Are you planning to try travel solo for the first time, but feeling nervous about what could go wrong? I'm a solo travel expert who has spent a decade travelling the world solo, and I'm sharing my top tips and answers to your questions on how to prepare for first time solo travel. This expert guide covers everything from eating alone and coping with loneliness, to meeting other travellers and feeling safe when travelling solo. My guide is aimed at solo female travellers, but a lot of this advice is universal. Ready to get into it? Let's go...
Travelling solo isn't always easy. It can be the most incredible and uplifting experience that changes your life. But at times it can also be lonely, and hard. I know so many people, like myself, who have loved every second. People who have thrived off being alone and who have grown confident and stronger by the day. But not a single one of us would say it was all sunshine and roses. Because there are always going to be things you struggle with. There will always be moments when you have to step out of your comfort zone. But I'm here to tell you, that is where your life begins.
When I first started a life of solo travel over a decade ago, everything was a shock to the system. It all seemed huge and a bit terrifying, everything was a challenge and dragged me out of my comfort zone. I soon realised that to have fun as a solo traveller, you've got to learn to let go of all your fears and worries. You've got to wholeheartedly embrace travelling by yourself and make it work for you. That's the best way to fall in love with the life you create. In a relationship but want to try solo travel? Read this article Yes I Still Travel Solo, Even Though I'm In A Relationship for the inspiration you need to take that leap. I've created this ultimate guide to help you take the first steps and prepare for first time solo travel.
How to Prepare for First Time Solo Travel – The Ultimate Guide:
- The Solo Travel Essentials
- What Travel Insurance do I need for Solo Travel?
- SIM Cards for Solo Travellers
- Why you need a VPN as a Solo Traveller
- Eating Alone as a Solo Traveller
- Staying Safe When Travelling Solo as a Woman
- 10 Tips for Safe Solo Female Travel
- Is Solo Travel Lonely?
- Top Tips for Organising Your Travels
- Making Friends When Travelling Solo
- Keeping Your Valuables Safe as a Solo Traveller
- How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off
- How do I get epic solo travel photos?
- Getting Sick When Travelling Solo
- When Things Go Wrong in Solo Travel
The Solo Travel Essentials
What Travel Insurance do I need for Solo Travel?
You may be wondering if it’s worth investing in travel insurance for your solo adventure. The younger me would’ve brushed off insurance as something non-essential, but now I’m older and wiser, I can’t imagine travelling without it. Insurance gives me the comfort and reassurance of having someone to speak to if I have any issues on my trip. It also means that if something goes wrong, you've got a great back-up which is invaluable and great for giving you peace of mind. If you get sick, or injured, you can access medical treatment while away without getting stung by huge bills. It also means that if your luggage gets lost, or your flights are delayed, you can claim.
You can read about travel insurance for solo female travellers here, or the short version is I really rate World Nomads travel insurance for solo travellers. They're a company which offers insurance designed by travellers, for travellers, and it's perfect for one-off trips or multi-destination trips. I particularly love their new features such as Air Doctor and SmartDelay which gives you access to on the ground medical care and prescriptions, and airport lounges if you face travel delays.
SIM Cards for Solo Travellers
My number one solo travel safety hack is eSIMs – they're a lifesaver for solo female travellers who want to feel confident when travelling alone. As a solo female traveller, staying connected using the best eSIM for travelling has meant I’ve been able to text, call, and use my phone for the internet worldwide. An eSIM is a digital SIM acting in the same way as a physical SIM, allowing you to activate a network plan and use your phone for texts, calls, and the internet. Differing from a physical SIM card, eSIMs are built into devices and simply require activating. You don’t need to order and wait for a physical card to arrive.
Why does this make solo travel safer? Because the second you touch down in a new destination you have access to the internet and can text/make calls. An eSIM is invaluable for solo travellers to be able to navigate & look up directions, find their hotel, book an Uber and stay connected with friends and family. Holafly are my go-to eSIM provider and I have a special discount code ABSOLUTELYLUCY for 5% off at Holafly – get yours now to prepare for first time solo travel.
Read my full blog post on the Best eSIM For Solo Female Travellers To Beat Roaming Charges for more information.
