Five first time solo travel tips

As a young woman who fantasied about solo travel as a teenager, I’m proud to say I found the confidence in my twenties to take the plunge. 

Over the past few years, I’ve flown to foreign countries, explored exciting cities, attended events and dined out on my own. While these trips may sound glamorous and enticing, they were also lonely, scary and overwhelming at times. 

If you’ve planned a solo trip but you’re a tad nervous, follow my tips to make sure you make the post out of your time away. 

Start small and work your way up 

Not everyone has the gumption to pack a suitcase, jump on a plane and explore a new city alone. If this your dream and you’re feeling anxious, build up towards this experience. Start small and take yourself out for dinner, visit a local attraction or head to cinema in your hometown. You’ll start to get used to your own company when you’re out and about. You’ll be able to build up to longer domestic journeys, over night stays and eventually a break abroad. 

Hotels are lonely places 

In my early twenties, I embarked on my first solo trip to Turin. I found the whole trip very overwhelming, but this meant I learnt a lot too. One of my biggest mistakes was staying in a hotel. In my opinion, hotels cater for families, couples and business trips. In hindsight, I’ve have been more comfortable in a hostel or hiring out an AirBnB. Since then, I’ve stayed in a number of hostels across Europe where I’ve met other like-minded travellers and made plenty of friends for life. 

Stay busy 

First off, make sure you have a guidebook in one hand and a town map in the other.  If you’re travelling alone, do your research. Make sure you have some attractions in mind and some activaties planned or even booked. Book yourself on a free walking tour of the town/city where you’re staying. Not only will you get a feel for the place but you may meet another solo traveller looking for some company. That being said, make sure you have some flexibility in your schedule too. You may stumble across a cookery class, a previously unheard of attraction or be invited out to eat by your new-found friends. 

Use online networks 

Organisations and societies will often posts meet ups ahead of time on social media sites. For example, the Erasmus Network will post their meet ups and plans on Facebook for students to connect with each other. I went to a fantastic meet up in Venice by searching online events. Be sure to be careful when you’re researching these events though, it’s all about balancing fun with your personal safety.

Take a deep breath and be brave 

One of the hardest things for me was eating alone in restaurants and coffee shops. I’d recommend arming yourself with notebooks, maps, books and your camera to keep you entertained. If you fancy a natter, sit at the bar and the bar staff will be sure to strike a conversation. Try to go to busier places where you’ll blend in more and feel relaxed.