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You’ve finally decided to take the leap of faith – committing to going on your first solo trip!

WooHoo! This is sometimes the most difficult step, because like I was, you are naturally scared, nervous, and apprehensive. I mean, traveling alone sounds almost boring, am I right? But trust me, it’s everything BUT boring! 

However, I totally get having reservations. I mean, I think I talked about doing a solo trip for about 2 years before I actually decided fuck it, I’m gonna check this thing out once and for all. And now look at me, I can’t shut up about it and I’m writing blogs about it trying to convince YOU to do it! 

 

So finally, here you are committing to going on your first solo trip and now you’re all like – NOW WHAT?! What do I do? How do I do it? What’s the first step? Can I really do this? I’ve never done this before, IDFK what I’m doing!!!

 

Relax… I’ve got you covered! Here I have outlined exactly how to plan your first solo trip, leaving out all the guesswork and giving you peace of mind knowing – you’ve got this! It’s just a few simple steps and wham, bam, thank you, ma’am, you’ll be on your way jet-setting to some amazing destination creating memories you previously could only dream about.

plan solo trip - girl writing in planner

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First Step To Plan Your First Solo Trip:

PICK YOUR DESTINATION

 

Luckily, there are SO MANY places in the world that are solo-travel friendly, especially for females. What I mean by this is, there are many places that solo female travelers frequent that time and time again have provided a safe, fun, and life-changing experience.

 

This does not mean though, that they are 100% safe and that bad things can’t happen. They most certainly can, and do, anywhere you go so it is important to always always always exercise caution! Especially since you’re alone.

plan solo trip - girl sitting in bed drinking tea looking at a map of the world

Some top locations that come to mind to plan your first solo trip:

 

  • SE Asia
    • Thailand, Bali, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines
  • Australia
  • Europe
    • Spain, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Portugal, France, Germany, Hungary

 

These are just the most popular places that I personally see solo female travelers frequent on social media. However, they are really spread all around the globe and have gone to almost (if not all) every country!

 

When it comes to choosing your destination, let me help you decide! I’ve broken it down here on how to decide where your first solo trip should be.

Then: CHECK THE WEATHER

It’s important to consider the time of year of your destination! The LAST thing you want to do is book your ideal vacation during their rainy season, or their winter, etc, etc.

I cannot tell you how much it sucks to think you’re going to Italy during a wonderful time of the year, only to find out the day before you are leaving that it’s cold, rainy, snowy AF and everything is going to be shut down for the season. Or end up in SE Asia in the rainy season. OH, yeah, that was me.

There’s nothing wrong with going somewhere and it’s cold or hot, rainy or snowy. Maybe you want to snowboard or relax in the hot springs. But do yourself a favor, check the weather, so you can pack appropriately and not have expectations ruined! 

I will say though, that going to a place in their off-season has lots of perks like cheaper prices, fewer tourists, etc. But if you’re solo and aiming to mingle with lots of other travelers, off-season might not be your best bet. You most likely don’t want to plan your first solo trip to a location off-season and miss the opportunities that come with being around a bunch of other travelers. 

Once You’ve Done That:

BOOK YOUR FLIGHT

 

I don’t know about you, but I like to enjoy free flights, especially if I’m going somewhere far and it’s an expensive one. In order to do this, you should be utilizing the travel hack I break down in my Guide To Free Flights.

 

And as you’re probably aware, I’m all about savin’ money because your girl stays being on a budget. I’m sure you’ve heard that buying your flights in advance is smart as they are most definitely WAY cheaper than trying to buy them last minute. BUT, buying them too far in advance can have the same result.

plan solo trip - a guide to free flights

 So when should I buy flights when I plan my first solo trip?

 

The average sweet spot to purchasing flights is about 3-6 weeks in advance for domestic and  3-5 months for International. Also aim to do it on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Cheapair conducted a survey that found for domestic flights 47 days before was on average the best day to book, and for international to book before 90 days out.

 

Another thing to keep in mind, your browser knows when you are searching for a flight, and the system will automatically increase flight prices for a flight you are frequently checking. In that case, it is smart to clear your cookies/browsing history and/or use an incognito window. If you don’t know how to do that, go to the chrome symbol on your desktop, right-click on it, and open “New Incognito Window” for private browsing.

