16 Things you should know before taking off on your first solo trip

​Solo travel can be a scary thought for a lot of us, and especially for solo female travelers as there are often extra risks to account for based on gender. When I decided to embark on the solo travel train, I did exactly what you are doing now and read up everything I could about what to do, what not do, how to do it and pretty much any tips or tricks to make my first experience as pleasurable as possible. Spoiler! It didn’t go quite exactly as planned.
 
I made the decision once and for all that I would go off on my own on my 30th birthday and stop missing out on the adventure I kept hearing about.
 
I spent weeks reading blogs about solo travel, preparing myself mentally and planning each leg of my two-month trip. Things didn’t go as I pictured it in my head. Not that it was a bad experience, my decision to travel solo for that long truly was one of the best I’ve made. But my first week abroad was a mixture of emotions, from anxiousness, to tears and laughs, and I wish I had been better prepared for what I would encounter. People always seem to gloss over the less appealing parts of travel.
 
So here is my list of things that every first-time solo traveler should know and tips on how to deal with each of them. 

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16 Things you should know before taking off on your first solo trip 

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1. You will get lonely
Traveling alone for an extended period of time, you will certainly encounter periods when there is no one around you to whom you feel a connection. You will get lonely; it’s normal and it happens to everyone.
 
DO: When that happens, find your happy place. Whether it’s a day at a spa, revisiting yesterday’s museum, or in your hotel room on Facetime with your mom, take the time to do something for yourself and it will help you ride through it.
 
2. You will get bored
Even if your travel time is only a week or two, you can get bored very quickly when you are on your own. To constantly do activities all day, every day you need quite the budget, so down times should always be expected. 
 
DO: Take advantage of it! I truly believe that people should know how to be bored and learn how to be alone with their thoughts. Then if you think you’ve had enough of that, having entertainment is quite helpful: bring a book to the park or download some podcasts to take on a hike!
 
3. It will be scary
The unknown is the one of the scariest things in the world, and when it comes to traveling it’s often the beginning of the trip where you will find the most unknowns: how bad will the language barrier be, will I find my hotel, are the shuttles easy to locate.
 
DO: Plan the first few days of your trip fully. From how you will get to the airport, then hotel, to what you will do on your first few days there. You can even research a few restaurants and bring the list with you so you’re not stressing about figuring out where to eat.
 
4. Start slowly if you’re nervous
You don’t have to leave for months in order to get the “solo traveler” status! If you’re nervous about doing it, start with a week somewhere familiar.
 
DO: Try a resort vacation down in Cuba or a popular beach side town in Nicaragua. For smaller steps still, maybe take a weekend trip to a few towns over! You can also join group tours such as Contiki – although you’re technically going solo, you won’t have to worry about being alone so it’s a good first step.
 
5. Meet up with friends for a week
The great thing about taking off on a solo trip for a few months is that you have a lot of flexibility with time and locations. Meeting up with friends or family at later dates in pre-arranged locations can be a fun thing to look forward to when you’re traveling for an extended period.
 
DO: Try starting the trip with a group of friends so you won’t be alone for that initial unfamiliarity, then go off on your own when they return home. It will be a much easier transition.

Peaceful afternoon listening to the sea organ in Zadar, Croatia

6. You won’t make friends everywhere
Sometimes personalities don’t click, or timing isn’t right. It can be hard to make friends if there is no one around your age or at the same level as you, and it’s not uncommon to come and go in a hostel without having made real connections.
 
DO: Being friendly goes a long way: say hello, ask interesting conversations and invite a few people to meet up for lunch at a restaurant you’ve been wanting to try. In a hostel for example, breakfast is very communal, and everyone always seems to be eager to get an early start on things. Take advantage of this as it is the best time to meet people and get to know fellow travelers from around the world.
 
7. Be honest about your intentions
I’m speaking from a hetero female perspective, so it might be different from other views, but I have found that the men I met almost always expected more than a casual hangout. The preconception of solo travelers is that they’re alone because they don’t have a partner to travel with and that can attract some unwanted (or wanted) attention.
 
