12 Mistakes to Avoid on Your First Solo Trip
Planning your first solo trip is exciting…until you realize there’s a lot more to it than you thought, and you have no idea what you’re doing.
Trust me, I’ve been there too.
There’s a lot no one really tells you about traveling alone for the first time, and while it’s one of the best things you can do for yourself, it also comes with a lot of learning.
So before you book the flight, pack your bags, and head out on your first solo adventure, here are the biggest mistakes to avoid (from someone who has made most of them already).
1. Not Planning Your Itinerary Ahead of Time
You’re probably thinking well duh, but as someone who’s failed to do this in the past, I cannot stress enough the importance of planning your itinerary ahead of time.
On my first solo trip I thought it would be fun to just go with the flow instead of planning out things to do, and boy was I wrong! I basically spent hours every morning figuring out how to plan my days and ended up wasting so much time. So take it from me and plan ahead!
Leaving all your planning until the last minute creates a stressful and overwhelming experience too. Wasting valuable time on your very first solo trip is one of the worst feelings, so it’s in your best interest to avoid that at all costs.
2. Not Setting a Daily Spending Limit or Travel Budget
If you’re the type of person who walks into an airport and suddenly feels like money isn’t real and your bank account has an endless supply of cash to throw out on vacation, this one’s for you.
As much as we’d all love to mindlessly spend on travel and vacation, unfortunately for the majority of us, that’s not realistic. Take it from someone who racked up over $2,000+ on her credit card in Hawaii the first time she traveled on her own (I learned my lesson…).
Setting a budget and sticking to it removes that post-trip stress of having to check your bank account and do damage control.
And this doesn’t have to be some big, overwhelming task. Here are two ways you can manage a travel budget that works for you:
- Set a budget for the entire trip (a realistic range that you’re planning on spending the entire time you’re there, excluding major components like flights and accommodations)
- Set a daily spending limit (an amount to spend on meals, shopping, etc. after all other major components have been booked and paid for)
3. Overthinking About Doing Things Alone
This is where a lot of people get tripped up, and while it’s okay to feel a little nervous or insecure at first, it is not okay to let it stop you from experiencing the things you really want to do just because you’re alone.
Take this as a reminder that nobody is paying that much attention to you, and if they are and have something negative to say about it, that’s effing weird!
Take yourself out to a fancy dinner, go on a fun tour (I’d recommend zip-lining!), spend a day at the beach and pack a picnic, do whatever YOU want to do and have no shame.
And want to know the best part of it all? Once you stop caring about what other people think and start doing what actually makes you happy, it becomes so much easier for the next time.
4. Being Afraid to Approach New People
Just like getting comfortable doing things alone, approaching new people and making friends (especially as an adult) takes practice. But we all have to start somewhere! So use your solo travel experiences as a jumping off point.
And I’m not telling you to go walk up to random strangers and ask them to get lunch with you, but instead just start becoming more aware of the people around you when you’re out and about, and then start up a conversation.
Here’s a great example. On a beach in Hawaii, I was enjoying a swim on my own when a woman (also traveling alone) swam up to me and naturally we got to chatting about where we’re from, what we do for a living, etc. and we had a great time getting to know each other! It’s as simple as that.
You’d be surprised at how many people you’ll connect with by just saying hello and starting a conversation, even if it’s brief.
Here are a few lowkey ways to approach new people:
- Book a tour or group activity. The chances of someone else also booking solo is pretty high, and you’ll almost always find someone to talk to.
- Engage with people who interest you. For example, if you see someone wearing a cool outfit or listening to music you like, tell them. This is especially great for finding new friends with common interests.
- Take advantage of “awkward” waiting times. We all experience the joy of waiting once in a while, whether it’s waiting in line for entry somewhere, to place an order, for an elevator, or to be helped in some way, we have all had to wait. So next time, ask the person next to you how their day is going!
- Hangout in public common areas. Crowded beaches, well-known parks, and busy hikes are all gold mines when it comes to socializing and having casual conversations with new people. You’ll likely be within a large group of people, so striking up a conversation with someone will feel less intimidating.
- Seek out other solo travelers. You immediately have something in common, so don’t be afraid to go up to them! Chances are, they’re just as nervous as you are. You can help each other by taking some bomb photos or grab lunch together if you hit it off!
5. Overpacking
Speaking from experience (again…) overpacking can be such a b**** if you run out of space in your suitcase before you’re scheduled to travel home.
(I may or may not have had to sacrifice a $70 pair of sweatpants because they wouldn’t fit in my luggage on the way home…)
So, to avoid having to do this yourself, I HIGHLY recommend that you plan out all your outfits beforehand, only pack what you know you’re going to wear, and leave room for anything you might pick up along the way. You’ll save yourself time and stress of trying to cram everything into your bag and questioning if you’re over the limit.
6. Not Doing Any Research
This really depends on the location and your familiarity with it, but if you’re traveling someplace new for your very first solo trip and haven’t done any research, you might run into some issues.
Researching the location you’re staying in, the types of restaurants around you, popular attractions in the area, are all important to know before you get there. You’d hate to show up somewhere blindly, just to find out that you really don’t like it.
