The Solo Traveller
Your independence, passion, and lifelong memories.
Transitions
Alissa visiting The Galápagos Islands in 2021. Photography: Alissa Musto.
From soundchecks to sunsets and beyond
As a travelling musician, singer-songwriter and creative entrepreneur (based in Texas, USA), Alissa Musto performs for audiences around the world – singing and playing piano at piano bars, resorts, casinos, and on cruise ships. Through her career, passion, dedication and determination, Alissa has created opportunities to experience our world in real time, while still actively building a future. “It’s not always glamorous, but it is deeply fulfilling and sustainable. It’s also made me reevaluate what success looks like. I no longer measure it in job titles or how many hours I work – it’s about balance, freedom, creativity, and how aligned my daily life feels with who I am. I have come to believe there’s no one ‘right’ way to do life or career. If travel is something you love, it doesn’t have to wait until retirement – it can be part of the journey.”
How do you balance the demands of work with the opportunities for personal exploration?
Because my performances usually take place at night, I have the entire day to explore my surroundings. When I first started travelling for work, I felt a lot of pressure to see and do everything within the first few days – cramming in tours, photo ops, and restaurants like I was on a race against time. I’d inevitably burn out.
Now, I take a much more sustainable approach. If I know I will be in one place for a month, I give myself time to settle in before diving into sightseeing. I pick just a few experiences or attractions that feel meaningful, rather than exhausting myself trying to check every box on a travel blog. I’ve found that quality over quantity makes the memories more lasting, and allows me to stay present, onstage and off.
Are there habits or rituals that keep you grounded, healthy, and well when you're travelling for business?
Performing nightly shows can be surprisingly demanding – not just vocally, but physically and mentally – so maintaining my health is non-negotiable. To have the energy and stamina I need on stage and still enjoy my days, I prioritise the basics – sleep, sunlight, movement, and hydration.
No matter where I am in the world, I try to take a walk every single day. It clears my head and doubles as a great way to get to know a new place beyond the tourist spots. If there’s a gym nearby, I’ll use it, but I’ve also become really good at creative bodyweight workouts in tiny hotel rooms or crew quarters.
In my line of work, drinking is very much part of the nightlife culture, so people are often surprised that I almost never drink. But for me, staying clear-headed helps me stay present for the performance and the experience of travel itself. That balance keeps me grounded, energised, and doing what I love without burning out.
Alissa performing at the Maxim Piano Bar in the Netherlands. Photography: @digital_.insomnia.
What are the greatest advantages of travelling for work on your own?
When you travel with others, there’s often a subtle pressure to make sure everyone is having a good time, which usually means compromising on activities, meal spots, or daily pace. When I’m travelling solo, I only have one person to please – me. If I want to have a lazy day because I’m wiped from the night before, I can do that without feeling guilty. If I feel like having ice cream for breakfast (which, let’s be honest, happens more than I care to admit), I can!
One very specific perk to my line of work is that when I’m alone, I can rest my voice during the day. Talking less gives me the vocal recovery I need for back-to-back shows, which is crucial. Ultimately, travelling solo gives me complete control over my time, energy, and rhythm. It makes the whole experience more intentional, restorative, creatively fulfilling, and balanced.
… and the biggest challenges?
For me, the hardest part of travelling solo for work is being apart from my partner. I’m incredibly grateful to have someone who wholeheartedly supports my dreams and ambitions, even when that means spending time apart. We both travel extensively for our careers, so we understand and respect that part of each other’s lives … and it’s not unusual for us to meet up in a random city halfway across the world.
As a woman travelling alone, safety is also a constant, underlying concern, particularly working in nightlife. I never let that fear stop me from exploring, but it does influence how I move through the world. I’m always cautious, always aware, always sharing my location with trusted people. Even in the most magical destinations, there’s a level of vigilance that never fully turns off.
Solo travel has given me incredible freedom and perspective, but it also comes with moments of vulnerability and longing. I think all people experience that to an extent, but travelling intensifies those feelings.
“As a woman travelling alone, safety is also a constant, underlying concern … I’m always cautious, always aware, always sharing my location with trusted people. Even in the most magical destinations, there’s a level of vigilance that never fully turns off.”
Is there a city or destination that surprised you, either personally or professionally?
I’m always fascinated by how certain American songs become cult favorites in completely unexpected parts of the world. For example, I’ve never had an audience in the US sing ‘Country Roads’ by John Denver with as much passion and volume as a crowd in Germany – even the bridge that nobody bothers learning back in the States! In the Philippines, ‘I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing’ by Aerosmith is a guaranteed showstopper.
I always try to learn a few songs in the local language or by regional artists to honour the culture I’m performing in, but it never ceases to surprise me which US songs have found a second home abroad. It reminds me that music is a truly global language, and sometimes the soundtrack to someone’s life is something you’d least expect.
What is one item you never travel without?
Don’t laugh, but I never travel without my stuffed animal dog. She’s been to more countries than most people! At first glance, she looks like an emotional support pillow (which, honestly, she is), but she’s also a travel hack in disguise. She is incredibly comforting when I’m feeling lonely or homesick, especially after long gigs or when I’m away for months at a time. She also doubles as a great pillow on planes, trains, and buses. But what most people don’t know is that she has a hidden zippered pocket inside, which is where I stash my passport or other valuables. Pickpockets might go after a purse or backpack, but they're a lot less likely to steal what they think is a child’s toy, especially if I’m using it as a pillow in transit. So, she is part comfort, part clever security strategy.
