Planning Your First Solo Trip: What You Need To Know
If you are like me, you have been thinking about planning your first solo trip by yourself for a while now.
Maybe you have thought about going to the same places as me. Do you dream about traveling solo to Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Iceland, and Australia? Me too! Heck, I’ve thought about traveling solo to just about everywhere. After meeting so many people in Europe that were traveling by themselves, I just knew I could do it!
Now, let’s talk about planning your first solo trip: what you need to know.
The first thing you need to know about planning your first solo trip is that it’s okay to start with small steps. When I went on my first solo trip, I chose to start with baby steps and it gave me the confidence I needed.
First solo trip
I decided that I would go on a solo road trip. Being a planner and loving to do research, I wanted to enjoy my first solo trip and leave time to explore the places that interested me.
My destination was about thirteen hours from home, so I decided I would only drive about 6 hours on the first day. After finding an adorable bed and breakfast for the first night that got rave reviews, I made my reservation. I downloaded an audiobook that I couldn’t wait to listen to, and packed some of my favorite food for the ride.
The journey
Being in no rush to get to my destination, I enjoyed the ride driving solo. My accommodations were amazing, and much to my delight, there were many people at breakfast that were traveling solo too!
On the way back, I decided to be more adventurous. Driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia, I wanted to take my time to enjoy and discover everything that interested me.
Adventure Awaits
Traveling solo gave me the option of being able to do whatever I wanted! After doing some research, I found a few different towns along the route that I could stop for an overnight. I briefly checked some hotels, and made a loose plan that gave me lots of room for flexibility.
I absolutely loved my first solo trip! I gained much needed confidence, and learned a few things along the way!
Here are my tips for how to plan your first solo trip:
Choose your destination
Planning your first solo trip: what you need to know is that it is important to take the time and choose your destination wisely. Decide if you want to go somewhere close to home or head to your dream destination far away. Choose what works for you and pick something you’re comfortable with. There’s nothing wrong with starting out on your first solo trip by getting your feet wet by staying a few hours away. Perhaps, you have the you only live once attitude and want to head off to the destination you’ve been dreaming of for years.
The most important thing is to pick somewhere you really want to go to, near or far. If you choose far, I would suggest going somewhere where English is spoken, even if it’s not their first language. It’ll be easier to get around and make your first solo trip less stressful.
Plan out your first few days is key when planning your first solo trip
By far, this is one of the best tips on how to plan your first solo trip. Knowing where you are going to stay and what you are going to do will give you peace of mind. It will ease your nerves, and give you something exciting to look forward to.
Have some fun on your first solo trip
Consider booking a few tours. There are many great walking tours that are very informative and will give you lots of tips and pointers for the area. You’ll get to meet other travelers and see some really interesting places.
Consider doing some of your favorite hobbies. I love going to bookstores when I travel. I always look them up ahead of time and make it a point of stopping in a few whenever I can. Engaging in an enjoyable activity that you love will help make your first solo trip amazing. Consider taking a yoga class or finding the best coffee shops. If you love to draw, bring your sketch pad and a pencil. Take a class or head to a museum. Perhaps a photography or cooking class will interest you.
Planning your first solo: What you need to know is to pack light
Traveling with just a carry on is the way to go. Whether you are going for a weekend or a ten day trip, pack light and bring things that you can layer and mix and match everything with.
A capsule wardrobe will be your best friend and keeping your bag light will make your life so much easier. Lay out your clothes that you want to bring, and pack half.
Plan for the “What ifs” when traveling your first solo trip
Take measures to avoid unnecessary stress. Being prepared and having a plan B will keep you sane, especially when you are planning your first solo trip.
Making a copy of your passport and having it with you, will prepare you if your original gets lost or stolen. Having two credit cards, just in case one gets hacked or stolen will give you peace of mind. Making sure you have some local currency on you just in case they don’t take credit cards, will be a real lifesaver. Having some backup accommodations will come in handy, just in case the photos online aren’t exactly accurate.
You get the picture. Knowing things can go wrong, and being prepared for it will help make your trip enjoyable and stress free.
Do your research when you are planning your first solo trip
Planning your first solo trip is exciting and fun, but it’s important to research ahead of time so you’re prepared. Look up how to get to and from the airport, required travel documents, best areas to stay in, and areas to avoid.
Research local scams in the area, and what to wear so you can blend in and not look like a tourist. Blending in with the locals is important as many thieves will target foreigners in hopes that you are naive and trusting.
Be familiar with Google Translate and Uber
Knowing how to use the Google Translate app can be a real lifesaver when traveling solo. Take a few minutes before your first solo trip and familiarize yourself with it. If you need to speak to someone in a foreign language, translate a menu or a sign, Google Translate can do it for you. It can translate through voice or text, and you can even carry on a conversation with someone who speaks another language.
Download and install the Uber app. Add your credit card so you will be all ready to go when you need it. Uber can provide transportation to and from the airport. You can also use it for transportation at night when it is not safe to walk alone.
Contact your cell phone provider
If you’re traveling internationally, be sure to call your cell phone provider. They have international plans to avoid insanely large bills.
Put your phone in airplane mode to avoid data charges, and connect when there is wifi available. You’ll still be able to use your camera to take great pictures.
Another alternative is to buy a prepaid SIM card at your destination. You can also use a free calling app for unlimited calls and texts. WhatsApp is a very popular choice.
Trust Your Instincts
One of the best tips for solo travel, is to listen to and trust your instincts. When we travel, we tend to be off our guard and in vacation mode. If we’re not careful we can end up in a situation that can take us out of our comfort zone. The last thing we want is to be put in a potentially uncomfortable situation. It’s so important to listen to our intuition to avoid a potentially negative situation. We rely on our instincts when we are home to keep us safe. If we do the same when we are traveling, it will go a long way in steering clear of unwanted situations.
Exude confidence
As the saying goes, fake it til you make it! This tip is a must while traveling. Walk with your head held high and act like you know what you are doing and where you’re going.
I’ll never forget the first time I took the train into NYC by myself. I got off the train and wasn’t quite sure which direction to head. There were actually people standing around and I felt eyes on me. I knew I had to blend in like everyone else until I had a chance to check my phone.
The funny thing was, once I started walking with confidence, I became confident. I was able to make smart decisions without doubting myself or appearing nervous. This is one of the most important tips when traveling solo.
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