Solo traveling is such a hot topic. Some people feel strongly about it, while others may be intimidated to even try their first solo trip. Personally, I’ve only done a few solo travel days here and there, tacked on before and after trips with friends. And have done my fair share of solo work trips all over the country.
But I have never packed my bags to sit somewhere brand new for days on end with nothing to do all by myself. My first solo trip to San Juan Puerto Rico was just that and it was so amazing. I enjoyed every second of it. But after a few days, I definitely learned a few things about a truly solo getaway.
Since that San Juan trip, I have traveled all over the world solo. Long weekends in Stockholm and Copenhagen, a month in Paris and even New York City. It’s safe to say, solo travel has become a part of my personality and something that inspires me and builds my confidence. Here are some of my best tips for your first solo trip.
15 Tips For Your First Solo Trip
Choose Your Location Wisely
Exploring somewhere new is super fun and exciting, but make sure you choose wisely as this will determine how easy and effortless your trip is. A few things to keep in mind…
Safety
Solo travel safety is key. Try to pick a safer area at your destination. Sure, every city and area will have crime. But definitely pick a destination that doesn’t have a really bad reputation. And also stay in a safe spot within that city as well.
Language Barrier
It’ll be easier if your destination speaks the same language. This will feel less intimidating for your first solo trip. Remember though, most major international cities usually speak English enough to get around, so don’t count that out! Many major European cities are tourist attractions and the popular areas will have English speaking people at restaurants, hotels and so on.
Ease Of Getting Around
If you’re going somewhere more secluded or that isn’t super walkable, just make sure there is Uber or readily available taxis. These are things you can find through your research. This is why I really love a major city versus somewhere like the countryside. If you need a rental car, this just becomes another thing to deal with that also adds up in costs. While it’s doable, it can just add up quickly while you’re on your own.
City Or Country Side – Both Work When You’re Excited About It
Whether you want to explore a new city or somewhere more relaxed and secluded, both work for first-time solo travelers. I think cities will feel less intimidating because you just walk outside your hotel and explore. And there’s just always something to do.
But a more secluded destination will probably require a little more planning if you want to get out and about. And if you’re nervous to spend so much time alone, a beach getaway of just being alone with your thoughts the whole time may actually feel more lonely.
Either way, pick a city or country that’s exciting to you. If you are super excited about a destination, go for it.
Have A Few Things Planned
I went in with nothing planned for my first solo getaway and while I don’t regret it because I figured out some activities, I do wish I did just a little more planning. I intended on having a very relaxing few days and really didn’t want to leave my hotel much.
But having an activity or two on your itinerary will be a great way to make your first solo trip feel less intimidating. Doing any sort of tour at your destination will allow you to do something guided with an expert, see the destination and find places along the way to stop at later in your first solo trip.
I love a good walking tour, bike tour, anything food related is always fun too. And this will give you something to look forward to and break up the alone time you have. Plus, you never know what other solo travelers you may meet!
My Favorite Group Tours To Check Out On Vacation
- Walking tours of the city – these are great to get a lay of the land at the beginning of your first solo trip and are oftentimes free
- Food tours – find restaurants to come back to during your first solo trip and eat lots of food in 2-3 hours
- Bike tour
- Cooking class
- Boat tours
Google Maps For Getting Around And Trip Planning
I really love Google Maps for saving all my favorite places and spots I want to check out. This makes it extremely easy to decide where you want to grab a meal or find something to do because you’ve saved all your recommendations to your map.
It gives you good visibility on the map with the starred or favorite feature. This also makes it easy to plan your first solo trip. You can visually see where all the things you want to do are so you can plan your days. Plus, you can access your maps offline. See how I use Google Maps here!
Google Translate Is Your Best Friend
Google Translate is also a fantastic app if you’re heading somewhere where English isn’t spoken. Before heading to any new place with a new language, you’ll want to at least learn and practice your hellos, goodbye, thank yous and so on. That goes a long way!
The Google Translate app is great because you can either type in words and have it translate them for you. But you can also snap a photo of a menu or sign and it’ll translate it for you. It’s not always perfect as not all translations are exact. But it definitely helps!
Research, Research, Research
Going to a new place will feel less overwhelming if you do lots of research. Find out the popular neighborhoods, where the people your age may hang out, and all the places to eat and explore. Having a good idea of the area will make it feel a bit more familiar once you arrive.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed with all the things you’re finding to do and don’t know how to fit it all in, do what I do! Save all the places you discover to your Google Maps and then make a shortlist of must visits in your notes app. Then you can plan a rough itinerary from there so your days have a little structure. You can also easily see where the things are on a map to plan based on neighborhood.
Stay In The Bustling Areas
Whether your hotel is in the middle of the action, or you just spend your meals there, I think keeping to the more bustling areas is key. It’s usually where there’s more visibility, a bit safer, and you’ll feel like your part of the community. Bustling places will sometimes mean higher petty crime rate though like pickpocketing, so be sure to always have your eyes on your bag and travel smart.
