Conquer Your First Solo Trip Abroad in 12 Easy Steps

Planning your first solo trip across the globe can be downright scary and overwhelming. I know this because it took me a few years before deciding to take the leap to another country on my own. My first experience abroad to China was full of trial and error, but the experience left me stronger, more confident, and more excited to take off alone than ever before.

With the right preparation, you can successfully board your flight and jet set off on your first solo journey overseas sans any mental breakdowns. So, if you are thinking about traveling abroad alone, check out the list below of my personally curated tips and tricks to help you successfully brave your first solo journey across the pond.

1. Book Your Lodging In Advance

I cannot stress this enough! I am all about “winging it” and finding lodging upon arrival, EXCEPT for when it comes to braving your first trip to a foreign country alone. The very last thing you want to be doing upon arrival is running around anxiously trying to figure out where you are going to sleep for the night.

The key is to take as much stress and uncertainty out of the equation as possible. Having a reliable, convenient, and SAFE place to stay is absolutely imperative. These are a few qualifications I look for when scouting out a formidable safety “nest”:

• Good communication from the host
• Close to public transportation or central areas of interest
• Safe location and reliable storage for your belongings
• Basic amenities and/or extra services (Do they have a towel? A hair dryer? Laundry services? Free bike rental?)
• Airport transportation if there are no reliable public transportation or pick-up/drop-off services. (If you are heading to a foreign country that doesn’t speak your native language, a taxi may rip you off or may not be able to understand where you are trying to go).
• Good Reviews – if there is a one-off bad review, chances are the person was just unlucky or had some sort of run-in with the host or hotel group. If you see multiple 1 star reviews claiming there are cockroaches on the walls and weird stains on the bed, hit the x button on your browser window and never look back.
• Reasonably priced – I love using sites like booking.com, hotels.com, hostel world, and airbnb for cheaper options and reliable reviews/information!

PRO TIP: Have a back up plan. Sometimes things fall through no matter how much pre-planning and research you do. It’s always good to have some educated idea of another place to stay should anything happen with your current reservation.

2. Set Up Your Transportation In Advance

The second most important thing to have set up or at least be knowledgable about in advance is your transportation. Book your flights, train tickets, bus tickets, whatever tickets – ahead of time. The more work in research that you do in advance, the smoother and easier your trip will be (most of the time).

There are some types of transportation you can and should only book on arrival, such as public trains and buses, taxi or ride-share services, etc. It is best to be as knowledgeable as possible about the types of transportation a city offers and what needs to be booked ahead of time. If you plan to take public transit, research the systems and general pricing before you go to avoid getting ripped off or on the wrong train headed two hours in the opposite direction.

My favorite website for booking flights at the lowest price is Skyscanner. I recommend booking your flight through the official airline if the price is similar to avoid any potential issues with cancellations or reservation changes. For everything else, I use google or travel support forums to get to the transit website specific to the country I plan to visit.

3. Plan Activities, Tickets, and Tours In Advance

Am I getting the point across yet?! It may not always be cheaper to book tours or tickets for events in advance, but for your first trip alone I would recommend having at least a few activities at your chosen destination booked ahead of time. Securing reservations for these things a few weeks or so before you go:

• Requires you to do the research up front, saving you the extra time and stress during your trip.
• Ensures you have a basic outline of an itinerary to go off of should you feel overwhelmed just “winging it”.
• Helps prevent you from MISSING OUT (FOMO) on the very bucket list items you came to the country for. I have had this happen and let me tell you it is NOT fun. It makes you feel rather idiotic for not having done enough research to realize that the tickets always sell out way in advance.
• Gets you into the best restaurants. I can’t tell you how many places I have gone to with amazing restaurant recommendations only to find out they booked up a month ago (face palm).
• Makes you look like a total travel PRO.

4. Create Your Own Itinerary

If you have the funds to book a travel agency or an all-inclusive travel package and are more comfortable doing so, by all means go for it! If you are traveling on a budget and/or enjoy the freedom of having a more customized experience, create an itinerary of your own.

I find that having a printed, tangible, and detailed itinerary is extremely helpful – especially in the cases of spotty or no internet. As a total organizational control freak, I plan out itineraries for all of my trips, regardless of if they end up getting fully used or not. I always end up using it regardless to take notes and add in any stops or recommendations on along the way. I realize this may sound a bit over-the-top, but this is the sole reason I rarely leave a destination without checking off every bucket list item AND SOME on my list.

For a more detailed look on how I plan my itineraries, check out my post HERE. Not into the whole planning thing? Head over here and let me plan an adventure-filled trip for you!