How has solo work travel changed your perspective on your personal and professional life?
Solo work travel has certainly reshaped the way I look at the differences between my personal and professional life. I like to think of my lifestyle as ‘bleisure’ – a blend of business and leisure. I’ve realised that most people work hard all year long for a few weeks of vacation. But through my career, I get to experience the world in real time, while still actively building a career … a future.
Shooting a promo for a show in Budapest, Hungary. Photography: @tulipsujeera.photography.
What advice would you give to someone just starting to travel solo for business?
Try to shift your mindset from being a ‘tourist’ to being a ‘traveller’. I approach every contract as if I’m living there for a few weeks or months, rather than vacationing. On a vacation, it’s easy to let routines slide – splurging on meals, skipping workouts, or spending impulsively. But when you’re traveling for work, maintaining some version of your home routine – whether that’s grocery shopping, sticking to a budget, or keeping up a morning ritual – helps you stay grounded and makes the lifestyle much more sustainable long term.
Also, don’t wait until you feel completely ‘settled’ to start exploring. Even small acts, like walking a new route back to your hotel or finding a go-to coffee shop, help you form a connection with the place and make it feel less intimidating. Over time, those little routines start to feel like home.
Most importantly, be kind to yourself. Solo travel is empowering and exciting, but it can also be lonely, exhausting, and overstimulating. You don’t have to see or do everything. You’re not falling behind if you need a quiet day in your room. Listening to yourself is just as important as pushing yourself outside your comfort zone. The goal is not to pack in as much as possible, it’s to make the experience meaningful, memorable, and manageable.
Have you made friends that you met while travelling that remain in your life?
Absolutely! Some of my closest friendships have come from people I met while travelling. Over the years, I’ve stayed in touch with several of them – we’ve visited each other’s hometowns, planned reunions, and even taken trips together.
One of the most meaningful aspects of working in the cruise industry was meeting so many other adventurous, ambitious young women who shared a passion for travel and the courage to leap into the unknown, often without knowing a single person on board. It takes a specific kind of bold, curious spirit to do something like that, so it’s no surprise we gravitated toward each other.
Those women became my second family when I was thousands of miles from my first. Whether we were navigating new cities, celebrating birthdays in port, or just venting over late-night snacks in the crew mess, those friendships grounded me and reminded me that even when you're far from home, you’re never really alone.
During 2020, I travelled across the US in a campervan I built out with my friend Emily, who I met while working on cruise ships. Photography: Emily Underhill.
Can you share your top 3 tips for solo travelling success?
1. Get a credit card with airport lounge access. If you travel frequently, this is a game-changer. The annual fee usually pays for itself in what you’d spend on overpriced airport food and bottled water. But more than that, lounges provide a calm, comfortable space to recharge – literally and emotionally – especially when flights are delayed, connections are tight, or everything feels like it’s going wrong.
2. Volunteer locally. Look into volunteer opportunities wherever you’re staying. Even giving just a few hours of your time can be a meaningful way to connect with a community, give back, and experience a destination in a deeper, more human way. I’ve met incredible people through volunteering – fellow travellers, local organisers, and new friends from completely different walks of life.
3. Take lots of pictures. It might feel awkward at first – posing your phone on a ledge, setting a self-timer, or asking a stranger to snap a photo – but take the pictures anyway. Even if you feel like you’re not dressed your best, or it feels silly to photograph yourself in public, you’ll be so glad you did. When you travel often, the experiences can start to blend together in your memory. Having visual documentation helps you remember specific places, feelings, and details you might have otherwise forgotten.
More than just the journey
At The Solo Traveller, we believe travel isn’t just about the places we go, it’s also about the values we carry with us. Whether it’s a grassroots initiative, an environmental project, or a community program, these are the individuals Alissa believes are making a real difference, and ones that Alissa encourages her fellow travellers to learn about and support.
“I’m deeply passionate about animal welfare, especially in the context of travel and tourism. I make it a priority to carefully research tours and attractions to avoid supporting businesses that exploit animals for entertainment. Sadly, this kind of exploitation is far too common worldwide, and I believe travellers have a responsibility to choose experiences that respect and protect animals rather than harm them.
One cause I wholeheartedly support is the Donkey Sanctuary Aruba. This not-for-profit is a safe haven dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and caring for sick, injured, and abandoned donkeys. What makes this sanctuary special is that it also welcomes visitors in a way that allows genuine, gentle interaction, giving people a chance to connect with these sweet animals without causing them distress. The passionate volunteers and staff create a loving environment focused entirely on the donkeys’ wellbeing.
Though it’s a small, local initiative, the impact of the Donkey Sanctuary Aruba ripples far beyond its borders by raising awareness about ethical animal care and inspiring visitors to rethink how tourism can be kind and responsible. It is a cause I encourage all travellers to learn about and support because even small actions can make a big difference for vulnerable animals around the world.