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Why you need a VPN as a Solo Traveller
Did you know that you can use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to score amazing deals on travel? It's a trick lots of travel bloggers use and the exact way I managed to score flights within Europe for £4.70! I can't believe more solo travellers aren't using this travel hack. Using a VPN to save money on travel is something anyone can do – whether you're booking a weekend city break or summer holiday, planning a gap year or travel full time. A VPN is a digital tool that helps to enhance your security online when travelling solo. You can use a VPN to save money on travel by setting your location to a different country where rates for hotel bookings, car rentals and flights are cheaper. I always use Surfshark VPN for surfing the net when travelling.
Eating Alone as a Solo Traveller
Is it embarrassing to eat alone when travelling solo?
This is one of the biggest fears for first-time solo travellers and I can understand, it's super daunting at first. Surely no-one wants to sit in a restaurant alone. Won't people stare at me and think I've been stood up? Is it weird or embarrassing to eat out alone? It's normal to have all these thoughts and more. But let's be serious, a girl's gotta eat and there's a good chance they may not have Deliveroo where you'll be travelling. I felt so weird eating out solo when I first tried it, but now I love it and know that there's nothing embarrassing about eating alone when travelling solo. It gives me an opportunity to really be present in the moment, to take in the surroundings and focus on my meal.
Remember one thing – people actually don't care as much as you think they do. People rarely ever stare and usually if they do, it's because they're marvelling at this mysterious stranger who dares to eat alone. Just relax, smile and you'll usually find they either smile and look away or they'll start chatting with you. I've found lots of times that other diners love to strike up conversation when you're alone, it's a good way to meet people.
How can I eat out alone without feeling awkward?
- Change the way you think about it – think of this as a time to recharge your batteries and rest your legs.
- If you hate being sat alone, why not eat at the bar? Or talk to the staff.
- Read a book, listen to a podcast or even plan your next day's activities.
- You could even take a laptop with you and respond to emails or write a blog.
- Or just allow yourself to be – remember the joy of people-watching.
- Really take the time to savour your meal.
If you still hate eating alone when travelling solo – try these 4 tips:
- Change your mealtimes and eat out at lunchtime instead of dinner when it's less noticeable
- Stay in a hostel – great for communal dining and finding friends to eat out with
- Join travel Facebook groups and meet with people for dinner
- Stay at a homestay and dine with the family hosting you
Read: How travelling solo gives you the confidence you never knew you had
Staying Safe When Travelling Solo as a Woman
One of my greatest passions in life is giving women the tools and the confidence to feel safe to travel the world solo. A big part of that is changing perceptions about solo travel and how "dangerous" it is. Yes, there are dangers in this world, but I have felt more unsafe walking alone in London at night than I have in a lot of countries deemed too dangerous for women by Forbes. I see a lot of advice for women travellers which tells them to minimise their existence and make themselves small in order to stay safe, I disagree with this advice. The world is a lot safer than you realise, people are wonderful and kind. If you're preparing to try solo travel for the first time, follow these tips for safe solo female travel from a solo travel expert who has been travelling the world alone for over a decade.
How can I stay safe when travelling alone as a woman?
This is so important for women who are preparing for first time solo travel. My best advice for anyone who chooses solo travel – learn to trust your gut. If you ever feel uncomfortable or unsafe, get yourself out of that situation as quickly and safely as possible. One of the best lessons you can learn is how to say no, set boundaries and leave any situation that makes you feel uneasy. I'm a stickler for research, if you want to feel confident when travelling solo for the first time, one of the best ways is to know what to expect, where you're staying, having an eSIM installed and being able to safely navigate.
10 Tips for Safe Solo Female Travel:
- Don't take the shortcut at night, stick to well-lit and busy areas.
- Don't be afraid to ask for help if you feel threatened or lost - talk to everyone to build confidence!
- Research before you travel – know the local scams so you can watch out for them
- Avoid motorbike taxis where possible, not only are they far more intimate but they are far less monitored.
- Try to stick to registered taxis and public transport where possible.
- Make friends at your accommodation and go out as a group so you feel safer.
- Don't drink too much alcohol, take drugs or do anything that could impair your ability to look after yourself.
