then splurge at a famous restaurant. Or you can go hiking in the rain and spend the night at a campsite with no cell signal. You set the tone and make the rules. After all, it is your vacation.

Opportunity to Work on Your Creative Projects

Exploring new places reveals inspiration at every corner. So traveling alone is the perfect opportunity for your to get back in touch with your creative side. 

Here are some ideas to channel your creativity:

  • Improve your photography skills. Bring a DSLR camera and take pictures along the way – you can turn them into art or create a fabulous Instagram account.
  • Write. Dust off that journal, write poems and stories. Then combine it all in a travel bullet journal
  • Make music. Bring your guitar along and perform to strangers. 
  • Create art. Yes, you can be one of those people sketching at the beach or painting in the middle of a piazza.
  • Learn something new or improve your skills. Take a sculpture class, a fiction writing course, or learn the Tango. You can do anything you want!

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You Set the Budget

Finally, you decide how much you spend and how. I know the topic is not as inspiring, but money can make or break a trip. When you travel with others, you have to be clear on the budget and expectations of all. If you travel with people with a different spending power than you, you’ll run into trouble at some point. If your travel companions have bigger pockets, you’ll spend the trip worrying about your increasing credit card bill instead of enjoying the trip. On the other hand, if you have a more generous budget than your travel companions, you might pass on experiences to spend time with the group. 

Solo Trip Ideas 

There are many different types of solo vacations you can take. Here are some solo trip ideas for your solo vacation:

Solo Road Trip

A road trip is a fantastic (and super easy!) way to travel alone. All you need is your favorite playlist, a tank full of gas, and a destination. Road trips are a great way to spend time with yourself while getting to know the country you live in. Driving alone has its perks. You decide when to stop for lunch and when you want to stop for the night. You can also stop to admire the sights as much and as often as you wish.

A solo road trip is also an excellent way to get back in touch with your creative side. You can take photos along the way and make art out of them later. 

Solo Weekend Getaway

With our lives being so busy, it’s easy to justify spending all weekend binge-watching Netflix. But why not get out of your town and go on a weekend getaway by yourself? The weekend is perfect for going off and exploring the world on your own. Whether you’re feeling like traveling or just taking some time for yourself, solo travel can be a great way to spend your weekend. It’s only 2 to 3 days, and you can fly or drive somewhere close. Look for places that attract or inspire you, and don’t think about it—just go!

 Solo Group Travel

Traveling in a group is an excellent first step into solo travel. You and everyone else will be traveling along together. The best part is that you can find single and solo group travel for 18-35, over 50, singles, LGTBQ, cycling, wine tasting, wellness, scuba diving, hiking, and any interest you can imagine!

Solo Adventure Trip

Adventure travel is all about staying active, meeting new people, and experiencing new things. If you enjoy camping, hiking, mountain biking, and other outdoor activities, you could just go and do that yourself. You don’t need to go full Reese Whitherspoon “Wild,” but you may not need to join a travel group if you have experience in the activity you enjoy. And that will save you some money, too.

Solo Retreat 

There are many types of travel retreats available for people who want a break from their current lifestyle. The most common retreats are those for religious purposes, reducing stress and improving health, those that focus on wellness and self-care, and those that help one grow spiritually and emotionally. In addition, some retreats offer a week or two of solitude on a secluded beach, while others may offer more formal activities such as meditation, surfing, and yoga.

Solo Volunteer Trip

Volunteer travel is a unique way to see the world from a new perspective. You can learn about other cultures while making a long-term impact on the environment or communities in need. There are many types of volunteer trips out there, catering to all interests and goals. If you’re passionate about a cause, look for an opportunity to travel and do some good!

Solo Staycation

If you’re not comfortable traveling alone (yet!), you can explore the area you live in by yourself. Most of us take for granted where we live, so start looking for things to see and do in your town. Go check out a local museum, eat at a new restaurant by yourself, or take your dog to a new park each weekend. 

You can either book a hotel or stay in your house and just spend time working on your hobbies and enjoying some peace and quiet.

You might also like: Safety Tips for Solo Female Travelers

Solo Trips Destinations

If you are someone who loves exploring the world, don’t let that stop you! Here are solo trip ideas for you:

Orlando, Florida 

Lots of theme parks and attractions to enjoy by yourself. For example, you can get lost in the magic of Harry Potter at Universal Studios or geek out on Star Wars at Disney Works with no one to judge you.

New Orleans

New Orleans is a cheerful destination with lots of cultural activities, fascinating history, and of course, mouth-watering food. 

Costa Rica

The warm tranquil beaches and lush foliage of Costa Rica offer a perfect backdrop for a yoga and surf retreat. You can take a (relatively) short flight from any major US city to this laid-back country, where you can enjoy full days of surfing or challenging your flexibility at heated yoga sessions.

Read also: Reasons to Visit Costa Rica

Solo Trip Captions for Instagram

  1. “Live your life by a compass, not a clock.” – Stephen Covey
  2. “To travel is to live.” – Hans Christian Andersen
  3. “To awaken alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.” – Freya Stark
  4. “Oh, the places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss
  5. “Not all those who wander are lost” – J.R.R. Tolkien
  6. “With age comes wisdom. With travel comes understanding.” – Sandra Lake
  7. “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller
  8. “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” – Susan Sontag
  9. “Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
  10. “People never learn anything by being told, they have to find out for themselves.” – Paulo Coelho

Conclusion

The best part of solo travel is you can go at your own pace and make many new friends along the way. You also get to grow as a person. You learn to be more self-sufficient and rely on yourself for entertainment. Traveling alone provides an opportunity for self-discovery. 

You can explore new things without the pressure you would feel with friends or family around. Solo travel has the potential to be a very fulfilling experience. It forces you to grow and be more open-minded. It can change your view worldview in ways that you never thought possible. A solocation is the perfect way to get the break you need without the commitment of long-term solo travel.

Denise, travel blogger at Wander Her Way

About Denise Cruz

Denise is a marketing executive who escaped corporate to travel the world… twice. A Brazilian native living in the U.S., she’s lived in 4 countries and visited 35+ others. After side-hustling her way to financial independence, she curates solo destination guides, slow travel tips, and travel blogging advice on Wander Her Way. When she’s not on the road, you can find her in Miami with her dog Finnegan.