Essential Solo Travel Tips

Solo Travel Tips from a Photographer on the Road

I spend a lot of time travelling alone. When I am out photographing, whether it is a city waking up before sunrise or a road that catches my attention, I need to move at my own pace. Across more than 45 countries, solo travel has become part of how I work. I still remember the independence of my first solo trip and the pleasure of being able to follow an interest without negotiating the day.

These solo travel tips come from that experience: missed buses, a dead phone, uncomfortable encounters, memorable meals and time spent looking closely. The practical arrangements matter because they leave me more attention for the photographs.

If you are planning your first solo trip, start somewhere that fits your experience. A short visit with straightforward transport can teach you what you enjoy and what you need to prepare differently next time.

Why I Travel Solo

Solo travel strips everything down to essentials. There's no committee, no compromise, no schedule beyond the light and the weather. When I'm alone, I'm more observant. I notice how a street changes mood every ten minutes. I stay longer when something feels right and leave instantly when it doesn't.

Photography is deeply personal. When I travel with my wife, the experience is shared, and that's something I value immensely. But when I'm travelling for work—for photographs that will eventually become fine art prints—I need space to think, to wander, to fail quietly and try again.

Some photographs begin with a planned destination; others come from the stops between them. My road trip wall art collection follows the roads, towns and details that have made me pause.

Keep Your Solitude Quiet

I am selective about telling people that I am travelling alone, particularly in a brief encounter where there is no reason to share my accommodation or plans.

That means being discreet about room numbers, routes and camera equipment. I avoid posting my exact location publicly in real time. It does not mean refusing conversation or withholding information from someone who needs it to help me.

The useful distinction is between public information and a trusted contact. My wife knows where I am staying and what I plan to do. When walking somewhere unfamiliar after dark, I consider the route and the return transport before deciding whether the photograph is worth the extra time outside.

Be Open to People and Keep Control of Your Plans

Most of my encounters while travelling have been good ones. Local help can make a real difference, but accepting one useful suggestion does not oblige me to accept every invitation that follows. An experience in Havana made that distinction clear.

One experience in Havana, just after COVID, locked that lesson in for good.

A local hotel employee struck up a conversation on the street. He was friendly, well-spoken, and genuinely helpful. Cuba was still finding its footing again, and good cigars were challenging to come by. He offered to help, and to his credit, he did. We walked, talked, and eventually found cigars I never would have located on my own. That part was of real value—no complaints there.

Afterwards, I offered to buy him lunch as a thank-you. He suggested a small café run by a "friend." The moment we sat down, the tone shifted. Prices were wildly inflated, and before the food even arrived, another friend appeared—this one far more aggressive—pushing a currency exchange I had no interest in. I declined politely. He persisted.

That freedom to choose the route is also part of what appeals to me in the road trip travel quotes I have collected. In practice, it includes being willing to change direction when a situation becomes uncomfortable.

Later, while talking about photography, the original guy mentioned an event happening that night—something he thought I'd want to photograph. It sounded plausible. Interesting, even. So later that evening, I went.

There was no event.

What there was, however, was one of the same sketchy friends from the café, standing nearby, watching. That was enough. No confrontation. No questions. I didn't hesitate—I flagged a cab immediately and relocated to a different part of the city.

Nothing bad happened, and I was glad I had left.

I cannot know what would have happened if I had stayed. The lesson for me was that I did not need to settle that question before leaving. I could appreciate the earlier help and still decide that the later situation did not suit me.

If you feel pressured, you are allowed to decline, end the conversation or move to somewhere you feel more comfortable. There is no obligation to keep a plan simply because you have already agreed to part of it.

Prepare Deeply—Then Let Go

Preparation matters when you are the person responsible for every connection, booking and change of plan. I want the essential logistics settled before I start looking for photographs.

Before a trip, I research neighbourhoods, transport and possible locations. I keep hotel addresses and important bookings available offline, with a paper copy of essentials. Map pins are useful, but they are only a starting point: opening hours, walking routes and local access can change. I also check current destination advice and leave enough flexibility in the budget to change transport or accommodation if needed.

Once those basics are covered, I do not plan every hour. A useful itinerary gives the day a framework while leaving room for something I could not have predicted.

