First, I want to congratulate you for even starting to think about taking your first solo trip. I know how scary it is to travel alone for the first time, I’ve been in your shoes. But you’re doing it and you got this! And I’m sure you’ll have an amazing adventure and a wonderful time, and then you’ll book more solo trips as soon as you get back. That’s what I did!
I get a lot of questions from people considering solo trips on how to get started, so I am sharing four things that helped me:
Do your research ahead of the trip
If I can only give you one piece of advice, this is it. Research, research, research. It will bring you so much peace of mind to have as much information as possible about the destination you’re visiting.
You can start with a basic Google search to learn about the currency of that country, the language they speak, and traditions. Then you should also read blog posts written by solo travelers since they share their experiences from their solo trips in that same destination, which can be very helpful. And lastly, read forums to learn about common scams, what people wish they knew before visiting, and what they liked about that destination.
You should also create an itinerary for your trip, and you can even use Google’s street view to get a feeling for that destination. That way, when you’re there, things will be a bit more familiar. And thus, you’ll feel less anxious, and will be able to enjoy your time there.
Start with a beginner-friendly destination in a developed country
Since it’s your first solo trip, you should go to a destination that is beginner-friendly. I recommend destinations in Western Europe like Amsterdam, Madrid, or Florence. These destinations tend to be safer.
And you’ll be in a developed country, so everything will be smoother and more convenient: good public transportation, you can pay by credit card in most locations, you’ll have a lot of restaurant and hotel options. Once you get a few solo travel reps, you can start going to less developed countries too because you’ll have the experience.
Invest in a tripod so you can take pictures with you in them
You have to document your solo travel. It will bring you so much joy to look back at pictures and be able to say that you did that. I highly recommend you buy a tripod ahead of your trip and learn how to use it. That way you can take all the pictures you want in every location you visit. This works great especially if you’re an introvert since you won’t have to ask other people to take your picture.
You might think that it’s awkward to use your tripod in the middle of a plaza or street and start taking pictures. I know I was always worried about what people would think. It turns out that people don’t care about what you do. They are so focused on their own lives that most of them won’t even look at you.
And even if you get one or two people looking, so what? You’ll be so happy you have those pictures as souvenirs from your trip. After all, you’re only visiting that destination for a few days, so take advantage of it.
When you start having doubts, think about the positives of solo travel
No matter how excited you are about your first solo trip, the doubts will come. You’ll second guess your decision, you might want to cancel your tickets, and you’ll get overwhelmed. It’s normal and know that it will happen.
But when it happens remember why you want to do this in the first place: to see the world, to experience new cultures, to meet new people, to eat new foods. If you let the fear win, you’ll do none of this. And you’ll always think “what if” instead of “remember when”.
So, stop waiting for people to go with you, pack your bags, do your research, and go on that trip. I promise you it will be life-changing, and you’ll want to book more solo trips as soon as you get back.
I hope this helped. I share a lot of solo travel tips and itineraries on my own blog if you need more resources. I’m always a message or DM away, so feel free to reach out if you’re considering starting your solo travel journey.
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