inspiration

Travelling alone can be a fantastic experience and in the last decade there has been a 40% increase in Britons doing just that. Whether you're planning a weekend city break in Paris, enjoying a cheap Spanish holiday or jetting off on a round-the-world voyage with just you, your backpack and an ipod for company then there are lots of ways to make your trip both more enjoyable and safer too if you're a solo traveller. Probably the greatest luxury the solo traveller possesses is the ability to do whatever you want whenever you want. From bungee-jumping in Barcelona, orienteering in Orlando or snowboarding in Switzerland the choice is endless because the choice is yours and yours alone. The added flexibility of solo travel means you'll also have more cheap flights and hotel deals becoming available as it's only you that needs to book the time off work. You might want to go for a holiday alone and even go backpacking, where you may be camping, staying in hostel dorms or even crashing on a stranger's sofa if you fancy a bit of Coachsurfing. The possibilities are endless and can be great fun but what about the serious side to being a solo traveller? Firstly, being alone on any type of holiday makes it all the more important for you to keep in touch with someone at home. Be it your workmate, mum or best friend's wife (if you're a Premiership footballer) it's best to make sure someone knows what you're up to - particularly if you're off doing anything that's potentially dangerous like eating too many cream cheese bagels - just think of all those calories. Seriously, if you're doing anything like going off hiking alone in the Australian Outback or kayaking alone in the Florida Everglades then make sure not only someone at home knows what you're doing, but also make sure that someone at the local place you've booked with or the place you're staying knows where you're going and when you should be back as it's better to be safe than sorry. There are plenty of other simple things to follow. For example: if you're lost, always study maps somewhere safe like a coffee shop. Standing dazed and confused in the centre of Paris with a map bigger than the Eiffel Tower is bound to attract attention, and for every kind passer-by there's another one sensing an opportunity. As well as having a friend at home knowing where you are, also make sure that if the worst happens then someone at home is in a position to wire you money if you find yourself without your wallet. Make sure you always keep a phone card somewhere safe about your person too so if you lose your wallet and phone then you're not alone. They're an essential insurance policy and they're cheap. Holidays you take alone don't have to be spent totally solo. You may well just want to be alone for a fortnight but there are plenty of options if you don't, as many people booking their holidays in Europe and across the globe now book onto an organised trip during their stay and there are many different options and age ranges to choose from. It gives you a chance to have the flexibility and independence but also know that you'll meet like-minded people of a similar age. So, whether you're heading off alone on your holidays to Italy, planning a bit of sightseeing in Egypt or partying in New York then have a great but safe time.