 

If you are using the travel hack to purchase your flights, usually the prices don’t fluctuate too much on those. I usually find them to be sort of set as long as you are not waiting too close to the intended departure because they WILL increase. Your chances of it decreasing though are not very high so what you see is usually what you’ll end up having to “pay”. But hey, if it’s free – who cares, right?!

 

Consider using online flight tools

 

If you’re not using the travel hack, then you want to search for flight prices and compare using online tools! Luckily there are so many to choose from.

 

plan solo trip - girl working on laptop at cafe

 Skyscanner, Hopper, and GoogleFlights are my favorite for finding great flight deals. I like to use a combination – because sometimes you just never know who is going to find the better deal. And you are able to set up alerts with all three of these, to let you know if there’s a price increase or decrease!

 

Hopper also alerts you to when it thinks is the best time to buy using historical data and Skyscanner has a feature that lets you search flights to “everywhere” from your home airport, that way you can browse destinations by flight price.

 

Other options for finding cheap flights are subscribing to flight deal monitors like ScottsCheapFlights or SecretFlying.

Once Your Flight Is Booked:

START DOING SOME RESEARCH

I like to start doing some research on the destination to start finding out so many things. This isn’t crucial, but it will help you better prepare for your time there and what to expect as you plan your first solo trip. You don’t need to find out every little detail but there are some key points that will be beneficial!

 

Here are some things to research:

 

  • The currency exchange rate & average price of things
    • that way you know what you’re money is worth and how far it will stretch. this can be helpful for budgeting purposes
  • Places to visit
    • are there any places you must visit while there? any nearby places you want to include as day trips?
  • Methods of transportation
    • is there plenty of public transportation, are things mostly in walking distance, or will you have to rely heavily on ubers/taxis?
  • Things to do
    • what are the key attractions, tours or activities? are any a cant-miss?
  • Important customs
    • is there anything that you should or shouldn’t do that may offend or upset the locals? such as choice of clothing, do you barter when shopping, etc.
  • A few words in their language
    • things like hello, goodbye, thank you, where is __, how much is __, bathroom, etc. This can be helpful if you find yourself in a situation where the locals do not speak any English. They will also love that you at least attempted. Do not expect the locals to speak to you in English. Remember, you are in their country.
  • Scams to look out for
    • Unfortunately, scams happen everywhere. It may be helpful for you to know which ones are common in that area so that you can be mindful if one is happening.
  • Most popular methods of theft
    • Again, theft happens everywhere as well. It’s a good idea to know which methods are popular in that area, so that you may avoid yourself from being a target.
  • Things to EAT
    • Come on now, we all know that eating is half the fun of traveling. Check out what dishes there are you want to try, or any awesome restaurants/cafes to check out!

Dont Forget: CHECK IF YOU NEED A VISA

 

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard or read about someone who was flying to a country and didn’t even know they needed a visa and was rejected entry upon arrival. Do a quick search to see if the country you’re from is required to get a visa for the place you’re going.

 

Either you won’t need one, you’ll need one upon arrival, or you will have to apply for one in advance. If you need one upon arrival, that is super easy. You will just go to a certain window when you land and pay cash for a visa that will be placed right into your passport. Note that usually, you can only pay for these visas in either USD or their currency. I have not seen that you can pay with any other currency. If you need one in advance, just apply online and make sure you give yourself adequate time to get approval. Make sure you print it out and bring it with you to the airport!

 

Also, consider timing

 

Another thing that you must look into, is how long you have to be in that country either without a visa or on the visa. You don’t want to overextend your stay to avoid any fines or penalties. It’s common in Asia to be allowed in for 30 days at a time. Travelers will just hop the border for a few days then come back. Other places like the EU for example, you might be allowed 90 days of travel every 180 days. Meaning that once you use up your 90 days, you can’t reenter until 180 days have passed since your first entry date into the EU.

 

Optional: GET YOUR TRAVEL SHOTS/VACCINES

 

Now this is one that I’ve never done personally, but there are many people who never travel without doing this. And that is getting the appropriate shots/vaccines. Depending on where you’re going, it may be wise to get things such as rabies, hepatitis A & B, typhoid, yellow fever, etc. These may depend on where you’re going, how rural it is, etc.

