Welcome to the Z Michelson Travel Podcast, the podcast where we explore the travel industry through the lens of an independent traveler and also your travel advisors and your travel vendors. Hi, I'm your host, Z Michelson. Now, if you've been listening to the first two podcasts, you would already know this. Solo travel is the fastest growing travel right now. And it's not just for one type of traveler. But once someone starts seriously thinking about traveling solo, the next question in their minds is almost always the same thing. Where should I go first? I'm going to explore a few of these places, and then in my future episodes, we will explore even deeper on each individual place. So in today's episode, it's all about that question. Not just beautiful destinations, but destinations that truly work for the first-time solo traveler. Places that are easy to navigate, welcoming, safe feeling, confidence building. Because the first destination can change how someone feels about solo travel forever. Okay, so what makes a destination solo friendly? Before we talk about specific places, let's talk about why certain destinations are better for the first-time solo traveler. Because this isn't about checking off famous landmarks. It's about how a place makes you feel. Solo friendly destinations usually share a few key traits. One, they're easy to get around. Two, public transportation is reliable. And three, walking feels comfortable. Now I'm not talking about you got a bad pair of shoes on. You feel safe when you're walking around a community. They have clear signage. English is spoken widely, or at least understood. And systems work the way you expect them to. I remember when I took my first trip, I wasn't a solo traveler, but I wanted to make sure I felt comfortable in the location, so I figured let me try going to a place that I know speaks English. So I went to the British Isles. But here we go. Let's talk about a few of these things. The systems work the way you expect them because they always tend to be the places where solo travelers have in common. When you see other people dining alone or exploring alone, or navigating confidently by themselves, you feel like you belong. You're just one of the people that are solo traveling. That sense of belonging matters, especially on the first solo trip. Okay. So top solo friendly destinations for the first timers. Let's talk about these destinations. Not in a top ten list way, but why they work way. The first one I'm going to talk about is Ireland. Ireland is one of the most welcoming countries for the first-time solo travelers. People talk to you, not at you, but with you. Conversations start easily. Questions are welcomed. I've been to Ireland. It's a very welcoming community. Number two, public transportation is straightforward. Road trips are manageable. And there's a strong sense of personal safety. Ireland also works beautifully for the solo traveler because you can mix structure with freedom. There are day tour companies when you want them, or you could do quiet exploration on your own when you don't want to be part of the tour. But also remember, if you're renting a car, they're driving on the other side of the street. So if you're not used to that, don't do it. It's a place that builds confidence quickly. So like I said, I've been to Ireland. It's a very welcoming community. People are very easy to talk with, and you can have a really good time there. Now my second destination is Japan. Now I personally have not been to Japan yet. It's on my bucket list. But Japan surprises a lot of first-time solo travelers. Why? Well, it's incredibly safe, incredibly organized, and surprisingly solo friendly. Dining alone is normal. Traveling alone is common, and silence is respected. And you know what else? The trains run on time. Cities are logical, and help is available. Even if language is limited, you can get by. Japan works well for solo travelers because independence is built into the culture. You're not expected to explain yourself. That's right. They don't want to know why you're traveling by yourself. They don't need to know. They just let you have a good time by yourself. You simply exist. And that's enough. So Japan is number two on the list. Now my daughter just recently did a trip to Portugal. She went with her family and her in-laws and she had a great time. But this is also on the list for best places for solo travelers. Portugal is one of the easiest countries in Europe for first time solo travelers. Why? Couple of reasons. One, it's affordable. Two, it's walkable. And three, it's very friendly. And yes, there are little hills, streets, and things like that and cobblestones, but it's a walkable walkable country, and the cities are easily arranged so you can get around. Lisbon and Porto are compact and intuitive. The public transportation is simple. Who doesn't want simple public transportation? Easy on, easy off. And the pace is extremely relaxed. You're going on vacation, you're by yourself, this is your first solo trip. Isn't it nice to be someplace that's relaxed? I think it is. Portugal also attracts a lot of solo travelers, which creates a subtle sense of community. You're rarely the only one doing things on your own. So there are other solo travelers floating around. It's an excellent confidence builder destination. So if you always wanted to go to Portugal and you're on your own, this might