Traveling alone for the first time might seem scary. Trust me, I know the feeling: you desperately want to travel solo, but at the same time you feel anxious beyond words. But hey, that’s totally normal. Countless travelers across the world have the same fear before traveling alone. Going on a journey on your own is something big, but it will also be an experience that you’ll remember forever.
I have been traveling solo for more than fifteen years; therefore I can completely understand you. Before my first solo journey, I was stressed, and I wanted to cancel everything. But I’m glad that I didn’t: I had the time of my life! In order to offer you some extra comfort, I’ll tell you that: I didn’t feel that anxious in any of my next journeys. I might still experience some light stress prior to traveling alone, but nothing compares to that first time.
Traveling solo is a life-changing experience. What you’re going to read here is a set of tips that helped me to travel alone through the years. I hope that these tips will help you leave your comfort zone and motivate you to embark on your first solo adventure. The tips appear in no particular order; for me, they are all equally important.
I have also written an ebook called “How to travel solo as an introvert“. Make sure to check it out.
How to travel solo for the first time
Travel tips that will help you to travel solo
Pack light
This might come as a surprise, but for me, it’s my number one rule.
Packing loads of things for your journey can have the opposite effect. You think that packing as many things as possible will reduce your anxiety. It actually works the other way around: it will make you feel that you want to pack even more things. In the end, you will end up packing every single useless piece of the household. Remember that you are about to travel solo for the first time and not to move abroad. Traveling alone is an act of liberating ourselves from the norms of daily life and packing tons of luggage won’t really contribute to that.
After taking several solo trips, I know that the most important thing is to feel comfortable in the place you visit. Throughout the years, and after observing my traveling habits, I learned that I usually stick to 1/10th of the things I bring with me. For my first journey, I packed tons of clothes. The result? I only used one pair of jeans and a couple of t-shirts…
It took me a couple of solo journeys to learn how to pack light. But after all these years, I can travel for several days around Belarus with a half-empty carry-on suitcase.
Takeaway point: Don’t try to bring lots of things with you. It will be more stressful and won’t offer you any solutions. Travel light and pack only the absolutely necessary items.
Select wisely your destination
If you are traveling alone for the first time, you don’t have to go to the other end of the world. Of course, it is absolutely fine to travel to the most remote place of our planet, but the truth is that it might be a bit too much. Try to focus instead on a place that you can reach easily. For example, check which places could you reach in 2-3 hours by plane or in 5-6 hours by train.
Distant journeys have more of a heroic aura for the ambitious solo traveler, but they can also be intimidating. Try to take it one step at a time: for your first journey alone go somewhere 2 hours away, for your next, choose something more distant, etc. Remember that you want to have a good time and that you have to return home full of energy. Don’t overdo it in your first solo journey: you will gain experience and in your next one, you will be able to travel even more far away.
My first solo trip was to Berlin. It’s a three hours flight from Athens, and I stayed there for a month. Was I anxious? Totally! Did I have a good time? Yes! I’m actually planning to write an article about the best destinations to travel solo in Europe, so make sure to check back this post.
Takeaway point: For your first journey alone don’t be super ambitious. Choose a place that you always wanted to see within a 2-3 hours distance by plane.
You can be introverted and still have a great time
If you are an extroverted person, you probably have an advantage in solo traveling. You can travel on your own and meet loads of people during your journey. I define myself as an introvert and I even have written an ebook on how to travel solo as an introvert. The thing is though that a lot of introverted people would like to travel solo, too.
I define myself as more of an introverted guy. One of the things that worried me back in the day was getting bored or lonely while traveling alone. This proved to be a false alarm. My days were so full that I didn’t even have the time for such feelings.
On the other hand, I slowly opened up to the locals. It’s not that every time I return home from a journey I have the names of 50 new people on my agenda. Sometimes there is one or two, sometimes no one. Meeting new people is always wonderful, but it’s not why you’re going on a solo journey. The reason is that you want to understand who you are and come closer to yourself. It’s okay to be an introverted person, and it’s okay not to make new friends while traveling solo.
Takeaway point: Again: it’s okay not to make new friends when traveling alone. Being for some days on your own it’s what really matters.
Never listen to what others say
Lonesome travelers are vulnerable creatures. Deciding to embark in your first solo adventure can be stressful. You will think of all the things that could go wrong, of all the incidents that might occur. Each thought before traveling transforms itself to a new fear.
