Have you always wanted to embark on a solo trip overseas but didn’t know where to start?
Read on to discover some tips and tricks that really helped me out when I first started out as a newbie solo traveler!
Tip 1: Embrace Yourself
Solo traveling is all about putting yourself first. You have complete freedom to decide what you want to do, where you want to go, and even what you want to eat without having to accommodate others (*cough* family and friends cough).
My first tip is to embrace yourself! Consider what you would like to experience, along with your own likes and dislikes, and tailor your plans from there.
Personally, I’m not much of a foodie so finding “Must Eats” is not high on my list of priorities whenever I plan a trip. However, what I really enjoy is embracing nature and experiencing the culture of the destination. Knowing this, I am able to pick out activities that are more suited for me like hiking and visiting iconic landmarks.
Having an overall vibe of how you would like your trip to turn out is a big stepping stone to embarking on an amazing solo trip.
Tip 2: Plan Ahead
Once you have a rough vision in mind, it’s time to get down and dirty with the research which brings me to my second tip: plan ahead!
You may or may not have a destination in mind, and that is okay. Sometimes, your interests shape your decision, and other times, you plan for the destination. Either way, prior research and planning will help to make things a lot clearer and open up new doors that you may not have considered before. There are plenty of resources available on YouTube, TikTok and good ol’ Google.
As for the actual itinerary, that really is up to you and your own preferences! If you’re looking for a relaxing “get out of bed at 11am” kind of trip, I would suggest prioritising the activities that interest you the most and space them out accordingly. A general word of advice would be to consider the location of your activities and hit those spots on the same day so as to avoid wasting too much time on traveling.
What I can say for sure is that you don’t want to turn up in a completely unfamiliar country and have no idea what to do next. Not only is that stress-inducing, but also an almost guaranteed start to an unfulfilling trip. So do yourself a favour and start planning!
Tip 3: Dress To Impress
So, you’ve booked your tickets and you have your itinerary all planned out. Here comes the most tiring task which is figuring out how to fit all your clothes and essentials into a tiny 24” luggage. You may have limited space but that is not an excuse to dress like a slob!
When traveling, I personally tend to opt for a minimalist capsule wardrobe style. This includes packing staples (i.e. plain tees, shorts, jeans and sneakers) and neutrals (i.e. white, cream, navy and black). Not only are such pieces easy to match and versatile, it also greatly reduces the number of items you need to bring while giving you multiple options to choose from.
It is also important to consider factors like the weather, trip duration, planned activities, and availability of laundry services. This greatly affects the type and amount of clothing you need to bring along. If your trip involves a lot of trekking and grass-touching, it’s obviously not practical to pack only summer dresses and heels. You’ll only be cutting your trip short and coming back home with broken ankles.
While it is important to look your best, it should not come at the expense of your own comfort. Take your time to plan out your outfits and enjoy the process!
Tip 4: Be Safe
For the last and most important tip, please be on the lookout and stay safe!
As much as we like to believe that the world is all sunshine and rainbows, the matter of fact is that there is always potential danger lurking around the corner. I’m sure we’ve all heard horror stories about tourists getting pickpocketed and scammed, or even worse, assaulted.
You’re going to be alone for most of the time so you have to take charge of your own health and well-being. Here are some quick safety tips to keep in mind:
Purchase travel insurance before leaving the country
Be aware of your surroundings and avoid areas that are known to be unsafe
Split your money and carry only a small amount with you, keep the rest safely hidden away in your accommodation
Double-check to ensure your valuables are secured with you at all times
Keep your loved ones updated on your daily plans and your surroundings (i.e. tour guides, drivers, license plates) regularly
It may seem over the top and I’m not here to nag at you, but you can never be too safe when traveling solo!
Should You Travel Solo?
To be honest, my very first solo trip was decided very spontaneously and I was plenty worried about a lot of things. I read up on many solo-traveling articles to prepare myself and realised that they always circled back to how travelers often came back with a sense of empowerment and confidence.
I didn’t really understand it until I was suddenly overseas and doing things that I didn’t think I would have the guts to do like checking into a hotel or eating in a restaurant all by myself. I was talking to the locals, enjoying new sights, and having a blast. There definitely was a feeling of accomplishment whenever I plucked up the courage to try something new and realised that “Oh, it wasn’t that difficult after all.”
If fear is holding you back from taking that first step, my advice is simple: set it aside and book that ticket! Don’t let that stand in your way from trying something new and who knows, maybe you’ll come back home eager for more. I hope that this article gives you the push you need to make your dream solo-travel trip a reality.
This is Julia, signing off!
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