Planning for your first solo international trip?
I often asked by the person who knows me if how did I survive my first solo international trip, they asked me If I got scared, If it’s safe to travel solo?
Well, Traveling solo international trip has its pros and cons and for me; Pros is more significant than Cons. Traveling solo is one of the amazing experience I ever did in my life. When traveling solo, it gives us chance to be the mastermind of our own adventure, to see the world in our own way, We meet more people, we more likely to experience the kindness of strangers. and to get to know more our self. Other reasons also I do love when traveling alone; I can do the things that interest me, I don’t need to wait for my other company to pack up and ready, and I never need to negotiate where to eat, what to do or when to call it a day. Traveling solo can be scary, exhilarating, overwhelming all at the same time.
In another area, disadvantages of traveling alone might quite expensive, As a solo traveler, we have to pay a single room supplement if you’re going stay in a hotel without having someone to split the costs with, and in some parts even have to pay more to eat alone in a restaurant. We may also struggle with issues of loneliness. Not having someone to share all those amazing experiences.
Here’s Everything you Need to Know for your first solo international trip
1.Make a research and Itineraries for your trip
Number one rule when traveling solo international trip ALWAYS makes a research for the place you wanted to visit. Safety is the key for an unforgettable trip! Know ahead what’s in that place, list down the things you wanted to do, the food you wanted to taste, in short, list down your bucket lists for the place you want to visit and finalized your Itinerary after.
2. Download These Apps
There are a bunch of apps that make a solo international trip a lot easier than it ever has been before, including Currency Converter, Create Trips, Skyscanner, Airbnb, Hostel.com, Booking.com, Grab or Uber for private cars, Google translator, my favorite app Tripadvisor.
3. Copy or Scan your passport and important documents
When doing solo international trip, make extra copies for your passport and important documents, scan and save it in your email or device. Put an extra copy in your suitcase or backpack in case you lose your purse you have an extra copy, give an extra copy for your family also if possible.
4.Pack Light
The lighter the easier. When traveling solo we don’t have someone to help us carry our big, extra suitcase. If your trip is going to be 1 month or more in Europe, be aware that major city and countries in Europe are made of cobblestones it’s so hard to drag and carry our bag. Even in Asia carrying big suitcase is really hassle.The best thing also when packing light no excess baggage especially when you take a plane.
5.Social Media
Solo international trip sometimes makes us feeling nostalgic at home. We really need to keep people at home updated on your journey so they know where you are at all times. That way if things go wrong, you can easily be traced you and it’s more fun when people interacting your photos when you upload.
6.Learn how to asked strangers to take your photos:
One of the major problem when doing a solo international trip or even couple trip is who will be going to take our photos. I remember one of my best friends asked me how in the world I take beautiful photos of myself without someone I know. It’s so simple asked politely to strangers and tips, you need to ask strangers who have a camera in their hand so for sure they’re not a thief and they know how to take photos also. Check my beautiful photos in my solo travel in Phuket Thailand mostly taken by a stranger; WHAT TO DO IN PHUKET THAILAND FOR FEMALE SOLO TRAVELER
7. Keep a Journal
Not only is this a great way to reflect on each day, but it also serves as a permanent memory of all the little things that took your breath away that day, all the people who made you smile, all the thoughts that swirled around your head and all the confrontations of culture shock you encountered.
8. Walk Everywhere
Aside from you Itineraries, it’s more fun if you explore and walk the other areas unexpectedly, challenging but a lot of surprising things will happen but always be vigilant in your surroundings.
9.Dress like a local
Results in a much better travel experience, whereby you become a part of the city or country you are visiting, dressing like a local result in a safer experience make as away from the target on your back for pickpockets,
10. Meet other travelers
Making friends is easy as you both have that one thing in common: that you’re both solo and eager to meet other people. It’s so interesting also when you make friends with other traveler, chances if they live in another country when you plan to have a next vacation you might bump in with them again and become friends for good.
11. Be aware of Scams and Pickpocket
Even you live in a safest and honest place in the world. There are always scammers out there and I even encountered scam in Paris. Always be aware on your surrounding and the people around you don’t trust directly.
