What I learned from travelling solo

Travelling solo is something I believe everyone should do at least once. Not only did I get to see some incredible things and meet some lovely people on my first solo trip, I also returned home feeling empowered.

Since then, I’ve tried to squeeze in solo trips whenever I can, from celebrating birthdays in Greece to work trips to Seoul – and it still hasn’t got old. With Singles’ Day on the horizon, a solo trip is a fantastic way to combine the joys of travel with inner reflection and personal growth. To make your trip even more rewarding, we’ve lined up Singles’ Day offers covering everything from hotels to even rental cars. 

Here are a few things I’ve learned from travelling solo, as well as some tips I wish someone had shared with me before I set off.

Do your research, but be open to the unknown

Before venturing anywhere new, it’s important to get a feel for the place. Social media is a great place for this – I save everything from Instagram posts and Tik Tok videos to articles about cool openings and upcoming events in the destination I’m travelling to. Once you have your shortlist, pin key locations on Google Maps to see if there’s a particular neighbourhood that has a lot of highlights clustered around it. If so, this is where you should stay.

This method has served me well, but nothing beats speaking to people when you arrive in your destination to seek out some hidden gems. It’s how I discovered the best scallion pancakes in Seoul – at an underground restaurant in Hongdae I would have never found on my own.

Sometimes you’ll even find people willing to accompany you on activities that are more fun with others, like exploring Tokyo’s Golden Gai or cycling around Amsterdam. Group tours are also a fantastic way to meet people, as well as to put the task of planning into the hands of an experienced guide for a little while. You don’t necessarily have to be alone even if you’re travelling solo. 

Things don’t go to plan. Most of the time, that’s alright

Travelling can be stressful, of course, but there’s less pressure to make everything perfect if you’re on your own and can take your time. I created a travel spreadsheet that was broken down hour by hour for my Japan trip, but the experience was infinitely more enjoyable when I instead went with the flow and relaxed. The world wouldn’t end if I didn’t make it to one specific ramen restaurant. My trip wasn’t going to be a waste if I missed one of the landmarks on my list. Some of the most rewarding moments were those that arose from unforeseen issues and throwing myself headlong into the unknown.

A good hotel is worth its weight in gold

The right accommodation can make or break a solo trip; doing your research is important and reviews are an insightful way to feel out the vibe of a particular place. Choosing a comfortable, centrally located hotel is worthwhile – a helpful, knowledgeable concierge can also be instrumental when deciding what to do each day.

While it’s natural to want to spend less on your accommodation, remember: your hotel room is your home and safe space while you’re on holiday. If you choose to book your hotel through Cathay Holidays between 1 and 14 November 2024, and are travelling between 1 November 2024 and 31 January 2025, you can also redeem up to 11 per cent off your hotel with Asia Miles when you use the promocode DOUBLE11CX4L: an easy way to justify upgrading to nicer accommodation.

Listen to your body and your instincts

When you’re on your own, you might feel like you need to fill every minute with activities. Don’t. From my solo travels, I’ve learnt the importance of taking things at a slower pace. Paying attention to your body is crucial and there’s no need to feel guilty about taking a couple of hours to sit by the pool or have a nap, especially if it means you’ll be supercharged for the exciting activities that come next. 

Look into travel insurance and keep an eye out for perks

If something goes wrong, stress can overwhelm a trip very quickly – which is where insurance can come in handy, helping solve issues so you can focus on your journey. Chubb Travel Insurance, which you can secure through Cathay (earning bonus Asia Miles in the process), provides personal accident coverage of up to HK$2,200,000* for Cathay members and offers different tiers of insurance depending on the type of holiday you’re taking.

Cathay member perks can also make other things easier, such as renting a car. If you book a car through the designated website where Hertz and Cathay Holidays collaborate between 1 November and 15 December 2024 and use it throughout the same period, you could enjoy a 10 per cent discount off your car as well as earn up to 3,000 miles (or in some instances, up to seven times the Asia Miles). 

Ahead of Singles Day, you’ll find other bonuses on items like hotel packages, with the opportunity to earn triple the Asia Miles on select offerings, and triple the miles on the hotels, experiences and packages featured here.  

* 1. Terms and conditions apply.

2. The above information is for reference only. Please refer to the Policy Wording for the exact coverage, terms, conditions and exclusions. 

3. The above insurance plan is underwritten by Chubb Insurance Hong Kong Limited (“Chubb”). Cathay Pacific Airways is an insurance agency (License No.: FA3522) authorised by Chubb for the distribution of general insurance products in HKSAR. Chubb reserves the right of final approval.