5. Print Everything Out

With technology these days, we tend to rely solely on our mobile devices for just about everything. Unfortunately, when traveling overseas, relying on just your mobile device for everything doesn’t always cut it. The more you have printed in paper and secured in a handy envelope or ziplock bag, the less you have to freak out about if your phone craps out, internet is faulty, or (insert all other potential travel disaster incidents here).,

It’s never fun when the hotel you are staying at for the next week hits you with an “I’m so sorry I can’t seem to locate your reservation anywhere in our system Mrs. Smith, would like to book the last available room for 500 Euro a night?” This is easily avoidable with a paper copy of your reservation readily available to show on arrival.

Keep your most valuable and needed documents in a waterproof pouch like this one and keep it in your carry on or in a safe place at all times. Below are the list of documents I like to have printed out before I travel anywhere overseas, wether it be solo or with others:

• Hotel addresses (in both your native language and the language of the country you are visiting)
• Reservation/booking confirmations (restaurants, tours, excursions etc.,)
• Flight information and PNR #’s
• Bus or Train tickets
• A photo copy of your passport (one per each bag because you just never know)
• Extra passport photos (some countries require upon arrival visas and having these makes everything SO much easier)
• Any important phone numbers you may need
• Travel insurance information
• Your Itinerary
• A cheat sheet guide to the country you are visiting

6. Bring Several Forms of Payment

There is literally nothing more scary than having your debit card eaten by an ATM in the middle of a foreign country where no one speaks your language. Ok I lied, there is something more scary…having your debit card eaten by an ATM in the middle of a foreign country where no one speaks your language with no back up cash or forms of payment. I know someone this exact scenario happened to…in CHINA. Lucky for him, he happened to be traveling with friends who were able to cover him for the remainder of the trip.

To avoid running for the hills screaming at the top of your lungs the next time the words “solo travel” pop up, make sure you come prepared with enough money and forms of payment to keep you covered. My biggest piece of advice is to store a back up card and cash in a safe place in a separate bag or lock box where you are staying. By having a back-up option, you are setting yourself up with a disaster relief plan should god forbid you get pick-pocketed or end up with a hungry ATM machine.

PRO TIPS:

• Make sure the country you are visiting accepts your form of credit or debit card ahead of time.
• Educate yourself on any foreign transaction fees or ATM withdrawal fees your bank may charge to prevent unpleasant surprise charges.
• Call your bank ahead of time to alert them you are going to be traveling overseas. Have their number handy in case the card does get frozen or declines.
• Get a pin if needed for your credit card. They do exist and several countries require them!
• Always withdraw cash (larger amounts are better to avoid multiple withdrawal fees) from an ATM over exchanging money at the airport or a currency exchange for the lowest possible exchange rate.

7. Create a Budget

Traveling solo means being one-hundred percent responsible for your travel funds. There is no-one else to help you cut costs (unless you make friends along the way), so make sure to factor that in. A taxi from the airport may be 40$ instead of splitting it with a friend for $20. Keep this in mind and make sure to create a budget that fits your plan for just you alone. If you meet people and are able to split costs and save money along the way, consider it bonus money in the bank!

I recommend researching all of the activities you are interested in and paying for as much of your reservations up front as possible. This alleviates feeling the blow of paying for last minute flights, hotels, or other activities all at once, and can help you budget better. Keep a spreadsheet of your expenses for the trip with tabs for transportation, lodging, food, and fun activities/souvenirs. This can also help you find out what you could have saved on or could spend more on for a later visit or for future solo travels.

8. Set up an International Phone Plan

If you follow my travels, you know that I am all for disconnecting completely to re-set and re-connect with nature and reality every so often. I am NOT however, all for the idea of heading into a foreign country solo with no way to contact the outside world. I know I sound like a mom here but solo travel can get really lonely (or scary) especially in a country where your language is very scarcely recognized. Being able to phone home, your best friend, or your significant other once in a while is a piece of necessary comfort and sometimes your safety net.

This is not to be confused with consistently being on your phone skimming through every new facebook post or IG notification! Don’t forget you are in a country to explore what’s around you! Immerse yourself and allow yourself to feel a bit awkward and alone. It is all part of the experience and trust me, you will thank me later!

There are many international phone plan options to choose from these days, some of which are already built into your cell phone plan like T-Mobile or Sprint. If your plan is a bit pricey, look into purchasing a foreign SIM card to use on your phone. Just make sure your phone is unlocked and able to use the SIM card (ask your carrier if you are unsure of this).

9. Branch Out/Branch In

For the Introvert: On a solo trip, it can be extra hard to work up the motivation to meet new people. It is especially hard when the majority of people don’t speak your language! If you are normally one to keep to yourself in social settings and/or generally aren’t one to approach people you are unfamiliar with, now is your time to shine and really learn!