Some of my strongest images were never planned. They came from wrong turns, quiet streets, and unexpected detours. I've stood in crowds of photographers waiting for a famous shot—and taken it—but the images that resonate most often come from walking one block further than everyone else.

That balance works better for me than either extreme: a timetable with no breathing room or arriving without knowing how to reach the hotel. Leave time for delays and money for an alternative when the first plan falls through.

Pack for Reality, Not Ideals

I pack for the way I will actually move. A kit that works in a vehicle may be tiring to carry through a city all day. Comfortable layers, practical footwear and a manageable bag matter more than bringing equipment for every imagined possibility.

When I'm overlanding in remote areas, my vehicle carries everything I might need. When I'm walking through European cities for days on end, my kit shrinks to the essentials: one or two lenses, a compact tripod, and an iPad.

I don't dress for style. I dress to stay warm, dry, and moving. I'll wear the same clothes for days if it means comfort and focus. No photograph has ever improved because my shoes looked good.

I have restructured my workflow around mobility and no longer carry a laptop. My iPad handles my on-the-road editing and backup work. Whatever device you use, check the process before departure and keep another copy of photographs separate from the card or drive you are currently using.

Always Carry an Emergency Layer

I carry a small reserve of local currency separately from the money I use throughout the day. The amount depends on the place and the cost of a ride, a meal or another night of accommodation; there is no single figure that suits every destination.

Cards and ATMs are useful, but I do not assume they will be available everywhere. That is especially relevant outside cities and on remote routes. A second payment method and some accessible emergency funds give me options when the first method fails.

That emergency layer buys options: a ride, a meal, a night indoors. It also buys calm. Knowing you have an exit plan changes how you move through the world.

Information is just as important. In many places, locals—hotel staff, drivers, shop owners—know far more than anything online. Ask. Listen. Adjust.

Stay Healthy on the Road

First Aid Kit

A compact first aid kit belongs in my bag alongside the practical camera accessories. Dressings, blister care and any medicines I normally need are easier to arrange before a trip than after a long day on foot. Choose supplies you know how to use and check destination rules for medication before travelling.

Long walking days are physically demanding. I carry a refillable bottle and use water I know is safe. The Government of Canada’s food and water guidance is a useful reference when local water quality or food handling is uncertain. A busy restaurant alone is not proof that its food is safe.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance needs to fit the trip, not just appear on a packing checklist. Read the policy for the length of travel, destinations, activities, medical conditions, evacuation cover and exclusions. Keep the assistance number and policy details somewhere you can reach without relying on one phone.

I have relied on insurance included with my American Express card for my own travel. That is a personal arrangement, not a recommendation to assume every card offers the same cover. Check the current certificate and eligibility for your particular trip; the Canadian travel-insurance guide explains the questions to ask.

Allow Time to Rest

Rest is part of the plan. I take breaks rather than treating exhaustion as evidence of a successful day. When travelling alone, it is easy to keep going because nobody else suggests stopping; deciding to finish early can be the better choice for tomorrow’s photographs.

Always Have a Working Phone

A working phone connection helps with navigation, translation, transport and keeping in touch. I arrange it before I need it, while also keeping essential addresses and maps available offline. Mobile data is useful, but coverage and batteries still have limits.

These days, I rely almost entirely on eSIM packages purchased before I even leave home. On a recent trip through Korea and Japan, I activated one eSIM that covered both countries for an entire month, and it worked flawlessly the moment I landed. No airport kiosks. No SIM swapping. No downtime.

I prefer having mobile data available rather than depending entirely on public Wi-Fi. Before buying a travel eSIM, check whether it includes voice calls and texts or is data-only. A data plan does not automatically provide a local phone number or ordinary calling service. I make sure I understand how to contact accommodation, my wife and local help with the setup I am using.

Check that your phone supports the chosen eSIM and is unlocked for another carrier, and read the activation instructions before leaving. Some plans begin their validity when installed; others begin when they connect at the destination. Choose the plan around your route and actual needs rather than assuming the same package works everywhere.

Stay Connected, Even When You're Not

When I'm travelling solo, staying in touch isn't optional—it's essential. I share locations with my wife. I check in regularly. Not because something will happen, but because if it does, someone knows where to start looking.

