This post is all about solo travel for beginners. You’ll learn how to embrace your independence and use it to your advantage, how to build confidence, meet new people, and more!
So you’ve decided it’s time to take the leap and start solo traveling, CONGRATS!
This is truly about to be the most exciting and rewarding chapter of your life! In this post you’ll learn all about how to embrace the journey, step out of your comfort zone, and get the most out of your experiences.
It can be be difficult and overwhelming to get out there on your own for the very first time, and that is exactly why we’ve designed this post to help guide you through your journey.
This post is all about solo travel for beginners.
Complete Guide To Solo Travel For Beginners
1. Take The Time To Learn About Yourself
Something I hear from solo travelers all. of. the. time. is how much they’ve learned about themselves while traveling alone. And it’s true! You learn so much about yourself. It’s up to you to create your own travel routines, make the bookings, research your destination, navigate on your own, go out and meet people, etc.
Nobody is there to hold your hand through it all, and that’s what makes this experience so worthwhile. By learning about yourself and how you hold up throughout different situations, you will grow, become more confident, and recognize that you are capable of so much more than you thought.
It’s also important to be patient with yourself while you’re learning how to navigate and function in a new community, or maybe even in a completely new culture. The best thing you can do is embrace the uncomfortable and difficult moments and know that you have what it takes to pull yourself through.
2. Say Yes To Doing More Things
One of the best perks to traveling solo is that you get to pick all of the fun things to do!
And you should 100% take advantage of this. Say yes to doing things that you never thought you could do. Sometimes the best memories are the ones made on a whim, with strangers you just met, or in cities you’ve only dreamt of visiting.
Here is a list of a bunch of things you could say yes to:
- Taking a lesson for a new hobby (surfing, horseback riding, dancing, etc.)
- Taking a day trip to a random nearby town that you’ve never heard of before
- Going out for drinks at a local pub with fellow travelers you just met
- Trying a new cuisine of food or native dish
- Going skydiving or zip-lining where there’s a really cool view
- Taking a cooking class
- Visiting local tourist attractions
- Walking the streets and making conversation with locals
- Asking around for local restaurant recommendations and trying them all out
- Going to live music and dancing
Don’t be afraid to get out there, try new things, and have fun!
3. Make Your Trip All About You
This is your trip and it should be all about what you want to do!
Visualize your dream vacation and romanticize every single part of planning your trip. Choosing a destination, booking your stay, researching all the fun things to do, and everything in between.
And have fun with it! See where your trip takes you! It’s going to be a journey, but the best part of it will be how you tailor it to your preferences and do all the things you love to do.
4. Learn How To Talk To Strangers
I know it sounds scary, but start talking to people you don’t know!
A big part of traveling is meeting new people along the way. It can be equally difficult and rewarding, but building new friendships doesn’t happen overnight and it does take effort on your part. And, unless you exclusively travel in packs of other solo travelers, it’s really up to you to put yourself out there.
Traveling solo can become lonely vey quickly if you don’t learn how to approach and start conversations with other people. I know for some people they actually prefer it that way, and there’s nothing wrong with that! But to those of you who do enjoy being social more frequently, this would be a great skill to acquire.
5. Don’t Over Plan
As exciting as it is to plan your dream solo trip, you have to remember to leave room in your schedule for rest.
Sometimes the best days are the ridiculously slow ones where you wake up late, find some breakfast, read your book at the beach or park, go for a stroll around the neighborhood, take a nap, and just relax.
The days you give yourself to recharge and take life slow are the days that you really get to take in where you are, how you got there, and how lucky you are to experience life like this.
Let yourself truly process everything happening around you and enjoy it!
6. Reflect On Your Goals
There is no better time to reflect on your personal growth and goals than when you’re on a trip by yourself. Sometimes all it takes is a fresh environment to clear your mind and give yourself new perspective.
A great way to reflect on yourself and your travel experiences is by bringing a travel journal along. Somewhere to jot down everything you’re feeling, experiences you want to remember, and moments of clarity that come to you along the way.
7. It’s Okay To Feel Uncomfortable
If you’re feeling anxious or a little uncomfy about the fact that you’re going to be traveling all by yourself, just know that it’s completely normal and okay. It’s good even!
That means you more than likely have something to gain from putting yourself in this new situation and you’ll grow from it. It’s all about trial and error, and the more you do it the more comfortable you’ll feel.
8. Take In The Daily Life Of Your Destination
If you’re traveling long-term to a place you’ve never been before, give yourself a couple of days once you get there to acclimate to the daily life of your new home (for the time being!)
You’ll have more than enough time on your hands to pack your days full of exciting plans, but for the first couple just try to relax!
Here are a few reasons why this is a good idea:
- Getting over jet lag. Depending on where you’re traveling to, there may be a time difference that you have to adjust to and it can take a couple of days to get your body realigned.
- Establish the basics around your neighborhood. Locate the places closest to you that you might frequent the most, and get familiar with them. Places like grocery stores, drug stores, restaurants, parks, etc.
- Take it all in. Long travel days can tend to turn into one giant blur once you reach your destination, you might even find yourself asking the question “how did I even get here?” Giving yourself time to breathe and process everything is definitely helpful when adapting to a new environment.
9. Have An Emergency Fund
Having a solid emergency fund is a necessity when it comes to solo travel.
The last thing you want is for plans to switch up on very little notice, and be stuck in a financial bind. It doesn’t have to be thousands of dollars necessarily, but at least enough to last you a little while. This is in case plans change unexpectedly, flights get cancelled or delayed, emergency medical expenses, etc.
10. Keep Your Friends And Family In The Loop
When you leave for your trip, please let someone know.
It’s a simple safety precaution, and an easy way to let others look out for you while you’re traveling on your own. You never know what might happen, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Just letting someone know where you’re going, where you’ll be staying, and for how long you’ll be gone, is important information to share. You could also send updates every couple of days or so just to let everyone know that you’re safe and sound.
11. Do Not Purchase Junky Souvenirs
This may be a controversial take, but hear me out.
There is so much more sentimental value in one of a kind items versus the tacky souvenirs you find at local gift shops. You should look for items that hold actual value to you.
Shopping at small businesses, antique shops, or flea markets is so much more fun. Another fun tip is to collect small things throughout your trip to collage when you get back home. You could collect paper menus, business cards, shopping bags, postcards, and other little things like that.
Then, when you get home you can make a collage of all the little bits and pieces from your favorite places that you went!
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