- Dress appropriately for the country, particularly in modest Asian or strict Muslim countries.
- Walk with your head held high, stride with confidence – trust me that makes a huge difference!
- Remember, you can always say NO if anything makes you feel uncomfortable.
Is solo travel lonely?
If you're preparing to try solo travel for the first time, it's important to know that loneliness hits all solo travellers at one time or another, it's inevitable. But travelling alone doesn't have to mean feeling lonely. How you prepare for first time solo travel and how you deal with loneliness can lead to very different outcomes. I knew a girl in Sydney who was homesick and missed her mother, she would spend every night on the phone to her mum crying and upset. Then she would spend all day in bed recovering from the phone call. She barely spoke to anyone else except to tell them how miserable she was. She wouldn't listen to anyone who tried to persuade her to hang out and leave the hostel to do something fun. A week later, her parents flew her home.
I've had times when I've felt lonely as a solo traveller, but instead of allowing myself to wallow I pick up the phone and call home. You've got Facetime and Whatsapp at your disposal 24/7 and even living in a different timezone doesn't have to be a struggle. If you need a few hours to feel crappy, that's fine. But don't let it carry on all day or become a habit. Get up, get dressed and get outside. Catch up with friends, go meet new people in the hostel, book on to a group day trip or walking tour. Throwing yourself in the deep end is the best way to beat solo travel loneliness. Its okay to wallow sometimes, but don't let it take over and stop you having fun. You never know what you could be missing out on while you sit there feeling sad.
Top Tips for Organising Your Travels
One important thing to remember when you prepare for first time solo travel is that you are solely responsible for every part of your travel. While that can be daunting, it's vital that you stay organised and plan ahead as much as you can to avoid unnecessary challenges as a solo traveller. It's exhausting being the only organiser, even if you usually enjoy it. Everything from flights and hotels/hostels to activities, visas and food shopping. It soon becomes a huge job when you're travelling by yourself. With only you to tackle it, things can seem pretty daunting. Deal with it by turning your attitude upside down, focus on how exciting it is to have full control of your life. You're finally able to plan exactly what YOU want to do, without worrying about anyone else. Enjoy the process and looking forward to the next adventure.
- Make a list of all the tasks you have to do – include everything!
- Now organise these – split them according to travel/practical/fun and list them in order of priority
- Don't take on the whole thing at once, break it up over a few days and do the most difficult or boring tasks first
- Tick them off when complete! It's so satisfying and will help you keep track
Read: 11 invaluable life skills solo travel teaches you
Making Friends When Travelling Solo
My favourite solo travel topic can be one of the scariest for first-time solo travellers. If you're naturally an introvert and you're trying to prepare for first time solo travel, it can be overwhelming to think of making friends with other travellers. Solo travel will push you out of your comfort zone, but that's exactly where all the best moments happen! One important thing to remember, is that you're not alone. Every single solo traveller is in the same boat as you. They're scared, lonely and just want someone to drink a beer with. If you can push yourself to be the person who makes the first move, you will help them to feel more confident, but you will also save yourself the worry and stress. The more you do it, the easier it becomes (and everyone else will be really grateful you did!)
- Start small, hang out in the public areas of the hostels/hotels and chat to other people sitting nearby.
- See a group having a drink? Grab a beer and head over, ask if you can join them.
- Work on your body language – sit back, relax and chill out, and don't forget to smile at everyone.
- Positivity attracts positivity! Always say hello and ask how people are, it makes them more likely to want to hang out.
- Try Facebook groups for travellers – there are always people looking for friends to hang out with!
- Have ideas for group activities – if you can suggest something, people are usually up for it!
Keeping Your Valuables Safe as a Solo Traveller – 8 Top Tips:
- Never leave your bags unattended – especially if they're in a hostel lobby or cafe.
- Know where your passport is at all times – use a safe or locker if possible.
- Spread your money out – keep some on you and some locked away in your hostel when you go out.
- Separate your money into different bank accounts and keep your cards in different places.
- Don't leave your valuables in your big bag/suitcase while travelling on buses/trains, keep them with you.
- Watch out for pickpockets when you're visiting crowded sights/tourist attractions. Keep a hand on your bag/camera.
