The number one question I’ve received as I’ve begun to post my solo travel adventures is, “How do you do it?”. This question is often followed by, “I don’t know if I could be that brave!”. I hadn’t taken note of how many people were averse to solo travel until I began doing it myself, but as I began to share my stories, people listened with awe and made statements that they wish they could do something similar but were too scared. I hadn’t quite realized the bravery it took to pull off such a feat, as I tend to undermine my successes, but solo travel indeed changed who I am and the way I see the world. It quickly became a goal of mine to inspire others to immerse themselves into this beautiful planet we call Earth, and become completely confident & reliant on oneself.
Whatever limiting beliefs you have about engaging in solo travel, I would be happy to rebuttal; You are worth conquering your fears for. When I got back from my first international solo trip in Thailand, I received endless compliments about how I was “glowing” and “standing up taller”. Others were truly noticing how travel had healed something in me. I hope that the following advice can inspire similar stories, because the ultimate goal is to share the love & healing that solo travel has provided for me. You’ve made the first step by being here and having a desire to make it happen-don’t stop now!
Starting Small
I’m going to make the assumption that if you’re reading this, you’ve got to have some ambition-No NPC wants the responsibility of such a bold undertaking. It’s natural for us ambitious folk to want to start with the highest achievement, and in this case that would be international travel. Even if you’ve traveled internationally with others, it’s still not best to begin there. Solo travel can be extremely anxiety provoking, and if it does end up being too much for you, it’s much easier to problem solve on the same side of the world as home.
Before my first international trip, I had traveled to various places in the U.S. on my own and was comfortable with it. I’m also naturally an introvert and love my alone time, and while the extroverts may have more success in meeting new people along the way, they also can struggle more with the periods of isolation. You have to know what you’re signing yourself up for, because yes, there will be times where you feel incredibly alone. But if you can become comfortable and safe solely in your own presence, you can take on anything.
Start with a weekend trip to somewhere an hour or two away. Then, plan a 5-day trip that requires plane travel. Take note of what gives you the most anxiety, because this will be amplified on out-of-country trips. What gave you relief from that anxiety? Do you feel more prepared for future solo endeavors because you embraced those uncomfortable feelings? If you feel confident after some smaller getaways, you’re ready to start thinking bigger.
Be Over-prepared
Before I went solo internationally, I had dreamed up going to Thailand for years. Therefore, I already was following instagram accounts about Thai travel, I’d watched YouTube videos and read books. All of this had given me some familiarity with what I’d be walking into. After a few trips internationally, I don’t really feel the need to do so much research, but in the beginning it was definitely a safety net. Create a document that includes emergency phone numbers, U.S. embassy locations, and your entire trip outline with confirmation numbers, addresses, and host contacts. Share this document with your friends and family so they always have some idea where you are.
Even if you’re not ready to go international quite yet, decide where you would go when you finally get to that point. Once you’ve picked a place and stuck to it, begin following accounts and pick up a book related to where you’re wanting to travel. There’s a series of books called, “Solo Girl’s Travel Guide”, that include many popular destinations and they provide clear, concise outlines of the best stays, restaurants, and activities to do in each area of the country. I bought the guide to Thailand and was able to get through it in one night; I stickied pages with things that intrigued me to come back to for my own trip. Reddit is also a wonderful resource for travel questions and advice.
Another tip for first-timers when choosing a destination is to pick somewhere you have connections. Whether this be personal contacts, or friends of friends, having a resource near by to help you in case of an emergency can take a huge weight off your chest. As you start to brainstorm ideas of your destination, begin sharing with friends, coworkers, and family. Sure enough, people always tend to volunteer their friends/family overseas as resources for your travels.
Consider whether the citizens of the country you’re going to primarily speak English. Navigating a country can be infinitely more difficult when you can’t understand anyone. Google Translate is great to have on your phone, but it’s not full-proof. I’d suggest learning at least a few simple phrases such as, “Please”, “Thank You”, “Hello”, “Goodbye”, “Where is the bathroom?”, etc. Not only is it helpful to know, but locals typically express gratitude that you’ve taken the time to learn some of their language.
Look at the U.S. travel advisories before booking a trip anywhere, and only book in places that are levels 1 & 2. That resource can be found here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/ Stick to the countries where Americans are welcomed, and even then, research what the safest areas of the country are. There are sketchy areas in every country, no matter the travel advisory.
Plan The Damn Thing!
