Solo travel can be intimidating to some people, especially if you’re traveling alone for the first time – it’s completely normal. Some people fear getting bored, some think they’ll feel lonely, and others may have safety concerns.

These are all valid reasons for hesitation; however, solo travel is still a life-changing experience that you should have at least once in your life. So, I put together this step-by-step guide to help you prepare for your first solo adventure – whenever you’re ready, of course.

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Traveling Alone for the First Time? Here’s What to Do!

#1 Understand that you are not alone

Like I said, it’s okay to feel anxious about traveling alone or at least have your concerns. In fact, I used to be like you!

YES! I wasn’t born a solo traveler and I was trapped in one hell of a comfort zone. I thought I couldn’t enjoy my own self’s company, I had an overprotective family, I wasn’t financially independent, and I used to be a bit more uptight and uncomfortable when put in new, unknown situations. So what happened?

Well, if you’re new here, then you’d probably want to read the story of how I started solo traveling (if you’re curious enough). To cut a long story short: It was love at first sight. It just took me a few months to figure out how I can spend the rest of my life doing this once I realized this was what I wanted.

But the very first step you need to take to gain the courage to embark on your solo adventure is to understand that you’re not alone. It’s completely natural to feel hesitant or intimidated and it shouldn’t make you feel like a coward. Even frequent, veteran solo travelers like myself still feel anxious sometimes.

#2 Define your obstacles

So, you want to start traveling solo, right? But what’s stopping you? We each have different cases and obstacles and I like to believe that to every problem, there’s a solution. But don’t we need to define the problem first in order for us to be able to solve it?

Let me help you do that. Here are the most common 3 obstacles that prevent people from traveling alone: fear of boredom, safety concerns, and parents’ disapproval.

#3 Address your concerns and conquer your fears

Once you define what are the reasons hindering you from solo traveling, it’s time to work on the solving part. Here are some possible solutions to each of the common obstacles that I’ve previously mentioned.

FEAR OF BOREDOM

“Will I get bored? Will I feel lonely? How am I going to have fun on my own?”

These are all questions I constantly get whenever someone learns I’m a solo traveler. And you know where’s the irony? It’s that even though I’m usually traveling alone, I never ever felt lonely.

Traveling alone makes you way more flexible and open to meeting new people, unlike when you’re with a group of friends when you tend to be more closed off.

You may ask, “but what if I’m shy, an introvert, or socially anxious/awkward?” Well, I have just the reads for you. The following eye-opening blog posts address (and solve) common problems like beating solo travel boredom, making friends while traveling alone, and overcoming solo travel anxiety. In these reads, I’ll let you in on my top tips on how to approach and meet others on your trip, even if you’re an introvert or if you get anxious, as well as ideas for how to stay entertained.

MUST-READ: How to Beat Solo Travel Boredom

MUST-READ: How to Make Friends as a Solo Globetrotter

MUST-READ: Having Anxiety About Traveling Alone? Here’s How to Overcome It

BONUS TIP: Bring a game with you to break the ice with other travelers on the road 😉

SAFETY CONCERNS

“Is it safe for a woman to travel alone? Is this destination safe for a female solo traveler?”

I’ve heard these questions countless times.

Female solo travel and safety concerns always come hand in hand whenever any woman, who happens to travel alone, brings it up. Be it fear of sexual harassment or crime, it’s always the women who have to worry about the safety bit.

Traveling, in general, is not always rainbows and butterflies. There are mishaps on almost every single trip. That’s completely normal. It’s part of the package – that’s part of everyday life. And honestly, my main advice to you is that a little bit of common sense would do. Anywhere.

Practically speaking though, there are various safety precautions that you could take to stay (and feel) safe while traveling alone for the first time (or 100th time).

MUST-READ: 10+ Tested Safety Tips for Female Solo Travel Newbies

Another thing you need to understand is that there are so many stereotypes about so many countries out there. Don’t believe everything the media tells you. Travel with a positive mindset, and open heart, and a whole lot of common sense. And most importantly, don’t let the mishaps or negative experiences stop you from enjoying your trip.

If you have the time, check out the blog post below and read about a group of badass female solo travelers and their experiences in “so-called unsafe destinations”.

MUST-READ: “Unsafe Travel Destinations”: A Big Fat Lie That Media Feeds Us

PARENTS’ DISAPPROVAL

“How do I convince my parents?”

Well, this one’s the trickiest. Every parent is different, so I honestly can’t guarantee you results for this one, but read along in case I might be able to help.

If your parents are overprotective out of fear for your own safety, that’s completely normal. All that you have to do is prove to them that you can depend on yourself and that they can trust you.

Check out the blog post below for a useful read to all the gals who’d like to start solo traveling. There’s a section dedicated to that parents’ issue with some ideas on how you can earn their trust.

MUST-READ: An Open Letter to the Female Solo Traveler to Be

On the other hand, if your parents are just totally strict just for the sake of it, that’s a bit of a sticky situation. The previous read might be able to help you (or not). Y’all know your folks better. But it doesn’t hurt to try, right?

I honestly would have never thought I’d be where I am today. I grew up having an overprotective mom so traveling with my friends was always an issue, let alone traveling alone! I went from that to full-time travel blogger, but how?

1. Earn your parents’ trust and prove that you could depend on yourself.
2. Become financially independent.

#4 Choose a destination

If you’ve reached step number 4, I’m assuming you’re now determined and ready to try traveling alone for the first time. Taking the first step towards solo travel could be pretty scary, but let me tell, it’s not as scary as it seems. It’s all about taking that leap of faith – once you take it, you’ll feel much more confident. Trust me on that!