In remote areas, I carry a Garmin inReach Mini 2. Its satellite messaging and SOS functions require an active subscription and a clear view of the sky, so I check the plan and test the device before a trip. It is another communication option, not a promise of instant contact in every setting.

The freedom to walk at my own pace is visible in my street photography collection. These photographs come from noticing people, buildings and ordinary moments as I move through a place.

A check-in arrangement is useful only if the other person knows what to expect. I want my wife to know the broad route and when I expect to be in contact, especially if part of the journey will be outside mobile coverage.

Battery Power is a Safety Essential

A charged phone is one of the simplest preparations I can make, but it is easy to overlook during a long day out.

I learned that the hard way in Istanbul after walking more than 20 kilometres in a single day and running my cell phone completely flat at night. My hotel details, saved locations, and map pins were all trapped inside a device that was suddenly useless. I eventually found my way back, but the stress was entirely self-inflicted.

That experience changed how I travel. Now, I never walk out the door without a small, pocket-sized battery pack and the right cable. It lives in my bag, not my hotel room. That one item means I can top up my phone anywhere—on a bench, in a café, on a curb—before a low battery turns into a problem. My phone, camera, and backup devices stay powered when it matters most.

I still carry a compact power strip with USB ports for the hotel, especially in places where outlets are limited, but that's background infrastructure. The real safeguard during long days on foot is the portable battery you carry. When you're travelling alone, staying powered isn't about convenience—it's about staying functional.

Eat Like a Local, Trust Your Instincts

Food is one of the pleasures of travel, and eating alone need not be an awkward part of the day. I look for somewhere comfortable and pay attention to cleanliness and food handling. Popularity can help me choose where to look, but it cannot guarantee a safe meal.

I sometimes use Tripadvisor as a starting point. In Istanbul, I found a restaurant that way and returned three times. Reviews and a busy dining room can offer clues about a place, but I still look at what is being prepared and choose food served thoroughly cooked and hot when conditions are uncertain.

Some of my strongest food memories came from places that barely qualified as restaurants. In Beijing, I found a tiny food stall—no more than four feet wide—selling Peking duck. I ordered one. The woman chopped it up on the spot, dropped it into a clear plastic bag, and handed it over. I spent the next hour walking the streets, eating duck straight from the bag. To this day, it's still the best Peking duck I've ever had.

In Mexico, I once stopped at a man selling chicken from the back of his car, with local people waiting in line. I enjoyed the meal. Looking back, that is a memory of the trip, not a rule for judging food safety: a queue does not tell you how ingredients were stored or handled.

Those meals remain vivid because they were connected to the place and the people. I can value the memory without suggesting that everyone should make the same choice. A sensible limit does not make a trip less interesting.

If you are unsure, choosing another meal is easy to justify. Enjoying unfamiliar food and paying attention to how it is prepared can go together.

Be Approachable

Being friendly has opened more doors for me than any piece of gear I own.

A smile, patience, and curiosity go a long way—especially when travelling alone. Local people notice when you're respectful. They help when they can. They share things no map will show you.

Solo travel doesn't mean isolation. It means engagement on your terms.

Meet People / Day Tours

A walking tour, local class or guided day can bring conversation into an otherwise independent trip. In Croatia, I hired a local guide and spent the day talking about the city. That gave me company and local knowledge without having to organise the whole trip around a group. Choose an activity and operator that suit your interests, and make your own arrangements for getting back afterwards.

Give Yourself Time

My final solo travel tip is patience.

When I travel for photography, I arrive early. I let jet lag pass. I walk without shooting. I learn the rhythm of a place before trying to capture it.

Rest improves my attention. A slower first day often helps me settle into a place more effectively than trying to cover every landmark immediately.

Photography rewards those who slow down enough to notice what others miss. Traveling alone gives you that luxury—if you let it.

Final Thoughts

Solo travel has taught me to pay attention: to places, to people and to my own limits. The independence matters, but so does having arrangements that let me change course when I need to.

That attention to actual places and encounters is also how I approach photography. I discuss it further in Is AI Killing Photography? Why Real Moments Still Matter. The photographs I want to bring home depend on being present for something that happened.

Give yourself enough preparation to feel settled and enough room to look around. A good solo trip does not have to be dramatic. It needs to work for the person taking it.