Solo travel can make for a brilliant experience as you get to set your own itinerary, discover the world and learn plenty about yourself.
No wonder it's increasingly popular; research from Booking.com found that out of 20,500 international travellers, 40 per cent took a solo trip last year, with 21 per cent planning to travel alone.
However, travelling by yourself can be quite daunting, with safety being one of the main concerns putting people off.
Luckily, the team at the Baltic Travel Company are on hand to help, with their top tips for solo travellers on everything from general safety tips to easy tricks that could make life a little easier.
We take a look at their top tips below…
Planning a solo trip? You may also want to check out our guide to the best destinations for solo travellers .
1. Be adventurous but don't take risks
You can pick somewhere challenging to explore, while still being safe.
For example, Greenland has rugged terrain and scarce transport, but is hailed as a safe destination. Scandinavia and the Baltics are also great options, especially for solo female travellers, as the locals are friendly and there's a high proportion of English speakers.
If you've got your heart set on a particular location, make sure to read the FCO travel advice for that country before you go to check the embassy's guidelines including whether it's deemed 'safe' for Brits.
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2. Research and plan everything
It may feel like you're sacrificing being spontaneous, but you can still prepare a trip without taking the magic of exploring on a whim. Check review sites such as TripAdvisor to scope out issues such as unreliable transport/dodgy guides, and make a note of the services that have relatively good English speakers in case you did need help in an emergency.
3. Think about your location
If you’re thinking of going to festivals and events, think about finding somewhere nearby to stay that won’t require long walks or public transport journeys late at night by yourself.
Finding accommodation that's central can cut down the amount of late-night travel you may have to do, plus it can make it easier to walk everywhere for a budget-friendly perk!
Try and organise transfers for when you arrive – being met by someone who you’ve vetted beforehand to transport you can make you feel more confident in starting the journey.
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4. Remember your offline back-ups
Although a mobile phone is great for up-to-date information, recommendations and a way of staying in touch with others, make sure to have some back-ups should your battery run out or the signal lets you down.
Download useful things like restaurant recommendations and maps offline (there are plenty of apps that allow this).
Try and carry as little expensive tech on you as possible.
5. Think about what you pack
Travel light! If you can pack hand luggage only, it’s quicker to get through the airport and easier to keep track of your belongings. You also won’t run into problems if your suitcase gets lost.
However, make sure you still have the appropriate gear you need; if you're travelling somewhere like the Nordics or Arctic for an adventure, you don't want to risk running into issues if the weather isn't great.
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6. Using money
Try and use your bank card for the most part, and try not to carry too much cash (although you should always have some cash in reserve for emergencies).
Take more than one card with you in case you run into issues with the first.
If you're visiting a city, you may want to consider a metro or city card as these often include multiple attractions and public transport options in an all-inclusive price.
You're likely to encounter single supplements when you travel. These are on average around £400 for accommodation in Europe, but they can be as low as £200 if you book early.
Package tours are more likely to offer a lower cost overall, as the supplements can add up over longer trips.
You can also buddy up with other solo travellers with some companies, so if you’re looking to make new friends, this can be a good option to investigate.
8. Travel insurance
Travel insurance is important should you have any problems such as cancelled flights, lost or stolen belongings, or even health issues. It's important to have it before you travel – not to mention it will give you some peace of mind.
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