 

I’ve never gotten any of these before and have been completely fine but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t. If you have insurance and the means to pay for it, then by all means it is better to be safe than sorry!

Important: GET TRAVEL INSURANCE

I can’t stress enough how important this is! You may think, oh well nothing will happen to me, but you’re wrong. You have NO IDEA if something will happen to you! Anything can happen and it may not even be your fault! I’ve heard horror stories of people getting into terrible motorbike accidents, breaking bones bicycling on a trail, public transport buses getting into accidents, getting all of your belongings stolen, etc.

 

You definitely do not want to be in the position of not being covered if you need to replace things or spend time in a hospital, getting airlifted, or having any kind of emergency surgeries/treatments. Being in a foreign country is scary enough, being there without proper coverage, you just never know if/and/or what treatment you will get without it!

 

You have two options of coverage:

 

  • medical
  • personal belongings

 

You can find insurers that will cover one or the other, or both. On my first solo trip, I went with World Nomads who have a plan that covers both. On my year-long travels, and who I currently am still with, is Safety Wing that is medical and travel delays. Sometimes your travel card or credit card will provide you with travel coverage as well! It can be worth it to have one of those too for extra coverage. Make sure you read all of your policy exclusions, as it can be common for them not to cover “extreme” sports like scuba diving, etc.

 

But having travel insurance will provide you with peace of mind in case an accident does happen, or you get robbed/lose your belongings. Don’t be that person and just assume nothing bad will happen to you. Always expect and prepare for the worst!

Once You’ve Done All That: PUT TOGETHER A (ROUGH) ITINERARY!

 

I say a rough itinerary because you want to have an idea of what you want to do/where you want to go, but you don’t want it to be so concrete that you leave no room for mistakes or spontaneity. And trust me, if it’s your first-time solo traveling or even if you are experienced, there is ALWAYS ERROR.

The last thing you want to do is fly all the way to Rome, get to your train to Venice 4 hours in advance, eat pizza to kill the time, then go to board the train just to find out that you are at the wrong train station and you missed it. Ah, yes, that was me.

 

You also want to leave room for spontaneity when you plan your first solo trip! You will be meeting people on your travels and be presented with the opportunity to do things and go places with them. It would be a shame to have things booked solid and not be able to join in on these fun adventures because you’re going to lose $$ on a lot of non-refundable bookings. Or you may find yourself in a place you aren’t vibing with and want to leave early, or vice versa, you fall in love with a place and want to stay longer.

 

Basically, shit’s gonna happen. You might lose your stuff, sleep in late and miss a bus, go on an amazing adventure longer than expected, read your time tables wrong, etc. So I suggest when you plan your first solo trip that you write out your cant-miss-this things to do, write a rough itinerary of the places you want to go, but leave the booking last minute so that you can go with the flow.

 

Now You Should:

BOOK YOUR *INITIAL* ACCOMMODATION

 

plan solo trip - common area of hostel with a pool

This goes right back to the previous point. You’ve got your rough itinerary planned out, but you don’t know exactly how your trip is going to pan out yet. So I recommend to book the accommodation for the first place you’ll be, and then just look at accommodations for the other locations so you can have an idea of where you want to stay, the price it’ll cost ya, etc.

 

You want to leave your options open a little in case something comes up or something happens. The only time I’d recommend booking flat out upfront is if it’s an extremely high season where you’re going and everything is booking up fast, there is a booking you REALLY want and want to ensure you will have it, or if your trip is a one-stop location.

 

There are so many places to look for accommodation online nowadays. My favorite tools to use are Hostelworld, BookingAgoda, Airbnb, and an app called Hotel Tonight. If you’re traveling solo – you will most likely want to stay at a hostel in order to meet other travelers and be a part of their social events. You’ll learn as you plan your first solo trip, that hostels are a solo traveler’s best friend. 

 

However, I have stayed at a few air BNB’s in SE Asia that was set up like hostels where I met some cool people. It’s also nice to break up your time from sleeping in hostels by staying at a nice hotel or Airbnb every now and then. Just do what feels right for you and your style of travel.

