2025-03-05T14:22:27Z Read in app I have traveled to many countries by myself and learned a lot about solo travel. Lisa VanderVeen This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? I hadn't planned on becoming a midlife solo traveler it was a byproduct of my divorce.Now, I love solo travel and have seen more than 20 countries by myself.I've learned to book guided day trips and small group tours and to dine with a book or journal.The Thanksgiving after my 20-year marriage imploded, I flew solo to Brussels.I'd never traveled alone, but the thought of facing the holiday without my family gutted me, so I booked a plane ticket.The trip was transformative. Since then, I've traveled solo to 21 countries, and each trip has made me stronger.Now, my favorite way to travel is by myself. Flying off into the world alone, the choices are all mine where I go, what I see, how I eat, where I stay.Here are some of the best solo travel tips I've learned along the way.Start where you are.One of my first solo trips was to Canada's Prince Edward Island. Peter Unger/Getty Images If you haven't traveled extensively, choose a destination at least somewhat close to home (or somewhere you're comfortable driving to) for your first trip alone. It can help travel feel less intimidating and more manageable.One of my early solo trips was to Canada's Prince Edward Island. I drove from my home in New Jersey and ferried back to Maine from Nova Scotia.I toured every "Anne of Green Gables" filming site on PEI and loved having my car so I could travel at my own pace.Small group tours mix social opportunities with alone time.Group tours can include activities you didn't think to plan. Artaporn Puthikampol/Getty Images Group tours can be really helpful if you want a break from traveling alone or feel intimidated when planning a trip in a place where you don't speak the language.Although some tours can be huge and generic, I prefer ones with small groups (a maximum of about 12 people) that are geared toward niche interests such as photography or wellness.I like that guides handle the planning logistics, and the tours come with readymade travel companions.I've traveled with small group tours through Vietnam, Cambodia, Bolivia, Romania, and Laos, paying a small single supplement so I can have my own room. This gives me a perfect mix of social and alone time.Guided day trips with locals can help take you off the beaten path.I had a great time in Cappadocia, Turkey. standret/Getty Images In my opinion, tours with local guides are some of the best ways to have a personalized, less-touristy experience in a new place.I had an incredible guide in Cappadocia, Turkey, who modified his original itinerary as I shared my interests.I love history and nature, so he added remote hikes and hidden ruins. He even took me to his childhood home, an ancient cave house he was renovating into a hotel.By the end of the trip, I considered him a friend.Food tours and cooking classes can help you dive into local markets and cultures.Cooking classes can be informative and tasty. Thomas Barwick/Getty Images I book a food tour or a cooking class on every trip.My favorites incorporate a stop at a local market to select ingredients and/or explain culinary heritage.Food tours are generally on foot, which can help me orient myself and learn to navigate a new city. These are also especially great to book when I worry about jetlag and want to stay awake after an overnight flight.One of my favorite food tours was in Krakow, Poland, where the guide began with a typical "happy hour" and ended with what his grandmother would serve for Christmas dinner. It felt like a brilliant glimpse of real life in Krakow.I've found ways to find solitude while also being near others when it comes to outdoor adventures, too.I feel better about going on a hike when I know others are nearby. Aaron Geddes Photography/Getty Images If you're looking to explore nature by yourself but are a bit worried about doing so alone, consider booking transportation to and from a hike.For example, I wanted to hike the Samaria Gorge in Crete but was worried about doing a 10-mile solo hike on slippery river rock.So, I booked a bare-bones tour that included transportation to and from the Gorge. Although I was alone, I had the comfort of knowing there were other hikers nearby (who had also been dropped off) in the case of an emergency.I hiked for four and a half hours, stopping to take photos, fill my water bottle, have a snack, or explore a beautiful natural pool all at my own pace.If having dinner alone intimidates you, bring a book or travel journal.A good book can make dining alone feel less awkward. O_Lypa/Getty Images The stress of dining alone was a hindrance for me when I began my solo travels. Now, I view it as an opportunity to catch up in my travel journal while I sample exactly the type of meal I'm in the mood for.In my experience, servers can be particularly attentive to solo diners and many have given me excellent meal suggestions.Eating alone often invites conversation, and I often find myself chatting more than I would if I had a companion.Taking photos of others yields reciprocity on your solo trips.Remember to get in some of your travel photos. petesphotography/Getty Images Don't forget to include yourself in your travel photos.If you are hesitant to travel with a tripod or selfie stick, try connecting with others.When I offer to take a photo of someone, they generally offer to take mine in return. Some of my best photos have come from handing my phone to a stranger.