Traveling solo is one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had. It gives you a profound sense of gratitude, independence, and self-confidence that you can seldom get elsewhere! Taking your first solo trip can be exciting but also intimidating at times.
Don’t worry, though; everything you need to know to make your first solo trip a success is here in this guide! Throughout this post, we’ll go through some tips to make the most of your trip and things to think about as you plan.
Table of Contents
Planning your First Solo Trip
Like any trip, you’ll want to plan ahead of time to make it a success, however, I think in addition to the normal trip planning steps you take, there’s a few other considerations for a first trip to keep in mind.
- If solo travel intimidates you, start small. Go on a day trip alone, go to a meet up in your hometown. Did you have fun? You’ll probably like solo travel.
- After that is a success, plan a bigger trip. A weekend away or to somewhere you’ve been before and are familiar with. Solo travel is something that can take time to get used to!
- Do plenty of planning ahead – if you are well researched it’ll be more fun and you’ll have more confidence!
- Don’t make the mistake of not booking any group tours. You’ll want to meet other travelers and make some friends!
- Set a budget.
- Choose a destination
- Book flight
- Research and map things out
- Choose where to stay
- Book tours and activities
- Make sure you have local transport
- Share your plans with someone you trust (this is really important on a solo trip to make sure someone you know is aware of where you will be and when!)
Mistakes to Avoid
- Posting on socials in real time. Sending friends and family pics is one thing (and encouraged); posting on socials in real time, especially if you have a public profile, is another. Maybe you added that person you met on a tour on your trip even, well if you’re posting in real time, now that person you met for a few hours knows your every move. Just avoid it!
- Booking a non-refundable ticket (and no insurance). Nothing is more stressful than solo travel with a messed up ticket and no way to fix it. You’ll end up more stressed if you don’t have a way to recoup costs or find help fast.
- I booked a tour that wasn’t offered in my language. If you don’t check, you could show up ready to meet people only to realize you can’t talk to anyone!
3. Overplanning and exhausting yourself. Too many activities can exhaust you and make you not fully enjoy the things you had planned. Plus, you want to stay well aware when solo!
- Planning to do everything on your own can be a major mistake, especially for long solo trips, because you can become very lonely. Solo travel doesn’t mean you have to be alone!
- Not keeping a little cash on hand. Have a mix of payment methods (cash, cards) and store them separately. You don’t want to end up somewhere without a way to pay!
- Not budgeting wisely. Keep track of your expenses to avoid overspending. It’s easier for costs on a solo trip tot add up because you aren’t splitting the major costs like a hotel with someone.
- Not having an international phone plan. Ensure your phone has international roaming or get a local SIM card. Use apps to stay connected and navigate your destination (e.g., maps, translation, transportation).
- Stressing over things. There’s definitely something that won’t go exactly as planned. Embrace the unexpected and make the most of every moment.
Solo Travel Doesn’t Mean You’re Alone: How to Make Friends
Solo travel doesn’t mean you’re by yourself the whole time! One of the best things about solo travel is all the people you meet along the way. Trust me, there’s plenty of people you’ll be able to meet as long as you are open to it. Making friends when traveling alone tends to be easier because you are more willing to put yourself out there.
Here’s a few ways to make friends while traveling solo:
- EatWith: Join local hosts and small groups for intimate dinner parties, hands-on cooking classes, and interactive workshops. These are so fun while traveling and you’ll get to know people well!
- Take an organized tour – you’re bound to meet others. I love Airbnb Experiences, Viator, and GetYourGuide.
- Sit at the bar – strike up a conversation with someone next to you or ask the bartender for recommendations. It’s easier to make conversation!
- Use social media and apps – ask friends if they know anyone locally, join Facebook groups for solo travelers or cities (Host a Sister, Girls Love Travel, Find a Travel Buddy), Going Solo App, or Bumble BFF.
- Stay at a hostel: Hostels can be great for solo travelers because they are affordable and typically have a lot of solo travelers. Hostels also hold events for people to socialize, and many do have private rooms, so you don’t have to bunk with others to take advantage!
Capturing Memories while Traveling Solo
Here are 4 ways I get awesome pictures while solo traveling or if youre with a partner and want pics together:
- Mini-wrap around tripod. I wrap it around lamp posts, fences, tree limbs… you name it. But you can also leave it as a normal tripod. You’ll find it on Amazon!
- Make friends! Meet people and take pictures for each other. Thank you to the friends I made on this last trip who took great pictures of me!
- Ask a stranger to exchange. I usually say, “Do you all want a picture?” Then, after, “Would you mind taking one of me?” People are usually happy to return the favor!
- Book a photographer! Local photographers offer tours/experiences. I’ve had great luck finding people through Airbnb Experiences.
Safety Tips for your First Solo Trip
- Share your travel plans with family or friends and check in regularly.
- Ensure your phone has international roaming or get a local SIM card to keep in touch.
- Arrive at a new destination well before dark. Daylight gives you a better sense of the safety of a place, and you can better orient yourself.
- Avoid risky areas, especially at night, and stay aware of your surroundings.
- Keep copies of important documents and store them separately from the originals. Extra copies could come in handy.
- Carry a card and a little cash on hand, but don’t carry too much. Keep the rest of it locked away in your hotel room, hidden in a bag. You don’t want to flaunt too much cash.
- Don’t be afraid to say no, and trust your gut. You’ll never see these people again, and you do not have to be polite.
- Dress appropriately for the culture and country you are visiting, especially in countries where dressing in certain ways is a sign of respect.
- Learning a few key phrases in the local language can help you navigate and connect with locals.
Great Places for Your First Solo Trip
As someone who has traveled solo frequently, here’s a few of my favorite solo destinations and those that are frequently listed as amazing trips for solo travelers!
Great for a short trip
- Puerto Rico
- Washington, DC
- Sedona, AZ
- New York, NY
- San Diego, CA
- Mexico City, MX
- Quebec, Canada
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Edinborough, Scotland
- Antigua, Guatemala
Great for a long trip
- Iceland
- Austria
- Switzerland
- Costa Rica
- Panama
- Japan
- Bali
- South Korea
- Thailand
- Australia
- New Zealand
- South Africa
I hope this helps you think about all those what ifs in your mind about solo travel! While it’s intimidating at first, it’s one of the most rewarding and inspiring ways to explore the world. You don’t have to wait for someone to go with you – take the trip!
Great tips to stay healthy and safe while traveling solo and having fun! Planning is always the most important step in my book.
Definitely agree! Big planner here and it makes a huge difference in feeling confident and prepared.
Thank you for this comprehensive guide! I appreciate the emphasis on planning and trusting your instincts—it makes the idea of solo travel less intimidating and more exciting.
I’m a huge planner solo or not and it definitely makes a huge difference when going into a solo trip to have stuff planned. Instincts can be so hard to listen to when they go against societal norms too!
I love this! I have started traveling solo a lot for work and always want to take pictures, but I don’t want to take out my drone! thanks for the recommendation for the tripod. I need to take your advice to not overplan as well.
I have never had a drone, but love the idea of taking solo pictures with one. The tripod really comes in handy on many trips!
I have always avoided solo trips, but I like your tips here and the idea of starting small, with a short trip. Doing tours I think would help me too.
Yes! Can always try something local before committing to something big. And agreed – that helped me a lot too to realize I can still meet people and be social!
These are great tips. I love solo travel and the freedom it gives you. I too once booked a tour in another language but it turned out great. A women offered to translate and she became a friend who helped me out all trip. These type of encounters are much more rare when you are in a group.
I love that story! Mine has turned out bad TWICE when it happened to me now so I love your positive experience and that someone helped you.