And what do you do then? You decide to share your anxiety with others. While it’s fine to share your fears with two-three people that you trust, it’s totally a no-go to share it with everyone. Some people will be jealous of your first solo journey; others won’t care. People that you don’t trust with all your heart won’t offer helpful advice. On the contrary, they will probably increase your anxiety, and you’ll find yourself on a more significant level of stress. Avoid going down that spiral.
Even after fifteen years of traveling solo I never share my travel plans with everybody I know. I usually talk about my plans with two-three people that I trust and that encourage me. The last thing you need before traveling alone (especially for the first time) is the negativity of others.
Takeaway point: Share your travel plans only with people that you trust 100%. Otherwise, you’ll end up more stressed.
Do the things you love while traveling solo
Having a daily routine when you’re traveling alone is also important. It’s through your hobbies and interests that you can actually capitalize on your solo travel experience.
I’ve always been fond of writing, taking photos, and going to the cinema. While sightseeing and walking endlessly are among the things I always do, I also try to find time during the day for the things I love the most. That being said, I always write while traveling, I always take photos, and no visit to a foreign place is complete until I watch a movie in a local cinema.
If you are interested in cooking, for example, why don’t you try to learn how to cook a local dish? Or, if you like drawing why don’t you spend an afternoon on a bench and draw what you see? The variations are literally endless. But sticking to the things that you love is also a way to embrace who you really are.
Takeaway point: Stick to the things that you love when traveling on your own. They will keep you calm and offer you a home feeling.
Keep a diary
This is not something just for the travel writers among us. Keeping a daily record of your journey is the most valuable souvenir. You can even consider starting a travel blog to keep you company while traveling on your own.
When you are on the road, you will think that it’s impossible to forget even the tiniest details. Traveling alone offers us such a pleasant dynamic, that we often feel immortal. I always think that after ten years I will still remember the number of my hotel room; how much I paid for dinner; what was the name of that bar. I thought that I’d betray myself if I forget something from my first solo journey. Oh, memory, memory…
I always keep some sort of a travel journal. I usually write short entries (that sometimes transform to blog posts), and I tend to fill it with useful notes. Although you might think that you’ll never forget your first solo adventure and you’ll be able to recall it as a movie, the truth is that as time goes by it will become more like scattered photos in an old box. It’s better to write everything down and then try to remember through the written words.
I still have a Moleskine from my first solo trip, and I can’t tell you how much it means to me. Things have changed so much since then that I often feel that somebody else wrote it.
Takeaway point: Your journeys are your memories. Write short diary entries, have a small camera with you, and don’t let those memories fade away.
Budget accordingly
That’s not a pearl of great travel wisdom, of course. But keeping an eye on your budget is a must. While it’s nice to not care at all about money, the truth is that you can’t visit Zurich for a week with 100 euros.
Sometimes we dream big, and this is liberating. On the other hand, trying to fit as much as possible on a very low budget will be stressful. Prior to traveling, check your budget and try to have some extra money if something goes wrong. You might miss a flight (breath! it’s okay!), or you might want to spend some extra cash for something. It’s always better to bring some money back home, instead of ending up broke for the last three days of your journey.
As a rule of thumb, I try to save some extra budget for every solo journey. Remember that you won’t share expenses with somebody else and it’s you and your wallet there. For example, in September 2018 I traveled around the Greek islands for three weeks for less than 1,000 euros. Did I have exactly 1,000 euros with me? No. I actually had 200 euros more: I might miss a ferry and have to survive for two-three days more. Yes, in the end, I spent 920 euros. But having this extra cash made me care less about money.
Takeaway point: Have some extra cash with you and never book things that exceed your budget. Credit cards are a plus but not a must.
Allow yourself one luxurious thing per journey
Consequently, leaving some breathing space in your budget will make you feel better.
I always allow myself some luxury every time I travel solo. It doesn’t have to be something big and definitely not something to do all the time. But if you are interested in something and it’s pricey, go for it.
For example, when I was traveling in Armenia, I thought of taking a tour. You know, having a driver for a day can be costly. But I was very interested in the stories and the places; therefore I went for it. Or, another time, in Tallinn, I heard about a wonderful restaurant; it cost three times more than the average dinner, but I still remember it.
The truth is that little luxuries offer some comfort. On the other hand, they often are a highlight of our solo journey.
Takeaway point: If you are traveling alone for the first time, allow yourself one luxurious thing. You’ll have something to look forward to, and you’ll probably remember it for a very long time.
