Originally posted on July 28th, 2018
The first time I solo traveled, I was 19 and just finished a month-long course in Milan. The entire trip was a bit spontaneous and exciting and nerve-racking at the same time. Just to give a bit of context, I had found out that I had gotten accepted to a program in Milan a week before I left to go to LA for an internship. I had packed one suitcase and booked a one-way ticket to LA, still unsure if my boss would let me attend the program. After my first day of work, he gave me the go, and I booked another one-way ticket to Milan!
I wanted to stay in Europe after the program ended and explore the country more since the flight from the US was already so expensive and it seemed like an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. I had been inspired by friends and blogs to solo travel, but my parents were a bit apprehensive with the idea of their 19-year-old daughter exploring Europe on her own. It took a bit of convincing and sheer stubbornness to get them to let me do it, but it was definitely one of the best experiences and decisions of my life!
As exciting and rewarding solo traveling can be, it can also be difficult to plan for and rattle up the confidence to do. I constantly had people asking me if it was scary or lonely, but I want to assure you that solo traveling can be a very liberating and fulfilling experience! Below are a couple of tips I thought I’d share to help navigate being/becoming a solo traveler:
🙅🏻 1. STAY SAFE
I want to get this part out of the way first because I know everyone always asks, “Is it safe?” and for the most part, I’d say “Yes!” As an American, I think solo traveling abroad can be just as safe if not more safe than being in a big city like NYC. Truth is, there are pickpockets in most major cities and if you look lost and carrying an excessive amount of stuff, it can draw unwanted attention to you. But these are easy things to avoid and shouldn’t deter you from solo traveling!
My first piece of advice for this is just to be confident and stay composed. I know that might seem easier said than done, but if you keep your head up and walk like you own the place, no one will suspect that you don’t!
Secondly, keep all your necessary items in places that are handy and accessible and hard to reach from others. I always travel with a crossbody bag or a tote with a zipper and face it in front of myself to avoid the chance of pickpocketers. Make sure you keep items like your phone, wallet, and keys in easy to access pockets to avoid fumbling around in public and don’t leave items unattended. If you’re going to be staying in a hostel, bring or buy a lock and key so you can store your stuff when you’re away for the day and if you’re in a hotel, make sure to put valuables in a safebox. Once when I was in Paris, I was in a hostel got too lazy to lock my stuff up before running to the restroom for a few minutes. After I left for the day and took out my wallet, I noticed that all my cash had been taken!
Also, keep some cash tucked away in multiple locations like your suitcase or other pockets in your purse (I keep some in pants that I’m not wearing in my suitcase) just in case you ever lose your wallet. I always take out cash at an ATM the moment I land at an airport so I’m never without some in case I need it for transportation, tips, or just shopping!
Finally, notify someone of your plans and itinerary. I always communicate with my parents when I’ve landed from a flight and what I’m up to for the day for their peace of mind too.
📅 2. PLAN AHEAD OF TIME
Pinterest and Google Maps are your best friends for planning a trip! I’m not someone who plans out every detail of my trips, but it’s good to get some inspiration and learn a little bit about a city so you don’t miss anything while you’re there. Solo traveling is great because you have full autonomy over what you’re going to be doing for the day so I like to have an idea of what I want to see in each city and then just see whatever sparks my interest when I get there.
I always search up locations on Pinterest to find posts and links to blogs about what to do in each city. Then, I bookmark places on Google Maps like sights I want to see, restaurants to try, and other important landmarks like airports and hotels. Laying everything out on a map really helps me get an idea where everything is in proximity to each other and plan out what areas I want to explore. You can also save directions between locations and download offline maps to navigate even if you don’t have data or wifi!
Be aware that things don’t always go as planned: you might spend longer in a place than you expect or find a cute shop on the street and decide to wander in… but those can lead to some of the best travel experiences!
🏨 3. STAY IN HOSTELS
Staying in hostels is a great option as a solo traveler since they’re super affordable and a good opportunity to meet other people! There’s a broad range options out there including private room options if you have hesitations about the noise and cleanliness. HostelWorld is a great site that provides reviews and descriptions of hostels in every city! Booking directly through a hostel might also give you additional discounts or perks like complimentary breakfast.
A lot of hostels also have events like bar crawls or walking tours of the city, which is a great ways to meet other solo travelers!
👫 4. MEET NEW PEOPLE
Going off of the last tip, solo traveling is a great way to meet new people! When you’re alone, it opens you up to meeting people you never would have if you were traveling with friends or family. It may feel a little awkward to walk up to a stranger and introduce yourself, but what do you have to lose?
Staying at hostels is a great way to meet people since there are usually plenty of other solo travelers around. I also love going on walking tours or booking tours/experiences, which are great opportunities to meet people as well. A lot of times, people are willing to join you along for other activities in the city and by contact information/social media accounts, I’ve managed to stay in touch with a lot of travelers that I’ve met!
💻Couple resources for booking tours/experiences:
☁️ 5. BE MINDFUL
The first time I solo traveled, there were definitely moments when I started panicking and questioning if I’d made the right decision. I’d never spent this much time not being around people I knew.
What am I doing? Is this dangerous? Do I want to be alone for this long?
My mom would tell me if I ever doubted my decision, I could always just book a flight home and I started to consider this at times. At moments, I got a little lonely and wished I had someone to experience these moments with me.
With any type of traveling, it’s important to be in the right mindset. I always have friends asking me how I did it and if I was lonely and I think you definitely need to have to have the right mentality and excited for the experience! Solo traveling can push you to handle unfamiliar situations and discover yourself along the way. You have the chance to explore a city exactly how you want to without worrying about what anyone else wants to do. Keeping in mind reasons why you want to solo travel is a great way to reassure yourself why you’re doing it.
📚Personally, whenever I was having doubts about solo traveling, I got inspiration from a couple of blogs/articles like:
Also, journaling or communicating with friends while you’re abroad is a great way to mentally digest what you’re experiences and process all your emotions and thoughts.
Solo traveling can be daunting at first, but it can also be the best opportunity to discover and challenge yourself!
