My Experience: Conquering Loneliness While Solo Traveling
In late 2021, during my first solo trip, I started finding Ways to Travel Alone Without Being Lonely - in the way that works best for me, even when sometimes it gets lonely or I'm searching for places that suit me best. Now, as I've hit the road again after a long break and needed reminders (first and foremost for myself), I'm sharing some new ways I've found and continue to discover.
Coliving: Creating a Home Away From Home
The choice of Coliving spaces really dependents on your travel duration, but they're shared with community spaces with people from all over the world... It's like a more residential, private "hostel," with people renting for short to medium terms (and sometimes long-term) instead of getting an Airbnb/hotel alone. For me, it was exactly what I needed for the sense of belonging. Each coliving space has a completely different style, with shared spaces and community events, so you can find what suits you and connect with others. This year, discovering VIVARIUM Valencia - I've found the one, offering a perfect blend of privacy and a like-minded vibrant community.
[Image: A vision board session I hosted at Vivarium Coliving Valencia, December 2024]
Apps & Tools for Meeting People
Dinner Time - Timeleft is an app that sends you to dinner with 5 strangers of similar ages and interests... You sign up and meet them at a restaurant chosen by the app (a different restaurant each week!).
Creative Lunch Hub - Not from experience, but for creative professionals who stay in the same destination for a while, the platform connects you with 2 other people once a month for a shared lunch. I have a friend here who got a collaboration for local art events out of it.
Apps for Connection - Bumble BFF has been a popular & brave way to meet people, both locals and fellow travellers. In every destination I go to, I also use Classpass for Pilates classes, and that's how I get to know the instructor and feel a bit at home.
Local Experiences & Community
Language Exchanges - I'm currently still in Spain and this is perhaps the highlight of meeting people. There are several events happening simultaneously each day, each with a completely different niche (just for learning, socializing with parties afterward, student events, etc.). Basically, you sit around tables usually in a bar and speak half the evening in Spanish and half in English to practice the language.
Local Events - Through Eventbrite and Meetup, I've discovered many local events based on my interests, and the highlight for me often was women's circles! I sometimes check what's available in my area based on my interests. Here's a photo from a women's circle in Brisbane, Australia, in 2023 which was a very intimate, connecting, and inspiring special atmosphere. (If anyone's in Brisbane, I'd be happy to share Candy the organizer's phone number)
[Image: Women's circle in Brisbane, Australia, June 2023]
Which ones of the options would you try? I'd love to hear about your experiences! And if you're planning a solo trip to Valencia (or Madrid, Australia, Thailand….), feel free to reach out - I'm always happy to share more details about Vivarium and the local community here, or about solo travelling, in general ;)
XX,
@Noya Urieli
