5 Steps to Preparing for Your First Time as a Solo Traveller

Travelling solo can be both exciting and eye-opening to a first-time solo adventurer. You’ll get plenty of opportunities for self-reflection, and you’ll grow in new ways from the experience—for example, by being more independent and practical about your travel arrangements. The solo travel life also offers many unique benefits, like being able to explore places at your own pace and being able to visit attractions that interest you without having to cater to anyone else.

Compared to travelling in a group and constantly having to adjust to your travel companions’ needs, it can be much easier to plan out and follow your own itinerary. But solo travel can also be daunting, especially if you’re doing it for the first time in a place you’ve never been to before. Perhaps you aren’t certain if you’ll have fun just being by yourself, and you may also be worried about your safety.

Luckily, there are several ways that you can ensure you stay safe and truly enjoy your first solo trip. By preparing for certain aspects of your trip beforehand and planning around emergencies, you’ll feel more at ease travelling alone for the first time. Below are five steps that you should consider taking before embarking on your first solo travel adventure:

Book Your Accommodations in Advance

Before you can go, you need to decide where you want to go, and where you want to stay. There are plenty of different options depending on where you’re heading, so take a look at the options that are available to you. For example, there are hotels pretty much everywhere, some areas have local campgrounds if you feel this is more your vibe, or there are hostels for those looking to travel on a budget.

Take a look into where you want to go and where you want to stay, so at the very least you’ve got this set up for you when you get there. As long as you have a safe space to sleep, that’s the first priority.

Do Your Research About Your Destination

The final thing that we’re going to mention is the fact that you should be considering what activities you want to do when you’re away. Think about what you would like to do, and the kind of things that you wouldn’t be able to do if your partner is with you, or someone else you usually travel with, as this is certainly the time to take advantage of this.

You get complete free reign over your itinerary, making it that much better for you as you’re not constantly wondering if the other person is having fun or not.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you should think about when you’re planning a solo trip. It can be a lot of fun, and we highly recommend it, just make sure you’re planning things out and staying safe.

Leave a Copy of Your Itinerary with Your Loved Ones

It’s the prudent thing to do to give your loved ones a copy of your itinerary back home. Make sure it includes your flight details, hotel reservations, and a general schedule of your trip. Giving your loved ones your itinerary, contact details, and other specifics of the trip will ensure your safety while you’re away. Your family and friends will know how to locate you and how to get in touch with you in case they need to.

Prepare for Emergencies

Ideally, your first solo trip won’t include any accidents or medical emergencies. All the same, it’s better to be prepared should you encounter such unfortunate events. That said, find out where the nearest hospitals, police stations, and other emergency facilities are in the area you’re travelling to. If you’re traveling internationally, you should also look for the address and phone number of the embassy of your home country too. The information should serve you well in case you need assistance while in a foreign country.

In addition to these places, keep a list of emergency contacts ready. Include your own personal contact information and the name and details of your emergency contact back home, along with other pertinent phone numbers you might need while you’re on the trip. For example, you may want to keep a copy of the toll-free number of your credit card company. This way, you can activate travel protection benefits in case you lose your card.

Learn the Local Language

Making an effort to learn a few phrases in the native tongue of your destination can make a huge difference in the quality and memorability of your solo travel experience. Even simple phrases like "hello," “thank you," "sorry," and “please” can open up new opportunities for you to communicate with the locals. This will pave the way for positive interactions, as the locals will likely appreciate your interest in learning about their language and culture.

Aside from basic greetings, learn emergency phrases in the local language. Knowing how to ask where the nearest transport stop or hospital is can make asking for help a lot easier when you need it.

If you’re nervous about travelling alone for the first time, rest assured that it’s normal to feel that way. Just make sure that you prepare for the trip the best you can so you can ensure your safety and feel confident about exploring a new place all on your own. Hopefully, these recommendations can unlock a travel experience so rewarding that you’ll want to seek out new solo travel adventures soon.

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