Okay, now for the scariest part…It’s time to commit to this thing. I clearly remember the feeling of being both so happy I could cry, and so nervous I could throw up once I bought my plane ticket to Thailand. Not only was it a lot of money, but I’d also just fully committed to this trip, especially because I bought a saver fare (lol). I don’t necessarily agree with that decision…life happens. If you can afford the standard price, do it, it pays itself off in the long run.
I like to use Google Flights, but there’s plenty of great flight comparison websites/apps out there. It’s an easy way to compare prices along all of the airlines and get the best deal. Be careful because some of those dirt cheap ones have massive layovers that would really suck right before your trip starts. I don’t care how young and limber you are, that kind of travel time is not natural. Pay $100 more for something much easier on your body and to start your trip energized. I’ve been victim to the cheapest price so many times and it’s truly not worth it.
Once you find your flight of choice, take 60 seconds of bravery and book the flight before you change your mind! It’s the biggest commitment taking that first step, but once you make it everything else will begin to fall in place. You’ll begin to daydream about your adventures to come on your upcoming travels as you book places to stay. You’ll feel nervous at times, really nervous, but just keep holding onto positivity. Remember to stand back and congratulate yourself for what you’re doing! Document how you feel during these times so you can reflect back once you’ve come home. I took many videos of myself stressed out and anxious as the trip approached, but looking back I’m like, “What was all that worry for?”. Aha!-We’ve made growth.
Book Places to Stay in Safe & Walkable Neighborhoods
AirBnb and VRBO are my go-tos for travel. People tend to get upset over all the added fees on these websites, but personally I still think they’re a great price comparing across the board. I’ve found some really unique stays that I never would have found without these sites that definitely made for some of my most memorable trips. However, if you are familiar with another hotel or booking website, then stick to what you know for this first trip.
I enjoy Airbnb for the reviews. Often times I’ll find hidden little nuggets of knowledge from them (like the owner cooks you meals or hosts a yoga class for free in the mornings), which makes for even better stay experiences. I never choose anything below 4 stars and if it doesn’t have any reviews, I don’t trust it. Often times I’ll see in the reviews how walkable/safe the area is, but I’ll still research it separately before deciding upon anything. Having a high walking score is nice because you won’t necessarily need to rent a car. Everything you need should be within walking distance and further trips by taxi are manageable pricing compared to what you’d pay for car rental.
It’s best to stay in highly populated, safe, and walkable areas that have lots to do nearby as a first-time solo traveler. Otherwise, navigating driving may be a nightmare in another country. It also gets less safe the further you are from tourist areas (typically). This isn’t to say you can’t venture out, but proceed with caution and plan to get home before it gets dark.
Over-prepare…Again
As I got deeper into my solo adventuring, this wasn’t as necessary, but for your first trip I would recommend checking a bag and over-preparing. There’s so many unknowns in a foreign country, many of which you won’t find out until you’re there in the moment. Is the sunscreen reliable? Do they have Imodium in their pharmacies if you get food poisoning? What about Plan B? To reduce the anxiety of these unknowns, make a list, start packing 1+ weeks ahead of when you leave, and run through your list 2-3 times before leaving.
I would suggest downloading maps of the cities you’re staying in on your navigation apps. I’ve had some pretty awful service in other countries at times and relied majority on wifi for the duration of the trip. There’s nothing scarier than not knowing where you are in a foreign country and being clueless as to where to go or how to read the road signs. Yikes…been there, done that.
Research what apps are frequently used in the country your traveling to: What ride share apps do they use? What food delivery apps are there? Is there a preferred navigation app in this country? Is there an app to pay for parking? Have these downloaded and at your resource before traveling.
You’ll probably think all of this preparation is overkill afterwards, but if it’s going to help the anxiety of you traveling solo, then do what feels right. At the end of the day it’s about making this the most safe, comfortable, and loving experience for you. Travel isn’t made to be stressful; it’s meant to be liberating.
Enjoy The Ride <3
Travel will inevitably have stressful moments, but when they arise, take them as they come. Take a deep breath, and figure it out. Then remember to look back and praise yourself for the obstacles you overcame. Push yourself to go out and see something new daily, stay and chat with the barista extra long, and immerse yourself in the culture around you. You came all this way to another country, make it worth it! Have a romantic fling, go out with friends you made that day, and find deeper love for yourself in the silent moments. There is so much beauty in this world, but also within you waiting to be unlocked through your global endeavors. You got this, babe.