A little story…

 

Once when I was in Italy during high season, I had a booking at a hostel that was far away from a city I arrived in, and the transportation to it was closed as I arrived so late at night. Unfortunately, all the places were booked in the city I was in except for hotels that I couldn’t afford. So I ended up sleeping at the bus stop like a homeless person, in a windowsill wearing all my bags for protection, with one eye peeled for creepers. So trust me, I totally get wanting to make sure you have somewhere to sleep! Don’t wait if you are someone who just KNOWS you can’t withstand the thought of booking last minute.

plan solo trip - girl sitting in windowsill of bus stop in italy

Finally: IT’S TIME TO START PACKING!

 

I don’t know if you are someone who likes to pack in advance or pack last minute, but either way, it is helpful to have an idea of what to pack. An important tip that I’ve mentioned above is to: check the weather. The last thing you want to do is fly all the way across the world to Australia under the impression it is always hot, only to get off the plane and be met with COLD, rainy, windy weather and not have packed a single jacket. Oh yeah, that was me again!

 

If you’re a budget traveler, then the key here is to pack LIGHT. That way you are able to only bring a carry-on backpack/luggage and avoid those extra baggage fees. PLUS, if you are solo traveling, it will most likely be just you handling all of your bags, and if you’re backpacking you’re going to want shit to be light. Trust me. Being alone carrying a lot of shit through foreign streets with tons of people hollering at you can be stressful. Make it easy on yourself, pack light.

 

A tip most backpackers say is to lay out your initial pack. Then divide it in half. But if you’re someone with a bigger budget and don’t GAF about all of that, then pack away sista!

 

Here is my comprehensive packing list I have put together of all the things you might possibly need! These are things that I have used on my travels. Keep in mind, my list is extensive as I have a lot of equipment and have been traveling for a year+, and I’m the one carrying my bag so I get to decide if it’s too heavy or not. If you’re going on a shorter trip, you most likely will not need all of this stuff. So check it out, pack what ya need, dismiss what ya don’t! I’ve also got some recommendations on what items I personally use as well.

Now That The Hard Stuff IS Done, Time For The Fun Part: THE ACTUAL SOLO ADVENTURE!

 

The days leading up to your departure can feel somewhat scary and nerve-wracking! I know, because the night before I left, I laid in my bed thinking, this time tomorrow I will be laying in a bed all by myself in a foreign country! The thought started to freak me out and I started to wonder, what the hell was I doing?! But trust me, that will pass as soon as you step off that plane and are in a beautiful, wonderful new country. The adrenaline and wonder from all the sights, smells, and sounds will coarse through you and you will have SUCH a great time!

 

The Very Last Thing To Do Is: ENJOY EVERY MINUTE!

 

Your solo adventure will flyyyyy by. I promise you. You’ll experience great times and even a few bad ones I’m sure. But in the end, it’ll all be worth it. You’ll come back a completely different person than when you left. And hopefully, you will have caught the travel bug as I did and this will be the beginning of many more adventures!

 

You only get your first solo trip experience once and it will be something that will stay with you for a lifetime. I hope you truly appreciate every moment you have, take the time to reflect on life and your inner self, really take in your surroundings and jump at every opportunity you come across. The time you have is totally and completely up to you for once. You will be the sole decision-maker in all things so DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY!

I hope this was heplful for you as you plan your first solo trip. I know that it can feel overwhelming, but trust me, it’s much easier than you think. If you ever have any questions, feel free to ask! 

xx, christine

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6 Comments

  1. Krista

    These are some great tips! I went on my first solo trip a couple of years ago and loved the freedom of going wherever I wanted!

    Reply
    • Christine Poore

      thank you! ahhh yes it’s so freeing, isn’t it?! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Emma

    This is such a helpful guide for anyone trying to take that first step to solo travel. Planning that first trip is often the hardest as there are so many options you can feel overwhelmed. Just finding somewhere you will feel comfortable with – whether it be for the language, food or weather – is my best advice for that first trip. but just make sure you go. i love traveling solo and recommend it to anyone at least once

    Reply
    • Christine Poore

      yesss girl you are so right! the biggest thing is to just GO. and give it a try. Worst case – someone doesn’t like it and can always come home <3

      Reply
  3. MacKenzie

    I love solo travel, and even though I’ve been doing it a while, I loved reading this post because of your positivity! It’s a wonderful resource 🙂

    Reply
    • Christine Poore

      thank you 🙂 I want to try to inspire others to try it!

      Reply

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