I stayed nowhere near the city center for my San Juan trip and while it wasn’t a huge deal, it meant I needed to Uber to get to meals and any activities outside of the hotel. By staying in the area you want to explore the most in, this simply cuts down on added expenses and wasted time too.
I would’ve liked to have been able to just walk outside my hotel to grab a meal or a snack and just feel like I was among other people. But this is all about the vibe you’re going for. I did plan on reading and laying poolside 90% of the time, so it didn’t really matter to me. But next time, I’d probably stay closer to the city so I can have more access to things outside of the hotel offerings.
Staying in busier areas in city centers also can mean easy access to public transit which is always a great tip for saving money. And usually more efficient than driving.
Bring Your Own Entertainment
Since you’re alone, you’ll want to bring all the things that bring you joy. Maybe you want to get in lots of reading, or journal or listen to all your podcasts. Come prepared and have these things easily accessible. Download your podcasts ahead of time along with your playlists. Pack your books or magazines so you have them ready to go. And if you’re poolside, these are my favorite things to do alone at the pool.
Stay In Touch With Someone
I may be in my 30s, but my mom still wants me to check in daily. I think it’s just safe no matter what. Making sure someone knows where you are and what hotel you’re at is just safe traveling habits, period.
It’s also fun to stay connected with friends on your first solo trip. Send them photos and let them know what you’re up to. It’ll feel nice to still connect with people while you’re away.
Use Common Sense
Just like you wouldn’t walk down a dimly lit street in the middle of the night, let’s not do stupid things while we’re in a completely foreign country alone. And yes, these are the joys of being a woman because men will never think twice. But just use your common sense.
Don’t leave your drink at a bar unattended. Don’t go home with randoms. And don’t share your hotel information with strangers either, especially if it’s something like an Airbnb. I also avoid telling anyone I chat with that I am traveling alone.
I also avoid staying out super late when I travel solo. There’s no need for me to be out late alone in a strange city. It’s usually early to bed for me and there’s nothing wrong with that!
And always keep an eye on your bags and pickpockets. Wear a crossbody, have a bag that closes, and always keep your bag in front of you. When you sit down at a restaurant, never leave your bag in a chair that someone can easily grab. Keep it in your lap, or in the seat next to you that isn’t where people are walking by.
Pack Properly
I’m a pretty good packer and have mastered my toiletry bag too. Making sure you have all the necessities will just make your first solo trip easier. When we travel in groups, we sometimes rely on others to have this or that if we forgot something.
But you’re solo now, so be sure you have all the meds you not only usually need, but emergency ones too. I always travel with Benadryl for emergency allergic reactions, Dramamine for emergency nausea, and Imodium for emergency diarrhea. If an emergency happens, you’re at least well-equipped on your own.
And always pack an external charger with you. Now that you’re solo and have to rely 100% on yourself, you want to make sure that phone is charged, and that you have the ability to use an external battery if things go awry. I am never without an external charger and am always keeping an eye on my battery power.
Have Some Quiet Time
Solo travel is really an incredible time to explore being alone. Have that quiet time with yourself. Let your mind just run with thoughts, or none at all! You’ll grow more confident and comfortable in your skin the more you do this too. Here are a few other tips on how to be comfortable doing things alone.
Roll With The Punches
While you can plan everything down to the minute if you want, there will be hiccups in your solo travel. There will be challenging moments when you get lost, or find yourself struggling to find a taxi or taking the wrong train and ending up in a part of town you are not familiar with at all. Things happen, and how you approach these situations will determine the success of your solo travels.
For me, I like to look at hiccups as just part of the adventure. Did I just find myself in a completely different part of town because I took the wrong ferry? Great, let me find a coffee shop and figure things out while I enjoy a new pastry I’ve been wanting to try. If you treat any little mistake like a big deal that’s ruined your trip, you will in fact, ruin your first solo trip.
Navigating foreign cities and popular travel destinations is not easy. And you’re doing it alone, with no one else to help figure things out. Which means, you’ll run into issues, but you’re doing it and figuring it out. Which, at the end of the day, helps to build confidence and is always worth the travel story.
Trust Your Gut
As solo female travelers, trusting your gut is really important. Safety is something to always be thinking about. And when you listen to your gut, it can really be the best thing when you’re alone in a new foreign place.
Enjoy The Hot Spot Restaurants
One of the best parts about traveling alone is that you can grab a seat at any bar for dinner. Many restaurants in popular destinations fill up quickly with reservations. But the bar is the perfect spot to enjoy a meal alone and not have to worry about a reservation.
Try out some fancy or super popular restaurants that are usually harder to get into. Bring a book too if you want to have something to do. But honestly, I love talking to a bartender or the couple next to me at a bar. It can sometimes be a great way to meet people and get recommendations from locals.
Now that you’re packed properly, planned your destination and are ready for your first solo trip, enjoy yourself and make some great memories. And know that your first solo trip is going to feel a little scary. That’s okay! Solo travel is like flexing a muscle. It takes some practice to build it, and over time you will gain the confidence to explore on your own. I hope this post helping you in planning your first solo trip.