In addition to researching the fun stuff, it’s important to understand the logistics beforehand as well. You should definitely research your transportation options upon arrival, how to purchase a public transit pass if you need it, where the nearest hospital is in case of emergency, things like that.
7. Choosing The Wrong Destination
If you should know one thing before settling on a destination for your first solo trip, it’s that not every location is beginner-friendly. This is another reason why research is so important.
Planning out your first trip alone can be one of the most exciting experiences, but it’s also important to be smart and realistic with it. For example, don’t pick a destination that’s in the middle of nowhere and takes a trek to get to, especially if there’s spotty phone service.
You’ll also want to avoid places that are brutally far away and out of your comfort zone, and I’m talking extreme measures here. If you live in Montana and randomly decide that you want to spend a week in Thailand for your very first trip alone, there’s going to be quite the shock factor that comes with that.
When you’re choosing a destination, pick a place that excites you and will challenge you to step out of your comfort zone, but not so much that you’ll have panic attacks and want to bail completely halfway through your trip.
8. Not Taking Safety Precautions Seriously
Most people tend to think that nothing bad will ever happen to them, and while that’s a lovely mindset to have, it’s just not the reality we live in and it’s up to us to keep ourselves safe.
Don’t overthink this, just be mindful when you travel. If something or someone feels off to you, there’s a good chance your gut is trying to tell you something.
Always, always, always, trust your instincts in situations that don’t feel right to you. It’s better to be on the safe side than to feel sorry later.
A Few Ways to Keep Yourself Safe:
- Know your surroundings. Be mindful of where you are, what’s around you, and who’s around you.
- Tell your friends and family where you’re going. Traveling solo doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t tell those closest to you where you’ll be and what your plans are.
- Don’t give your exact location away. Refrain from posting photos or videos online that show exactly where you are, or staying in general, until after you’ve already left those places.
9. Comparing Your First Solo Trip to Other People’s Experiences
Everyone has to start somewhere, and when it comes to travel, that can look different for everybody.
You’ve probably heard the saying “comparison is the thief of joy” before, and it’s true! The best way to bring yourself down when you’re already feeling vulnerable is by comparing your journey to someone else’s.
This is just like walking into the gym on your very first day and being sad that you can’t do 50 push-ups in a row because the person next to you can, when in reality the person next to you has been going to the gym for years and you’re just starting now.
Your travel experiences will never be the same as someone else’s and that’s such a beautiful fact. We all get to experience our own journey, on our own time, and build our own perspectives. So enjoy yours!
10. Overplanning & Doing Too Much
While it’s important to plan an itinerary and have a solid list of things to do…it’s also important to give yourself room to be flexible and rest when you need to.
A good rule of thumb to follow is to wake up early and spend the day out, schedule in some time to eat and catch a break in the afternoon, and end the day with dinner and a night time activity.
But, of course that’s not always possible, so that’s why you should also leave longer chunks of time open on other days to chill out and take in your trip or be spontaneous and go exploring without limitations.
If you overbook yourself and plan too many things to do, you’ll burn yourself out and likely not even enjoy the trip because you’ll just be stressed out and exhausted the entire time, which is definitely not worth it in the end.
11. Being Unprepared For The Unexpected
It is such a privilege to be able to solo travel, but with that can come a lot of challenges. If things don’t go to plan, you need to be able to be self-sufficient and find a solution on your own.
This is where a lot of anxiety can come in, but as long as you’re prepared for the unexpected, you should be able to manage without any issues. This means having plans in place for scenarios that may occur, even if they’re unlikely, to help reduce panic in the moment.
Ask Yourself These Questions Before You Leave:
- What would I do if my flight got cancelled right before departure?
- How would I handle last minute flight changes/cancellations that affect my connecting flights or airport connection upon arrival?
- Am I traveling to a location where I’m likely to lose phone or internet service?
- Do I need to download maps or directions to make sure I don’t get lost?
- What would I do if my accommodations fall through and I have no place to stay?
- What would I do if I lost my wallet and had no cash with me?
- What would happen if I got myself locked out of my rental car or room?
- What would I do if something of mine was stolen?
By preparing for these scenarios doesn’t mean they’ll actually happen, and they honestly probably won’t. But, they 100% could, which is why you need to be prepared for the unexpected just in case.
12. Not Enjoying Life The Moment
Traveling alone for the first time can bring a lot of emotions with it, and it can be so easy to get swept up in them that you forget to actually enjoy the moment.
You might feel uncomfortable or a little anxious being out there all on your own. But, don’t let those emotions negate the feeling of overcoming your fears of going alone and putting yourself out there to experience new things.
Take deep breaths, enjoy the moments to yourself that you once thought were unimaginable, and enjoy being in the present. Whether that’s on the beach looking out across the ocean, watching the sun set over the mountains, admiring the view from a summit after a long hike, or wherever you find yourself standing.
Be still, take it in, and enjoy all the moments that your hard work and vulnerability led to because you deserve every second of it.
Your first solo trip isn’t going to be perfect, and that’s okay! It’s not supposed to be.
You’re going to have so much fun, meet new people, and create memories that’ll last a lifetime. But, you’re also going to learn so much about yourself, how you handle uncomfortable situations, and if you can pick yourself back up after making mistakes.
This is all part of the process, and you should embrace it. And remember that you’re doing something that a lot of people are too afraid to even try.
