So you’ve booked your first solo trip! Whether you’ve been thinking about it for a while or it’s just a spur of the moment thing, embarking on a solo voyage can definitely bring up all types of buzzy feelings. But as your departure date nears, it’s also easy to find yourself feeling overwhelmed or underprepared.
In our experience, it’s best to get started on planning your solo travels as early as possible. So let this be your go-to guide, your big sisterly advice for all the best tips and tricks to prepare for your next solo adventure.
1. Choose your destinations carefully
The first step is to pick all the destinations you’re expecting to hit across your trip itinerary; this is key for ensuring you make the most of your time away. For example, choosing the Maldives sounds amazing in theory. But in reality, you may find yourself surrounded by romantic couples, which isn’t the most appealing if you’re travelling solo.
Consider looking at some of the top destinations for female travellers. Ideally, you want to choose a destination where it’s not only safe to travel on your own, but also delivers plenty of great experiences for solo travellers. Think getting lost in the streets of Tokyo or switching off at a wellness retreat in Bali.
2. Prepare for the ‘what-if’ moments
With any trip, you must prepare for the unexpected – the ‘what-if’ moments when things don’t go as smoothly as you would like. Pre-empting things going wrong doesn’t make you cynical, it makes you realistic – especially if you’re planning to travel solo as you can’t expect to rely on anyone else but yourself.
Start by preparing your travel documents. This includes your passport, visa documents, and your travel insurance details – ideally printed or even saved as a downloaded PDF on your phone or other devices for easy access.
You’ll also want to head to your local currency exchange to take out some cash in the local currency or currencies you’ll need for your trip. You never know when you might need to get a taxi or if a restaurant only accepts cash. Having cash on your person is also extremely handy when shopping in markets, and you need to maintain some bargaining power.
3. Pick accommodation that’s solo traveller-friendly
One of the best ways to immerse yourself in your new surroundings as a solo traveller is to choose accommodation where you can expect to be surrounded by other people. Not only will this make you feel safer, but it also opens you up to meeting people and enjoying interesting conversations throughout your day.
If this sounds daunting to you, remember it’s all part of the experience too. In fact, one of the benefits of solo travel is that it can make you more open-minded and force you out of your comfort zone. This involves learning how to connect with people from different cultures or lived experiences. You never know where conversations can lead, so just let yourself be open.
That being said, it’s perfectly natural to feel a little apprehensive of accommodation like hostels as a woman travelling alone. So why not carve out a little room in your budget to accommodate some luxury-grade experiences that allow you to alternate between lavish and frugal travel days?
Pro tip: one of the fabulous perks of travelling solo is the possibility of upgrades. Hotels and tourist attractions always try to fill last-minute vacancies, so calling ahead to see if you can snag some single seat upgrades or even room upgrades at a discount can help elevate your holiday to luxe-grade on a shoestring budget. The same tip applies to travel and airlines (hello, extra leg room or business class!).
4. Packing cubes are your best friend
We cannot stress enough how much of a lifesaver packing cubes are; they stop the “ahh” moments of trying to find your favourite tops or the panic of thinking you’ve lost your purse.
Not sure where to begin with packing cube organisation? We suggest having packing cube categories (i.e. a packing cube for tops, shorts, going out dresses, etc). This system just makes your life easier, because you can easily grab a cube per category to put outfits together.
Packing cubes are also super backpack-friendly, making the cube system ideal for hikers or even long-term backpackers. With the right cube system in place, you can save yourself from having to rummage endlessly or even from pouring the entire contents of your bag on the floor (we have all been there).
And if you do happen to do a full pour-out sometime and walk away a little worried you’ve left something behind, why not consider popping a tracker like an AirTag in with essential items? Using tracking tags will also help you avoid lost luggage and other holiday nightmares.
5. Do not overpack
We repeat, do not overpack. As tempting as it is to bring a curated wardrobe on your getaway, you’ll absolutely want to leave some room in your bag for fun things like trinkets, souvenirs, local fashion finds, and sweet treats! It’s inevitable that you will want to buy some keepsakes, so having space gives you the freedom to shop. Not that you may need any shopping encouragement, but you will want the space – trust us.
Packing practically and sensibly is also essential for those travelling to different destinations that may see you needing to pack and unpack multiple times. Having a bag that is easy to pack will save you from plenty of headaches as you flit from destination to destination.
6. Join travel networks
Get yourself tech-savvy and join some travel groups on social media. There are plenty of Facebook groups filled with solo female travellers, and there are even groups specific to destinations. For example, Bali is a popular place for solo female travellers, and there also happen to be multiple Facebook groups so that women travelling alone can connect up across the island. You can even join the spaces beforehand and may find others following a similar itinerary to you and looking for a travel buddy to do some shared activities and experiences together!
There are also plenty of apps you can use to meet other travellers. We recommend Travello and Backpackr, but there are plenty of others out there, and some that are even specifically for women!
Just remember to be safe and mindful when meeting new people online or when exchanging money – no matter which platform you’re on. If you can, try to book deposits yourself rather than sending money to unsecured sources.
Final tip: don’t forget to have fun on your next solo adventure!
One of the most amazing parts of solo travelling is the freedom and independence that comes with it. Yes, it can seem scary at first, especially if this is your first time travelling alone, but like most things that are unknown, you just have to roll with it.
Often in life, the experiences with the biggest risks are the most rewarding. With solo travel, you can enjoy an indescribable style of freedom and the unlimited potential for adventure. You have the power to create whatever trip you desire, and that in itself is very exciting. So take confidence in yourself and remember to have fun and make memories that’ll be sure to last you a lifetime.
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