Traveling solo is something I never thought I would do out of fear. I was always afraid something would go wrong, so I opted to only do family vacations. Several weeks ago I decided to travel to New Orleans solo for the last-minute conference, and I’m so glad I did. Stepping out on faith and traveling solo was one of the best decisions of my life. I learned to face my fear of solo travel and now I feel like I’m ready to do it again!

Two days into my trip, I ran into a friend, so it was great to see someone I knew. Making my way through the streets at night was very nerve-racking, by the end of my trip, I opted to stay inside and order room service for the duration of my trip. I would suggest, don’t wander the streets at night alone. I never went too far from my hotel, so I was okay, but looking back it’s something I would not ever do again.

I did spend an afternoon on one of the pedal bikes getting a tour. I paid the gentleman $40 and he rode me around stopping at a few bars along the way when I needed a refill. He didn’t mind as it kept him busy until it was time for him to get off of work at 5.

walking alone at night during your New Orleans solo travel

This was not a bright idea. In fact, if I could do it over, I would not walk around at night at all by myself. I did the obvious: stayed in well lit, crowded areas, I did not drink outside of the hotel. I reserved all of that for my hotel room only. My hotel was in the French Quarter, so I did not have far to travel, I even asked a few police officers for help at one point when I got turned around.

book a tour during your New Orleans solo trip

I wish I would have had more time to explore, but I was there for a conference, so not too many opportunities to explore. I did get the opportunity to visit St. Louis Cemetary No. 1. It was an amazing place, I definitely recommend going if you haven’t.

Like I said earlier, I took a pedal bike tour around the area to avoid walking. Did I mention it was 103 degrees, so I totally had an excuse. The driver took my to Congo Square which was quite beautiful.

tips for new orleans solo travel

• If you are over 30 or just looking for a more mature crowd, head to Frenchmen street. It was one of the best decisions I made after my first night on Bourbon St. Maybe I’m old, but I prefer the more relaxed, laid-back vibe.
• Wear comfortable shoes. You will do a lot of walking. According to my step tracker, I logged roughly 20,000 steps a day for five days straight.
• Book a tour. There’s plenty of things you can do without having to pay, but I highly suggest booking a tour. I visited St. Louis Cemetary No. 1 and it was wonderful. My tour guide was amazing!
• Carry Cash. I opted to only use cash for this trip. I kept my cards back in my hotel room with extra cash tucked away in a suitcase.  While a lot of places do take cards, I did manage to find a few restaurants near Bourbon that were cash only.

Do you have any additional tips for solo travelers? Any places I should visit the next time? Let me know in the comments below!

what are the best spots to eat at while on a solo trip to new orleans? go here for my guide to eating in new orleans for first-timers.