How to Travel Solo for the First Time

As a frequent solo traveller, I feel the need to educate others before inspiring others to venture on a solo trip abroad. I recently shared the reasons why solo travel is not for everyone and I stand by those statements. Solo travelling is the most exhilarating travel adventure one can ever enjoy but it is also one of the most terrifying travel experiences ever.

Every single time people find out how much I travel for fun and solo, they always ask me for tips on how to get into solo travelling. So, if you’re someone who is wanting to travel solo for the first time then this post is for you. I like to think of solo travelling as something you love to hate, it can be fun and unpredictable and for some its life-changing.

The focus of this post is to share tips on how to travel solo for the first time, I will share how I got into it and how you can too. And remember solo travelling is not all about going abroad, sometimes it’s about exploring your own backyard.

How to Travel Solo for the First Time

Over the last 5 years, I have travelled solo across Asia, Africa and Europe and it has been absolutely fun but it didn’t start out like that. I remember my first time abroad alone to an unfamiliar place was to Brussels, I was so terrified of something going wrong, I took a taxis everywhere including the shops. When it came to touring the city, I hopped on a tour bus and never got off at any stops because I was scared I would get lost and not know how to get back to my hotel.

Whenever I share my story with people, they always ask how I overcame that fear and anxiety, is it something that I still experience? The truth is I always get anxious when I visit a new place and I am always overly cautious about where I go and whom I meet. As a woman, I always find that I always have to be extra careful, have to plan wisely and always tell my family where I am travelling too. The fear about solo travel is all but gone, I always say a little prayer for my travels.

If you’re someone who wants to travel solo for the first time either this year or the next, I have compiled a few tips on how you can go about embarking on your first solo trip.

#1 Travel Insurance for Solo Travellers

As a frequent traveller, I never go anywhere without adequate insurance cover, I personally think it’s unwise to travel anywhere without any cover. After my first few solo trips, I realised that I liked travelling and knew if I had to buy a cover for every trip, it would be costly.

I was very glad to learn that my bank offered travel insurance and read the fine print I knew that was the solution for me. It can be daunting knowing which cover is right for you, for me I went for the most comprehensive for the types of trips that I do.

#2 Staying in a Hostel as a Solo Traveller

For the first couple of years travelling solo, I avoided hostels like a plague because I had always thought of them to be unhygienic. This all changed when I first stayed at a Generator Hostel in Hamburg, I was amazed by how very clean and comfortable it was. Since then, I have loved staying in hostels meeting like-minded people and making new travel friends.

Now, I know hostels are not for everyone and before I stay in one, I make sure to read the reviews of each hostel. Simple things like no hot water, uncomfortable beds and weak wi-fi put me off for sure.

#3 Make Friends with Fellow Travellers.

When you travel alone, you will come to realise that so travel can be such a lonely adventure but you will meet people along the way. Even though I am an extrovert, when you travel, your inner introvert takes over this is why you need to make an effort to make new friends. But as a woman, I always have to think of my safety so whilst I am opening to making new travel friends I am also cautious.

#4 Backpacks & Light Packing

When I started travelling, I used to drag my small suitcases around as I didn’t think I could fit everything I needed into a backpack. After many weekend trips, I realised how to pack for a weekend away whatever the weather. And because of that, I shifted from dragging my suitcases around to carrying a backpack with enough clothes for the trip.

I recommend travelling with backpacks because they are easy to carry and you take to pack a lot and most are considered hand luggage. Most airlines have cheaper tickets with only hand luggage and if you’re travelling for the weekend are ideal. Also, most hotels don’t allow early check-in so you’re better off walking with a backpack than a suitcase.

#5 Plan your Solo Trips Wisely

Solo travel can be absolutely amazing but mostly when you plan and choose your destinations wisely. I am a planner by nature and find comfort in planning my flights, hotels and transport. There are some destinations that I would not recommend travelling to as a solo traveller and it makes sense to research your destinations.

#6 Enjoy Solo Travel

Whilst it’s nice to plan things ahead of time, its also a good idea not to have a restrictive itinerary. Take time to enjoy your trip, simple things like sitting at a cafe people watching, reading a book in the park and so on. It is also a great time to learn something new like a new language or skill, whatever takes your fancy.

#7 Avoid drinking as you Solo Travel

One thing I never do when I travel solo is going out clubbing nor drinking, there have been so many reports of drinks being spiked. For that reason, I never drink when I travel and when I do, I buy my own drinks and drink in my hotel/hostel. This is not to say you can’t drink when you travel but be smart about it and be careful of who you meet.

There are so many tips I want to share about solo travelling but I also don’t want to scare anyone from considering travelling alone. The last thing I want to mention is to consider using public transport, they are another great way to meet fellow travellers as well as cheaper and safer than a taxi.