12. Don’t be afraid when saying “No”
Being a polite person will never make us a bad person when we say no. If someone will offer us for a drink at night and you have a gut feeling that it’s not safe; say NO. You are the most responsible person for your own safety.
13. Don’t go out late at night
Don’t go out late at night if you are still new in your surrounding if you are not yet aware of the safe street you going to cross. Better safe than sorry.
14. Bring power bank or extra battery
We know that our mobile phone and cameras are so important right now. Keeping the battery up will make as hassle free and less stress
15. Always be prepared every day
The best idea as a solo female traveler is to always have a map of the city with a big mark the spot of your accommodation. That way you can always ask a local to point out where you are on the map so you can find your way home. Or as I referred to number 14 don’t drain your battery just in case you will lose your home you can just open your GPS and track your way.
16. Attend free walking tours with other travelers
There are free walking tours in major tourist destinations, especially in Europe. Not only you can explore the city for free but you can learn more about the history of the place also.
17. Take millions of Photos
We only have limited chance to see that place and we don’t know when is next so better to bring a backup memory card.
18. Always bring your headphones
When we are in our solo trip, at the end of the day when we are on our way to our accommodation we became lonely so your headphone will be our best friends, listen to music or watch a movie or your video so you will be entertain.
19. Eat local food
For us to avoid food poisoning be selective for a place to dine. It’s really nice to experience and taste the local cuisine of the city even once in a while.
20. Bring medicine kit, personal kit, and basic tools
This stuff matters the most! When we are in a foreign place we adjust everything, even food, climate and our self. There is always a chance we get sick so always be ready for basic medicines, paracetamol, for diarrhea, etc.. For girls there are times we forgot to bring our feminine thing, especially if you have unpredictable menstrual period always put tampons and napkin in your purse. For basic tools don’t underestimate the power of scissors or nail cutters if we need something to cut or rid of.
27 comments
Great post ?❤️
thank you
Great tips! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Mariah
Love this! The app Maps.Me came in handy for me too 🙂
yeah so easy and less hassle
What a great post. I have traveled solo and I agree with you on these!
Great post! I’m sure once you do it a few times it just keeps getting better and better!
I love this! Great post!
Blanca
http://www.ageekylifestyle.com
thank you
Beautiful post,thanks for sharing!
Great post. Brought back memories of when I travelled through Turkey alone. What an amazing experience that was. Really great read xx
Love this! I travel alone for work but I have never traveled for pleasure solo. I think I would love it! Great tips to make it enjoyable and safe!
Great tips! And wonderful photos 🙂
Love this — took my first solo trip in 2015 and absolutely loved meeting all sorts of new people! Great tips hun Xo
Great post! And yup, try to dress like the locals when overseas and it’s better if you can pick up some of the local languages and slangs along the way 🙂
I enjoyed this post, and found your tip about finding someone with a camera already in their hand to take pics for you really handy! I will share this post on my G+
Awesome post! took me back to where it all started for me 🙂 just me and my passport ready to hit the world. 5 years later and I now have a beautiful girlfriend that i meet in Australia and 2 dogs we have rescued from Cambodia 🙂 this is a must guide for solo travellers!
I like this one a lot! Not traveling solo but the tips are more than useful. Especially – Bring power bank or extra battery. Practising that like ALL the time haha.
Travelling solo at first tends to make me nervous as I’m used to traveling with my husband now, but it definitely has some pros!
Wow! Awesome list and I never gave apps a thought until now. And dress like local become even more important when visiting South Asian countries.
Couldn’t agree with you more! Always always always meet new people and exchange information with one another. You’ll regret it later on in life if you don’t. Great post 🙂
I don’t know if I will ever get the opportunity to travel alone like this, but if I do will follow these tips. You have a lot of wise ideas here!
I have never tried traveling solo. It is not on my bucket list per se but I wanted to try it. Thank you for the very comprehensive list, this makes me want to travel solo. 🙂
looove your tip to bring headphones! I love traveling to meet new people and share experiences with them, but at the end of the day I just need to chill out for a bit 🙂
These are all great tips! Especially the one about dressing like a local – my mother used to actually bring us to a second hand store whenever we went somewhere new to make sure we looked the part!
Keeping a journal and trying local food rank one on my list. These are some great tips, especially the one about packing light and scanning important documents. Cheers!!