Travel blogger Eli on why solo travel is the way to go!

  There are so many things that I love about solo travel, I think the main thing is the freedom that you have, because you can do whatever you want to do. No one knows you and can judge you or say "oh you wouldn't usually do that", the freedom to not have to worry about other people is a huge benefit for me.

It makes you more open to new experiences as well, you do things you wouldn't usually do. Especially if you're open to talking to all different sorts of people and doing different things.

When you're not sure about going away by yourself I think a great way to start is by going on a group trip. It will give you a lot more confidence and you don't have to worry about being by yourself. Someone is always going to take care of you. And you don't have to plan anything, all the main things are taken care of, like accommodations, meals and yeah, meeting people!

I still keep in touch with people I met on my group tours even if it was 6 years ago! If you're thinking about it a lot it's a sign that you should just go.

People often message me asking how I got the confidence to go travelling, and I say if you're thinking about it, and you're asking questions, maybe reading about it, then you should just do it, it's a sign!

Also, the biggest obstacle people have when they want to go travelling is money. How can I get the money to go travelling? I know it's different for everyone. But I chose to move back home with my parents to save money. It's also all about prioritising, a dinner out in London or a weeks accommodation in Asia? I think I saved £7,000 in 10 months. I was just like I have to do it, there's no other way.

One of my biggest pieces of advice is to never try to convince someone to try to go with you. That's how I ended up travelling solo actually, I failed at bringing someone along. But I wouldn't have ended up having the same experience if I had made someone come with me. You're just more open to things and you can have the best experience of your life, so far, as I did.

How to meet people when you're travelling solo?

A good way to meet people if you're travelling solo is by staying in hostels. A lot of people there want to meet people. It's nowhere near as scary as people think it is. And get the biggest (and cheapest) dorms on purpose! The ones for 10-14 people. That's where you'll start talking to loads of people. It's hard NOT to say hi to them. Most of the people there will be happy to start a conversation, or they wouldn't stay in a hostel.

Day tours are great too to meet people. There are just so many different possibilities. Cooking classes or other experiences are great. Facebook groups for fellow travellers too, where people want to connect and meet up. A bit weird one, but Tinder is a great app to meet people too! Not in that way, but you can organise group meetups through the app when you're in a more remote place. I never had any bad experiences, but always be careful.

How to feel safe when travelling solo

I always research a place before I go, so I know what to expect, where to feel more and less safe so I can take taxis in some places instead of the bus. Or use an app if you don't feel safe waiting for a taxi. Get a sim from 7-Eleven for internet so you can use it anywhere. Also pre-download maps on your phone so you always have them. It made me feel safer to know exactly where I was going. But overall I felt so much safer in some places in Asia than I do at home in the UK. Do what you'd usually do back at home to stay safe.

If you're still apprehensive about going off on your own, like I said, start with a group tour. You won't have to worry about getting lost or anything. It's definitely the safest option.