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Have you ever thought about taking a holiday on your own?
Solo travel has been absolutely blowing up in recent years. In fact, 74% of respondents said they would rather travel alone than wait for a friend to do it with them.
The truth is…
Planning a solo trip for the first time can be a daunting experience. Where do you begin? How can you stay safe? What do you do when you feel lonely?
But here’s what a lot of people fail to realize…
Traveling solo is one of the most liberating and life-affirming things you can do. It’s confidence-building, empowering, and the best way to figure out who you really are and what you’re capable of.
Let’s dive into the details:
- Researching and Picking Your First Solo Destination
- Safety and Security Must-Dos for Solo Travelers
- 5 Confidence Building Techniques for First Timers
- How to Budget for a Solo Trip
- Making Friends on the Road
Researching and Picking Your First Solo Destination
Your destination is going to make or break your first solo trip. Choose somewhere too advanced for your skill level and you’ll find yourself fretting about your next move instead of soaking up the experience.
The key is to pick a beginner-friendly destination that’s known for being safe and has excellent infrastructure in place.
Here are some top picks:
Europe is the place to start for your first solo trip. The Netherlands, Switzerland, and Austria all make the world’s top 10 safest countries year after year. The public transport is great, the people are friendly, and help is never too far away.
Southeast Asia is an also-ran. Thailand and Vietnam in particular are well known for being solo travel hotspots. They’re cheap, the infrastructure is there for backpackers, and you’ll never run out of opportunities to make new friends.
But you really need to ask yourself one thing:
Are you comfortable with the culture? If you’re worried about language barriers, then start with an English-speaking country. Build up your confidence with your first trip before attempting more advanced destinations.
You can visit travala.com to see the range of accommodations suggested for solo travel. All of them are equipped with features for solo travelers.
Safety and Security Must-Dos for Solo Travelers
The first rule of safety is to always remain in public places. You are much safer in areas where there are other people around, especially when you’re still learning to interpret the social dynamics of a new place.
Here’s your safety checklist:
Have a plan for sharing your itinerary with friends or family at home and research the local emergency numbers ahead of time. Keep digital and physical copies of your important documents (passport, insurance, etc.) and above all, trust your intuition. If a situation feels off, it probably is.
Worryingly, 46% of women say that safety concerns are their number one barrier to solo travel. Solo travel is statistically very safe, but it’s essential to take the right precautions.
5 Confidence Building Techniques for First Timers
Confidence isn’t something that just comes to you. You have to work at it.
Try this. Go out to dinner or to the movies by yourself. Heck, go and do something else that you normally would only do as a group.
Take yourself on these tiny adventures at home. It’s easier to build up your confidence gradually before you’re in a strange country with a completely different language.
Try this progression:
- Weekend break (2-3 days in a nearby city)
- Week-long domestic trip (somewhere in your home country)
- International excursion (when you’re really ready to go big)
The cool thing about solo travel is that you can go at your own pace. Spend three hours in a museum if you like. Miss out on the touristy stuff if you want to. It’s your call.
And this was the thing that surprised me most about solo travel…
You’re never really on your own. Hostels, walking tours, and local excursions provide plenty of opportunities to meet up with other travelers and locals. The solo travel community is very welcoming.
How to Budget for a Solo Trip
Here’s the thing…
Solo travel is going to cost you more than if you went with friends or family. You can’t share a hotel room or split the cost of a train ticket in half.
That being said, don’t let that put you off. With a little strategic planning, you can travel solo on just about any budget.
The truth is that solo travelers tend to budget as follows:
You’re probably looking at a budget of between $1,000-$2,000 for a solo trip, all-inclusive. Food will likely take up 20% of your total budget, followed by transportation (19%) and lodging (17%).
Tips for saving money on a solo trip:
Stay in hostels or guesthouses instead of hotels, cook some of your own meals, use public transportation, and travel in the shoulder season to get the best deals.
**This is a really important one: ** Keep some emergency cash stashed away, hidden from the main pile. That way if your bank card is lost or stolen you’ll still have a financial safety net.
Making Friends on the Road
Don’t worry about getting lonely. It’s not going to be an issue.
Traveling solo does not mean that you have to do everything by yourself. It just means that you are in complete control of your own experience.
Easy ways to meet new people on the road:
Stay in social accommodations like hostels, sign up for walking tours or cooking classes, and if you find yourself eating alone, sit at the bar. Bartenders are also a great source of information.
And then there are apps. Meetup is great for finding local events.
Here’s a little secret:
Many solo travelers find they feel less lonely on the road than they do at home. When you travel, every little interaction counts, and you begin to appreciate the smaller things in life.
Essential Packing for Solo Success
Pack light, but pack smart.
Packing is a skill in and of itself. There are certain items that are a must when traveling solo.
Here are the essentials:
Portable phone charger, first aid kit, copies of important documents in a separate place, and a good padlock for hostels or guesthouses.
A great packing tip:
Pack what you need for day-to-day outings and activities and leave the back-up cash, emergency cards, and passport copies in a safe place at your accommodation.
Staying Connected While Independent
Solo travel doesn’t mean you have to check in every hour on the hour. Just come to an agreement with your loved ones so that they know you’re okay and you won’t feel tied to your phone.
Set up regular check-ins with loved ones back home, whether that’s a photo update each day or a voice message. This gives everyone peace of mind without making you feel like you’re constantly on call.
Technology can help with this:
Offline maps can be downloaded ahead of your arrival, location sharing with trusted friends or family, and if you’re traveling internationally then make sure to register your details with the embassy.
Moving Forward With Confidence
Your first solo trip is going to be a life-changer.
It’s going to be hard. It’s going to be challenging. You’re probably going to make some mistakes.
But that’s okay. In fact, that’s how it’s supposed to be.
Solo travel is about pushing yourself, stepping outside your comfort zone, and learning new things. It will make you stronger, more self-reliant, and open your mind to a new way of living. Trust me on this.
Start small. Choose somewhere that excites you but doesn’t terrify you. Book your first night’s accommodation. Everything else will follow naturally.
Believe me, your future self is going to thank you for making this decision.
Ready, Set, Go
Solo travel is more than just a holiday. It’s an investment in yourself.
The beginner’s guide to solo travel practices given here will give you the confidence to start exploring. Remember, every experienced solo traveler was once in your shoes, eager and a little apprehensive about what the future would hold.
Your solo adventure starts with just one step. Make it today.