DO: Avoid complications and let people know if you’re not available or are not looking for a sexual connection. I found it easier to slip in my boyfriend in naturally in conversations just so that it would be out there. If they were looking for a hookup they usually left shortly thereafter, and those who were genuinely interested in friendly conversation stayed. This is another matter altogether; however, you should also know that you never need to give a reason for refusing someone’s advances, but it’s also totally okay to make up an excuse.
 
8. Trust your instinct, follow your gut feeling
Things can happen everywhere, whether you’re in your backyard or across the planet. The only thing we can do is try to avoid Compromising situations.
 
DO: If you get a that uncomfortable, uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach, don’t wait to get yourself out. Go back to a familiar place, or if you can’t, get help from someone you can trust like a hotel reception.  
 
9. Hostels are great for meeting people
It seems like every seasoned traveler I’ve met has a best friend in another country that they met while staying in hostels and with whom they then travelled extensively with. Since hotels quickly get expensive for solo travelers, it’s no wonder that they often gravitate towards the cheaper alternative, making hostels a hub for people looking for that social contact.
 
DO: Look at the reviews of the hostel in question to get a sense of the environment. Is it a party zone, social hangouts or more of a family feel? Pick one which agrees with your vacation style and you will likely meet more people of the same mind-set.

10. BUT, privacy and comfort are not overrated
Everyone tells you to stay in hostels when you travel solo, so you can meet people and have friends with whom to explore, and you should! But if you’re traveling over a long period of time, I highly recommend booking a hotel stay for at least a couple of nights every week or so. There’s something priceless about being able to sleep in as long as you want and walk around your room naked after a shower in your private bathroom. Or maybe I’m getting old?
 
DO: Book a hotel stay for at least two to three nights every two weeks in order to get the rest, peace and freedom you want. And if you can afford the whole vacation in a hotel, kudos to you!
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Is there anything better than a waterfall in a pool? I doubt it!

11. Tours are a good way to start your trip 
Tour companies organize everything from your hotel pick up to lunch and activities. It’s a great way to familiarize yourself in a new destination without any stress.
 
DO: Try a local hiking tour; they’re perfect for familiarizing yourself with a new country. Ask your guide and fellow hikers for local recommendations!
 
12. Take a group fitness class 
Group fitness class are perfect for staying healthy and meeting people when traveling.
 
DO: Take a yoga or a kickboxing class to energize your body. It’s not an awkward place to go alone and you may make some friends!
 
13. It’s okay to stay in and watch Netflix
And you should really check it out, other countries have so many different shows available!
 
DO: Take time to rest. Whether it’s Netflix or taking a bath, your body will thank you.
 
14. Keep in touch with friends and family
This might seem obvious but keeping in touch with family and friends during an extended trip is not only good social skills, it’s also about being safe.
 
DO: Check in with your parents or friends regularly so they know where you are and how to contact you in case anything happens.
 
15. It often costs more to travel alone
I particularly think of hotel rooms and taxis adding up quickly when you’re not splitting costs but wanting to keep busy as much of the time as possible will also cost you. Activities, tours and classes can be expensive and will add up quickly.
 
DO: Cut costs by eating out less: try one restaurant meal per day and grocery shopping or street food for the remainder.
 
16. Bring entertainment
​Having a few books in your luggage can take too much room, but a tablet with some downloaded ebooks will keep you occupied through every airport, buses and down time you encounter.
 
DO: I like to bring a deck of cards to play some solo games or find a friend to play with.

Final thoughts about traveling solo...
I loved my experience despite its ups and downs! Although I don't foresee traveling solo any time in the near future, it's definitely not off the table. I infinitely prefer sharing the experience with my partner, but should he not be able or interested to join me on a future trip I won't hesitate to go on my own because it's just another thrill of life!

Safe travels!

​J&C

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