Solo travel is what made me fall in love with travel. Not being at the whims of a group or trying to rally for the sake of my travel buddy’s very different energy levels made exploring the world so much more enjoyable. The freedom of solo travel made me relish in the sights around me and kept me on my toes in a way I’d never experienced before.
Solo adventures are very different but can be just as thrilling as trips with your besties, partner, or family. Solo trips, however, can also be a bit daunting, especially if you’ve never forged ahead alone.
But, even if you’re exploring a new place solo, it doesn’t mean you have to be alone all the time. Solo travel is a great way to meet new people and connect with like-minded travelers.
On the travel days when you find yourself wishing you had someone to talk to or share your experiences with, we recommend having the following apps handy during your travels. These are the best apps for traveling solo.
Nord VPN
A VPN app is an essential tool for anyone traveling solo who wants to stay secure, maintain their privacy, access restricted content, and potentially save money.
Tourlina
Tourlina connects solo female travelers based on destination and travel dates. Similarly, you can use Bumble BFF.
Travello
Travello is similar to Tourlina in that it matches you with other solo travelers based on your interests but it is not exclusive to women.
Wild Women Adventures
Wild Women Adventures connects women who love outdoor adventures with their group tours that are led by women.
Black Girls Travel Too
Black Girls Travel Too connects Black women across the globe with epic adventures and a strong online community.
Meetup
Meetup has a great section dedicated to LGBTQIA+ travel and meet-up groups. You can search based on your interests as well so you have more in common than just being solo.
Facebook Groups
Facebook has SO many solo travel groups that you’re bound to find one that’s right for you. Don’t be shy and introduce yourself in groups like:
- The Solo Female Traveler Network
- The Solo Female Travelers Group
- The Over 60 group
- The Plus-Size group
- The Travel Meetups group
Safety travel apps
One great thing about the age of smartphones is that they’ve allowed for a whole slew of new apps that keep solo travelers safe. One such app is MayDay. If you ever find yourself in an unsafe situation, the app alerts your emergency contacts and sends your location info to them. Noonlight is a similar app that also partners with Tinder to keep you safe on dates.
There is also the TripWhistle app which gives you the emergency contact info of officials in whichever country you’re located and lets you dial the right contact with just one click.