Solo style Profile
The Independent Adventurer
No committee meeting required.
Your favorite luxury is freedom of movement. You enjoy new places, unexpected discoveries, and the ability to change plans without consulting anyone. You don’t need every outing to be epic; an unfamiliar neighborhood and a free afternoon can be adventure enough.
- Your Solo Superpower
- Turning curiosity into experiences.
- Possible weakness
- A perfectly ordinary errand can develop into a day trip.
From the archive ·
A Little Solo History
Nellie Bly packed light
In November 1889, journalist Nellie Bly set off on a journey around the world, hoping to beat the fictional itinerary in Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days. She traveled without a companion, with one small hand bag and the one dress she was wearing, and returned on January 25, 1890, after 72 days, 6 hours and 11 minutes. A rival reporter, Elizabeth Bisland, raced her the other way around the world and finished in 76 days. Her heavily publicized journey challenged assumptions about what a woman could undertake independently.
Editorial sources
The guide
Go Somewhere Wonderful. Go Yourself.
The best solo adventures are easier when you travel light, make decisions confidently, and spend on experiences that matter to you.
Keep a short list of easy adventures
Places you can visit without elaborate planning.
Seek experiences that welcome parties of one
Walking tours, classes, small-group outings, and day trips.
Choose genuinely manageable luggage
Freedom of movement and less physical friction.
Make it easier to capture your own memories
A sensible phone tripod or compact remote, where permitted.
Spend on the experience rather than the equipment
A memorable outing, guided experience, or special activity.
The itinerary is yours. So is the decision to ignore it.
Further reading
- How to Travel Alone With Only a Carry-OnTraveling solo means carrying everything yourself, every time. How to pack a week or more into one carry-on you can lift, roll and keep an eye on alone.
- How to Take Good Photos of Yourself Traveling AloneTraveling solo and tired of arm's-length selfies? How to get real, well-framed photos of yourself on a trip alone, with a timer, a tripod and a few tricks.
- How to Pick a Small-Group Tour When You're Traveling SoloWant company on the trip without giving up your independence? How to choose a small-group tour as a solo traveler: group size, room policy, pace and age range.