- Ladies, get a long strap zip-close bag and wear it across your body so it's not easy to grab
- Don't waste your time on padlocks for your rucksack or suitcase, it just makes it more appealing to thieves
How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off
First-time travellers worry a lot about getting ripped off and quite right, when you first start travelling it's easy to stick out like a sore thumb. Here's my best tips to prepare for first time solo travel by avoiding the scams and getting ripped off:
- Do your research – speak to travellers and read blogs for the latest information. This can help you find out average prices so you know when to say no, it can also help warn you of scams in the area.
- Be prepared to barter in Asian countries and don't be afraid to be cheeky and firm about it. Walk away if you don't like the price and see how much lower it suddenly goes!
- Don't be afraid to shop around, even if they put the pressure on and say the deal is only available right now. That's rubbish they're just trying to pressure you.
- Don't just go for the biggest tour companies, there are lots available and sometimes you can get a much better deal. I got two weeks worth of travel, activities, food and accommodation for £200 by booking through the Thai Tourism Agency instead of travel companies.
How do I get epic solo travel photos?
We live in the age of Instagram and everyone wants those perfect solo travel photos and videos to show off their adventures. As a full-time travel content creator, I'm an expert in finding ways to capture these solo travel moments when I'm alone. From blurry headless shots to the ones that cut off my feet – I've seen it all and I've found ways to get around even the worst holiday shots. Here's my top tips for getting those epic solo travel photos and videos:
- Ask someone to take your photo – you can frame it for them and then jump in the shot!
- Meet other solo travellers and sightsee / take photos together!
- Buy a tripod – this is a lifesaver if you're travelling to more remote places.
- Get a drone – these are amazing for getting epic solo travel videos and photos
- Use the self-timer setting or try interval shooting on your camera
Don't forget to shop my solo travel content creation kit to level up your solo photography for your next adventure!
Read: Top tips for capturing Instagrammable locations
Getting Sick When Travelling Solo
Getting sick when you solo travel is inevitable if you travel for long enough. If you're planning on short getaways to fuel your solo wanderlust, you may escape this but if you plan to travel more, there is a good chance the germs will catch up with you. My best bit of advice? Don't stress about it and take it as part of the journey. The best way to cope with getting sick is to make sure you prepare for first time solo travel by having travel insurance with medical benefits and always packing some key items that will make life easier if you do get ill. World Nomads travel insurance comes with Air Doctor, a platform designed to connect travellers with trusted healthcare professionals around the world who speak their language and understand their needs. Air Doctor is on hand with quality medical care for travellers seeking treatment for minor illnesses or emergency situations.
Make sure you pack these items for solo travel:
- Painkillers
- Imodium
- Electrolytes
- Seasickness tablets
- Plasters / bandaids
- Hand Sanitiser
- UTI / Thrush medication – these are hard to find abroad
When Things Go Wrong in Solo Travel
Everyone's experienced those travel days when everything seems to go wrong, but how do you cope when you're travelling solo? Prepare for first time solo travel by having a plan for when you miss a flight, when your visa doesn't go through, you get Bali belly or have your phone nicked. I'm not saying these things WILL happen to you, but knowing what to do if shit hits the fan is a good idea so you don't feel so alone. Trust me, I've had some challenging days as a solo traveller, and it really does suck when you don't have someone to give you a hug and have a laugh about it. Here's some tactics I use when things go wrong to feel less vulnerable as a solo traveller, and get back on track:
- Give yourself time to recover. If something bad or scary happens, go to a place you feel safe, call home for support and give yourself a break.
- Been ill? This is always the time to spring for a hotel. Give yourself a bit of privacy, luxury and have a good staff on hand to bring room service or bring medicine.
- Don't be ashamed to ask for help and don't force yourself to keep travelling when you need to rest.
- Missed a flight? Call the airline, explain what happened and see if they can book you on another flight, they are there to help! Always have insurance just in case.
- Had your phone nicked? Contact your travel insurance and see if you're covered. Don't have insurance? Check if you're covered via your bank or home/contents insurance.
- ALWAYS have a safety net with your travel funds in case things go wrong!!
