Many expert travellers agree that solo adventures provide various opportunities for personal growth or development. They believe people who travel alone have the overwhelming task of stepping out of their comfort zones and facing multiple challenges.
For example, they must navigate unfamiliar places, make crucial decisions, and manage a significant budget. If handled successfully, those who travel alone can elevate their problem-solving skills and, most importantly, their self-confidence.
If you want to go on a solo trip in 2024, check this guide below. To support your adventure, we prepared a thorough guide that can help you during your preparation. Here are some of the best tips before embarking on an independent trip.
1. Embrace The Idea of Going Alone
Many solo travellers dread an independent adventure because they fear isolation. Feeling this way is completely understandable and common, especially among first-timers. The lack of companionship during your trip means visiting attractions, eating in restaurants, and trying new experiences alone.
Thinking about it might give you moments of stress that could affect your overall trip. Before planning your first solo adventure, knowing and embracing the whole concept of going alone is best. Assess your independence, social skills, and adaptability in unfamiliar areas.
Determine if you can go for a few days without talking to someone most often. If you’re up for the challenge, there are ways you can reduce the isolation on your trip. Take your solo trip as an opportunity to engage in numerous social activities.
Consider staying at hostels, guesthouses, or dorm-like accommodations instead of booking private hotel rooms. These establishments encourage social interactions between guests, reducing isolation and increasing the chances of meeting like-minded individuals.
You can also join group tours or other tourist activities with other people. Doing so will foster a sense of community and shared experiences for a more memorable solo adventure. Another way to ease your solo adventure loneliness is to engage with the locals and learn more about their culture.
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2. Go to a Solo-Friendly Destination
As a solo traveller, it’s wise to choose a tourist-friendly destination for your first adventure. While you can still explore foreign countries, opting for a place with a familiar vibe is ideal.
By “familiar,” we mean a destination with cultures, environments, or experiences akin to what you’re accustomed to in your own country. It could be similar activities, traditions, norms, or interactions that won’t create a lasting negative effect on your journey. For example, visiting another state on your own could be a good start if you live in the US.
Familiar also means going to a place you’ve been interested in and researching for a long time. Some examples include Japan, Iceland, Canada, and Thailand, with thriving tourism, convenient transportation, and diverse accommodations.
Never go to places more suitable for groups or advanced travellers. Doing so could lead to poor experiences and discourage you from taking more independent trips in the future.
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3. Consider the Language Barrier
When flying abroad solo, tackling language barriers can be daunting. Opting for destinations with fluent English speakers, like Australia, New Zealand, or England, can ease this challenge.
If you want to learn a new language without dealing with communication difficulties, there are many destinations you can go to where English is a second language. Some of these destinations are the Netherlands, the Philippines, and Sweden.
Meanwhile, there are tools you can use to communicate with locals if you’re still interested in visiting countries that use English sparingly. The best example of these programs is Google Translate, which has 133 known languages in its database. You can use this app to generate voice and text translations.
However, remember to use these mobile apps carefully because they may not translate complex sentences accurately. Limiting your translations to simple questions or common expressions is best to avoid misunderstandings.
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4. Plan Your Itinerary Early
Once you determine your desired destination, you must plan your itinerary immediately. Being prepared way before your target date is ideal for reducing issues you may encounter on your solo adventure. We will discuss some of those challenges below.
The good news is that online resources, like blog posts and videos, are becoming increasingly available to help beginner travellers build a concrete list of places and activities they want to explore.
Aside from creating a list of attractions and experiences, remember to study the basics of navigating your target destination. Doing so will help reduce your chances of getting lost throughout your vacation.
Learn about your transportation choices and how to go about securing them. Also, understand common payment methods, etiquette, and other crucial commuting practices.
If you think learning about all that is too daunting on your first try, don’t worry! Most importantly, don’t beat yourself up with it. It’s likely for first-time solo adventurers to get overwhelmed by these things since you have to learn new services, experiences, and other foreign practices in a few weeks.
Instead of worrying about getting around alone, you can pre-book guided tour packages to save you the hassle of going around your destination alone. It’s also generally safer to travel with reputable tour groups.
Meanwhile, planning will also help you identify if you need any particular documents or requirements before heading to your destination. You can prepare them early and ensure a seamless solo trip.
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5. Pack Your Belongings Strategically
Travelling independently means no one will help watch or carry your bags throughout your trip. That’s why it’s common for beginner solo travellers to pack strategically and lightly, especially when going overseas.
Ideally, your luggage must be lightweight, so you’re comfortable carrying it everywhere while navigating alone. To do that, you must pack days before your trip. That way, you avoid stuffing your bags in a panic.
Some newbie travellers make the mistake of packing more than they need to be on the “safe side.” When you do that, you will end up with unused items that will take up most of your luggage’s space. So, avoid over-preparing and bring only what you need.
In terms of clothing, expert travellers would carry a week’s worth of clothes and then do some laundry in their accommodation. This is an excellent way to make your luggage lightweight. If you’re worried about styling, the key is to choose clothes with simple and complementary colours. That way, you can mix and match them for different days.
Pro-tip: if you feel uncertain about leaving your belongings in a hotel room, you don’t have to bring them wherever you go. Luggage storage services are becoming increasingly available for tourists everywhere.
You can use these facilities to store your bags for a few hours until you finish your tour. With a luggage storage service, you can navigate your destination hands-free. The best part is that. These spaces are becoming more common, especially in popular tourist hotspots.
For instance, if you plan to visit the world-famous Van Gogh Museum, you can look up “luggage storage Amsterdam” online and find many secure storage providers nearby.
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6. Stay Connected With Loved Ones
The best part about going on a solo adventure today is that you can stay connected with people back home. Taking this step isn’t just about fighting loneliness; it’s also about keeping yourself safe during unexpected situations in a foreign land.
Ideally, you must send your travel itinerary, accommodation details, and planned activities to a family member or friend at home. Platforms like TripIt allow users to create a detailed travel plan they can share online.
It would also help to share your location during your trip. When you leave your accommodations, you can send live location information through various apps, including Life360, Google Maps, and Meta’s Messenger. This is why acquiring a robust internet connection on solo travels is best.
Another helpful hack many solo travellers do is informing accommodation staff of their itinerary. That way, they can keep an alert eye if you don’t come back immediately.
7. Go Solo With Confidence
Travelling alone may be intimidating, but once you get past all the questions and worries, that first leap to your destination will be worth it. The key is to conduct thorough research and early planning.
You avoid obstacles like fully booked attractions, heavy luggage, and unrealistic budgets. Discover more about yourself and build your confidence. Plan your solo adventure today.