I recommend hanging around well-known tourist spots for a part of your trip. You can usually catch someone speaking your language more easily in a more saturated area. There is no better icebreaker than to approach someone you overhear and ask if they speak your language. Ask a question like “have you been here before?” or “do you know how I would get to _____?” Usually that is enough to strike up a conversation and make a new friend that probably has a few other things in common with you!

For the Extrovert: If making friends everywhere you go is a complete breeze for you, I recommend using some of your solo journey overseas to allow yourself to become “invisible” or “branch in”. There is no better way to learn more about yourself and improve on your ability to be happy spending time alone.

I tend to fall more to the extreme end of the social spectrum, which is part of the reason I chose China as a place to travel solo. This allowed me the ability to really grow and learn from the experience of feeling totally alone with little ability to communicate with others around me. Learning to silently observe can be a challenging but wonderful experience for the extroverted type. As always though, don’t pass up an opportunity to make a new friend if someone peaks your interest or approaches you!

PRO TIP: When meeting new people, make sure to really trust your gut. If someone seems suspicious or you are in an area you don’t feel comfortable in, leave immediately. Don’t go home with or to a location you don’t know of with someone you are unfamiliar with. Avoid disclosing the exact location you are staying as well as any personal details about your trip or self. If you do make friends, notify someone back home where you will be and who you are with as an added precaution!

10. Medically Prepare Yourself

One of the biggest causes of anxiety when I travel anywhere overseas is the fear of some dreadful freak accident or health incident landing me in a foreign hospital. I have been lucky to avoid anything deathly but I have to say my travels have not been entirely smooth on the health front. I’ve spent an entire 14 hour flight incapacitated by food poisoning, woken up in a bug infested bed with hundreds of weird bites, and been electrically shocked by loose wiring at a beach bar in Vietnam (to name a few).

My point is not to scare you out of going anywhere outside of your bedroom, but rather to make sure you are prepared. Having a good first aid kit of OTC meds, taking preventative measures by getting any recommended vaccinations, and signing up for travel insurance is not just de-stressing, it’s necessary. Knowing you are totally covered should anything happen to you health-wise is the best peace of mind you can give yourself.

Going to a new country exposes you to things your body may not be used to. Make sure to avoid really questionable foods, research if the water is drinkable, and be extra-attentive to any safety instructions if you are engaging in any daring activities. Having a few OTC medications handy can also make a huge difference if you do end up feeling under the weather. Below is a list of things I never leave without when traveling overseas:

• Peptol Bismol/Immodium
• Bandaids
• Neosporin
• Throat Lozenges
• Pseudafed
• Benadryl
• Emergen-C/Multi-Vitamins
• Advil/Tylenol
• Any prescription medications (always keep these in your carry on!)

11. Bring Entertainment and a Journal

Traveling alone for the first time can feel really lonely, especially if it is for an extended period of time. I always make sure to bring a book, a journal, my iPad stocked with downloaded Netflix documentaries, and an offline music playlist. I try not to use my electronics unless it is for air travel or between travel, but once in a while it’s nice to turn in a bit early and relax with some episodes of planet earth or some of my favorite tunes.

Journaling has a lot of really amazing benefits, but I especially love it when traveling. Writing can help de-stress you immensely, especially when you are unable to speak to anyone about your feelings or struggles in the moment. For your first solo travel experience, I think it is so important to capture your feelings, experiences, and favorite places/events. It’s great to be able to look back and see how far you have come since that first time abroad alone!

12. Stay Active and Create a Routine

Keeping a routine as much as possible can really help combat the uncomfortable feeling of being out of your element. I try and stick to my morning routine when I travel just as I do at home and I do what I can to maintain simple habits like taking my daily vitamins etc., Stretching, meditation, guided yoga, or even going for a run really helps keep me calm and releases any built up tension and stress from traveling long distances. These things can be easy to forget about with so much else going on!

Working out can really help you recover from jet-lag and give you some much needed energy to get through packed days of sight-seeing, If you can, try and look for a few free workout classes to join in on at your destination. You may even meet some friendly locals that can introduce you to their country!

HAVE FUN!

Solo travelling is a life-changing experience. It brings you closer than ever to yourself, builds confidence, and helps you gain strength in the ability to navigate future travels with more ease. It can be stressful and scary at first, but if you follow all of these tips, you will be prepared to handle anything that comes your way. Remember, you are never truly alone! The world is full of friends that you just haven’t met yet.

“Maybe it won’t work out, but maybe seeing if it does will be the best adventure ever.”

Do you have any tips of your own for conquering the solo travel journey? Share them in the comments below!