Use common sense
When you are traveling solo, you will seem sometimes exotic to the locals.
Even if you are an introverted person, you will for sure meet some people and chat with them. Some of them might have an offer for you (a dinner, a drink, or a walk around the city). While most of the time those offers will turn into excellent experiences, never underestimate your gut feeling. You don’t have to follow anyone, and you don’t have to accept every offer. If something seems wrong -or, if you are simply not interested- deny politely and walk away.
I have often accepted walks or drinks, and I usually had a good time. But there were times that something seemed like a no-go and I declined the invitation.
Takeaway point: Use common sense and trust your gut feeling. While not everybody is there to harm you, it’s good to keep an eye on what’s happening around you.
Talk to close friends and family
Going on a solo journey for the first time doesn’t mean that you have to disconnect from the people you love. On the contrary, sometimes it’s fun to share your daily life as a solo traveler.
Nowadays, we have the feeling of being always connected because of Social Media. If you feel like sharing with your followers, do it. But what is more important is to share your solo travel experience with your close friends and family.
While it is precious to take some distance from your life at home, sending a video or a photo won’t harm you. Yes, traveling alone for the first time is both a strange and wonderful feeling. On the other hand, it’s always good to inform one-two people about your whereabouts. Nothing terrible will happen to you while traveling alone, but this will comfort you even a bit more.
Takeaway point: Keep in touch with the people you love but don’t overdo it.
Make a plan -but not a super concrete one
Traveling solo for the first time is challenging: you want to see everything. As you will soon realize though, there is probably not enough time to really see and do everything.
Try to make a plan before going on a solo journey. Read some travel guides, visit travel blogs, draw some inspiration from Social Media. See what are the must things to do in every place and try to include some of them in your itinerary. It’s not only that you’ll make the most out of your first solo journey, but it’s also that you’ll keep yourself occupied.
Don’t overdo it though. Planning exact itineraries might actually be too much. Instead, try to have enough free time for random things and surprises down the road. You should never forget that you are there to enjoy yourself and not go through some exams after you return.
Takeaway point: It’s okay not to see everything. Have enough free time to enjoy yourself.
Pre-book your accommodation
I always feel better when I have my accommodation booked prior to traveling solo.
Arriving in a new place and having nowhere to stay can be frustrating. You might arrive early in the morning or late at night and having to search for a room is the last thing you want. Even if you arrive at regular working hours, it might be a hassle to find a hotel or a hostel.
Throughout the years, the platform that worked the best for me is Booking. I always log in and search for a place to stay. Where do I usually stay? Well, I often say that I’m always searching for a small hotel downtown. This allows me to be flexible and not to depend on transport. You see, I like walking for several hours per day when I travel alone, and I don’t want to deal with taxis or buses.
Finding a place to stay is sometimes not that easy: you depend on your personal taste and budget. I’d say not to overthink the accommodation: you will probably need a bed to sleep, the rest of the time you will be exploring and enjoying freedom. Find one that suits you and book it. There are plenty of hotels and hostels out there, and there will be for sure a bed for you.
Takeaway point: Book your accommodation beforehand; it will help you to relax after your journey, and you won’t lose time searching for a room.
Final thoughts on how to travel solo
I was always fond of traveling, but I caught the travel bug only after my first solo journey. To embark alone in an adventure seems at times frustrating. You will even feel overwhelmed, and you’ll probably consider canceling your plans.
Please don’t do it. You are about to have a wonderful experience: you are about to start learning who you really are. To travel solo means to open up to the world, to destroy your prejudices, and to have new experiences. Remember that each one of us who likes to travel solo offers courage and motivation to people that are scared of doing it.
Not that long ago, I have compiled a list of travel books; these are all masterpieces of the world literature that motivated me to leave my comfort zone. Most of those writers also liked to travel solo and see what they achieved: they wrote books that we love to read. We might not be able to write like them, but we can for sure travel like them.
I’ve been traveling alone for several years, but it’s only lately that I started writing this solo travel blog. The Letters To Barbara was also an extra motivation to keep on traveling. Find out what motivates you and keep the above set of tips in mind. You might feel anxious, and maybe everything seems too much. But the moment you’ll be on an airplane or a train, you’ll forget everything. You’ll have an incredible journey ahead. And, a sense of freedom that will be unbeatable.
What stresses you the most before traveling solo?
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Last Updated on May 2, 2020 by George Pavlopoulos