Now, you’ve got to choose your destination and since this would be your first solo trip, I highly advise you to go easy on yourself. So, here are my tips for choosing your first solo destination:

START LOCAL

Going somewhere that’s somehow familiar kind of makes things easier. You don’t want to throw yourself into a completely different culture or worry about the language barrier when you’re all new to this.

Even if you haven’t visited the destination before, it being local still makes it familiar to you. At least you have an initial understanding of how things might be and what to expect.

I still remember my first-ever solo trip like it was yesterday. I went to a Nubian village in Upper Egypt, I got incredibly sick for my entire stay, but the lovely Nubians took great care of me, and I hung out with awesome people (when I had the energy). Despite how awful that trip might sound, it was actually one of the turning points in my life. I learned a lot on that trip and it was one of the main triggers that lead to the conception of Curls en Route. Nubia now has an extra special place in my heart.

CONSIDER LANGUAGE BARRIERS

You can still choose an overseas destination for your first solo trip – there’s nothing wrong about that. In this case, it’s always better to choose a country where a language you’re fluent in is spoken widely. Communication can make or break a trip, so you want to be able to communicate easily in a language you’re comfortable speaking.

GO SOMEWHERE FAMILIAR

A good call would also be traveling to a country with a similar culture to yours – one that shares some cultural factors like native language or traditions and norms. Or maybe you can go somewhere where you’re least likely to experience culture shock. If your destination of choice happens to be where a friend or family member lives, it might also be a good idea.

BONUS TIP: You can start off by joining a group tour organized for solo travelers. It’s a great way to get out of your comfort zone while not being a 100% on your own. It’s also perfect for making friends.

#5 Start planning your trip

Now that you have your destination picked out, it’s time to get down to business – PLANNING your trip! Start by looking up flight tickets – you want to book in advance to land good deals. You should also search for accommodation options in parallel as this is usually the second largest bulk in your budget.

While looking up flight tickets, it’s wise to compare your options on different flight aggregators. I personally prefer Skyscanner and Google Flights. As for accommodation, my favorite two platforms for finding and booking a place to stay are Hostelworld and Booking.com.

Booking.com

Afterwards, you want to put together a rough itinerary for your trip. I like to note down all the places that I wish to see and all the bucket-list-worthy experiences I’d love to have in my chosen destination. However, I also like to leave some room for spontaneity and change of plans. Most of my best memories made on trips were the result of spontaneous decisions!

#6 Do further research

Research is crucial for an unforgettable trip, especially if you’re traveling alone for the first time. You need to research accommodations, not just to get the best prices, but to also check reviews made by other solo travelers and to see if the location meets your criteria. Another thing you must research is the cultural norms and traditions of the destination you’re visiting. You need to make sure your behavior would be respectful of the local culture.

You’ll want to research the best times to visit weather-wise and look up what to wear there. It’s also smart to look up all the common scams and tourist traps the destination is known for. There are so many things to research and the more you know, the more confident you’ll be.

#7 Take the necessary precautions to prep yourself

When you’re traveling alone for the first time, you first need to mentally prepare yourself for it. If the idea makes you anxious, it might be good to check out my latest read on overcoming solo travel anxiety. It also covers some tips for introverts.

MUST-READ: Having Anxiety About Traveling Alone? Here’s How to Overcome It

It also goes without saying that you need to take some safety precautions. In case you haven’t already read it, the following blog post is an important read whether you’ve solo traveled before or if you’re traveling alone for the first time.

MUST-READ: 10+ Tested Safety Tips for Female Solo Travel Newbies

30+ Golden Tips for Those Traveling Alone for the First Time

Now that you’re about to get down to some real business, I’ve got to pass the torch on to you. So, let me share some of my solo travel wisdom with you.

Here are 30+ pieces of advice that I’ve learned from over 7 years of solo traveling:

1. Always trust your gut
2. Keep an open mind
3. Don’t be afraid to talk to people
4. Be well prepared
5. Don’t look like a tourist
6. Use common sense
7. Do not panic in times of crisis
8. Let someone know your whereabouts
9. Do your research
10. Set intentions, but not expectations
11. Try to arrive during the day
12. Download offline maps
13. Buy an eSIM and a mobile data plan to stay connected
14. Walk more often
15. Don’t be afraid to get lost
16. Travel with both cards and cash
17. Spend the first day exploring
18. Talk to the locals
19. Respect the local culture
20. Save your accommodation’s address and phone number
21. Print a hard copy of important documents
22. Lock your passport and valuables in a safe
23. Have a plan B
24. Research the common scams
25. Have a sense of your surroundings
26. Track your spending
27. Check reviews
28. Make a packing list
29. Pack meds
30. Worry less
31. Lie but only if you need to

(Totally not encouraging you to scam anyone, but sometimes you may have to lie out of necessity. Example: If you’re getting unwanted male attention and you feel uncomfortable but don’t want to sound rude, you can always say you’re with someone. Or if some creep had the audacity to ask about your hotel and room number.)

32. Embrace self-discovery
33. Maintain a positive mindset
34. Always wear a big fat smile

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Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance!

Travel (solo or not) isn’t always rainbows and butterflies – things might go down south sometimes. You might fall ill or lose your luggage, and that’s when you’ll thank me for having your back covered with travel insurance.

SafetyWing offers different travel insurance packages, tailored to your needs, but their Nomad Insurance is my favorite option.

This travel medical insurance is perfect for frequent travelers. It covers lost checked luggage, travel delay, doctors, hospitals, and more. It even covers the COVID-19 emergency quarantine period if deemed necessary by a physician.

GET INSURED NOW – Nomad Insurance

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You might also like:

• How to Prep for an Adventurous Solo Road Trip
• Having Anxiety About Traveling Alone? Here’s How to Overcome It
• Going to a Music Festival Alone – How to Make Friends, Stay Safe, & Have a Great Time

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