Without a doubt, the scariest thing that I’ve done this year is travel solo to a large metropolitan city by myself. But traveling solo doesn’t have to be scared and you shouldn’t limit your experiences because of it. Now if you’ve been reading this blog for a while, then you know that I’ve been to around 50 countries, all before the age of 18. I can thank my lucky parents for always taking me along for the ride whenever they would travel around the world, something that I’m extremely thankful for. So flying in an airplane is no big deal, even flying in an airplane solo is no big deal. But actually, getting off the plane, renting a car, and heading off for an adventure solo was a whole new beast that I had to tackle.
My first time traveling solo was when I was in middle school/ high school traveling around Europe for summer camps and traveling back to the US to hang out with family. Now when I traveled as a kid, I used to get dropped off at the airport and picked up at the next destination. I didn’t have to worry about renting a car or getting to my hotel safely. But now as an adult, I can do the entire trip solo, from start to finish. Like the one that I took a few months ago to Memphis for a school training event, basically my first trip solo as an adult.
Even though I was nervous at first to fly to Memphis solo, I ended up having a fabulous time, and I learned so much about myself! The fun part about traveling solo is that no one knows you, your day is yours to plan, and you can do whatever you want. If you’re thinking about planning a solo adventure, I’ve got a few tips and tricks up my sleeve that I want to share with you to hopefully make you feel super comfortable traveling alone in any part of the world.
Tip #1: Research your destination
Traveling itself can be pretty stressful, but I promise its 10x easier if you know more about the destination that you’re traveling to. As a female solo traveler, it’s really important to know a few general topics about the country that you’re planning on visiting. You won’t need to do as much research if you’re traveling state-side in the US, of course.
These are what I research for every country regardless if I’m traveling solo or in a group:
- Religion
- Etiquette and basic customs
- Language basics
- Social dynamics between men and women
- Currency
- Current politics that are relevant to me and what I’m doing in the country
Tip #2: Create a tentative schedule
The best part about traveling alone is that your plans can change at a drop of a dime, literally. Feel like sitting at a local coffee shop and people watch or maybe you want to stroll through a museum? You can literally do whatever you want whenever you want without having to accommodate another person. But it’s still better to have a tentative schedule of anything that you plan on doing during your trip. I say tentative because obviously things happen, and your attractions may have to be moved around in your schedule.
Tip #3: Tell your loved ones your travel plans
Anytime that you’re traveling alone, always check in with your loved ones and let them know your tentative schedule plans for your trip. It’ll not only ease your mind but also keep your loved ones more relaxed with your solo travel plans. Make sure to check in with someone when you’ve landed, when you’ve checked into the hotel, and really anytime that you’ve left your hotel room for safety measures.
Tip #4: Come Prepared
This tip definitely goes hand in hand with researching your destination in terms of being prepared once your flight touches land. If you’re not sure if you’re going to have WiFi or if you don’t have a local sim card for the destination, screenshot any important information before your flight takes off, such as address of the hotel, car service, directions to and from the airport, etc. Also, you’ll want to double check with your hotels about check-in and check-out times, that way you’re not stranded one night trying to find a place to stay because you were too late flying in.
Tip #5: Stay in a central location
Anytime that I’m traveling solo, I always try to stay in a central location like the city center or in an area that is pretty busy. It makes me feel more comfortable if I’m getting into my hotel room pretty late or if I’m walking around town. You may have to pay a little extra for your hotel room, but safety should always be your main concern when it comes to traveling alone.
Tip #6: Blend in
Anytime that I am traveling alone, I always try to blend in to my surroundings. Have you ever heard of the saying, “do like the locals do”? This is where it comes in to play. When you’re packing for your trip, pack plenty of neutral clothes and leave all of the flashy jewelry at home. You can find some amazing outfit inspiration from the locals by strolling through Instagram or Pinterest so that you can look like a local. Unfortunately as a female solo traveler, it’s really important to not draw attention to yourself by wearing your expensive handbags or flashy wedding ring on your travels.
Do you have any travel plans coming up? Or do you have any travel tips that you want to share that you use while traveling?
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