be the time for you to go. Now here's one of our neighbors to the north. Canada. That's right, Canada. Now I've been to Canada by myself. One of the places I went to was in Vancouver. I loved Vancouver. For travelers who want something familiar but still meaningful, Canada is a fantastic choice. Yes, they speak English. And over on the other side, on the East Coast side, there are some places that speak French, but they also speak English. This fantastic choice of Canada with cities like Vancouver, which I already talked about. I went to Vancouver, I was by myself, I found the city friendly, easy to get around, and I found it very, very clean for a city. I come from New York. So Vancouver was extremely clean. But cities like Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal are clean, safe feeling, and easy to navigate. Now, isn't that what I just said? Nature is accessible. People are polite without being intrusive. I like that. Canada works well for the first-time solo travelers who want independence without cultural overwhelm. There are a lot of great things to see and do in Canada, particularly in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal. You also have Quebec. So there are a lot of great places in Canada. And of course, you have things, places like Banff in Canada. It's a little cold there right now. But it really does work well for the first-time solo traveler because it's calm. And calm is powerful. And like I said, I've been to Canada many, many times. And like I said already, Vancouver was one of my favorites. Now here's something else that's on my bucket list, but it's a long, long plane flight. It's New Zealand. New Zealand is practically designed for the solo traveler. The transportation networks cater to the independent traveler. That's right. I said cater to the independent traveler. Tours are flexible, and solo travelers are everywhere. This is definitely a bucket list item for a lot of people. And you don't feel unusual because there are so many solo travelers. You feel expected. New Zealand is especially good for travelers who want nature, reflection, and movement without stress. That's right, movement without stress. New Zealand is beautiful. I've seen pictures. I may not have been there yet, but I know a lot of travel advisors that have, and they talk to me all the time about how gorgeous New Zealand was. So if this is one of your bucket lists and you were afraid to go solo, it's a place where solo travel feels completely natural. Now, destinations that may be a little bit better later on. It doesn't mean that they're bad. It just means get your solo feet underneath you and then let's start exploring some of these other places. Some places are extremely incredible. They're just better suited for the later solo trippers. So if you're doing it for the first time and you're a little concerned, those countries that I just mentioned, New Zealand, Canada, Portugal, Ireland, Japan, these are the places you should try first. Get your feet wet a little bit. Now, high chaotic cities, places with limited infrastructure, destinations where language barriers are extreme. That's why I say go to these places a little bit later. You always hear me say, learn a few bites of the language. You know, hello, thank you, uh, I'm lost, where's the hotel? Where's the restroom? However, once you get your feet wet being a solo traveler, these trips, these destinations can truly, truly be amazing. And your confidence will really skyrocket. Your first solo trip is about learning how you can travel alone. And there's no rush. How the right first destination changes everything. Well, a good first solo destination does something extremely important. What's that? It replaces the fear with familiarity. You're learning that you can navigate on your own. You can problem solve on your own. And you know what else? You can enjoy your own company. And once that happens, the world feels so much more accessible. Confidence grows fast when early experiences go well. So remember, if you're taking that first-time solo trip, think of these few countries that I have pointed out. There might be others that you want to go to, which is perfectly okay. But remember, if you're choosing your first solo destination, remember this. You don't need the most exotic place. You don't need the most impressive story. You need a place that supports you while you learn who you are as a solo traveler. That's how independence becomes a joy. Well, that's it about the solo travelers. But remember again, if you enjoyed this episode, you can subscribe to my website and my podcast, ZMichelson Travel Podcast. Leave a review. Share it with someone you know who might be planning their first solo trip. I will be continuing on this solo journey, and we will be talking deeper with people that have gone on solo trips. Like I said, I've known somebody that's gone on solo trips to South Africa. That's an experience in itself. I know many, many people that have traveled on their own, and I will be inviting them to my podcast over the next few weeks. So please stay tuned, and we're gonna have some more trips and more tips about solo traveling. So until next time, you don't have to wait to see the world. Thank you for joining me today. I'm Z Michelson, and remember what I always say reach for the stars, and if you only get to the moon, at least you made the trip. Talk to you soon. Bye bye.