Solo travelling - where to start

So, you have decided that you finally want to give solo travelling a go? Great! But now you're thinking, but where do I even start...a million questions and ideas start to flood your brain and now you're thinking this may not even be the best idea after all...I got you! Solo travelling can be an incredible experience, but you need to be prepared a little, and know a thing or two before you get started. With this thorough guide I am here to help you every step of the way.

Discovering the Meteoras

1. Choosing your destination

I know this sounds like I am stating the obvious, but I believe that when you start out with solo travelling, your destination is the most important part. Whether you have a good first-time solo traveller experience will depend on how comfortable you feel in your chosen location. I personally would start with a smaller city break, maybe even a day trip where you live! Solo travelling has many benefits and can be so freeing, but I will tell you, it's not for everyone, and that is completely okay. In fact, I wrote a very honest post about solo traveling, the good, the bad, and the ugly; you can check it out here! So, when you choose your first solo travel location, I would recommend starting slow and booking a day trip around where you are currently located. This will give you a feel of what it is like being your own company, sipping your morning coffee alone, or eating dinner in a restaurant all by yourself. A day trip can give you some insight into whether solo travelling is for you or not. Of course, as an advocate for this genre, I would recommend not making up your mind about solo travelling after a day trip, but the success of one day travelling alone can be a good compass. Once you feel a bit more comfortable with the whole idea, you can go on and book that city break (or whatever destination you had in mind)!

Visiting a scent stick farm in Quang Phu Cau, Vietnam

2. The paperwork

Once you have your destination, it is time to check for the necessary travel documents that you need. You will need to check entry requirements and what you need, such as passport expiry date, visa, travel insurance and health requirements. You may need certain vaccinations, your passport to be valid for a certain amount of time, and a visa to enter. You can also check whether you can get a visa on arrival, but if doing it online is possible, I would recommend sorting it beforehand, only so that you have less to stress about once you arrive. Not likely to happen (but happened to me before), but when opting for a visa on arrival, make sure you check what payment methods are accepted. I once tried to get my visa on arrival and was expecting to be able to pay by card, but it was cash only... As I said, not likely to happen, but you might want to be prepared. Whenever you are checking entry requirements, make sure that you always look at official government websites and not travel agent websites. Running into the latter is likely to happen due to SEO settings, but when you go through non-government websites, they charge you extra fees, and they may not be valid or reliable. Always stick to official government sites for travel info and advice. If you are ever in doubt and have questions you can't find answers to, you can always try calling the embassy of the given country. They will be able to answer many of your questions. I did call them before visiting Sri Lanka, as the website was under work and the visa process wasn't clear to me. They answered all my questions, and as a result, my arrival to the country was smooth and stress-free.

3. The accommodation

If being alone scares you a little (which makes total sense, no shame in admitting it), then I would either recommend hotels or hostels. The former is the more luxurious option, and the latter is more budget-friendly, but what they both have in common is that they will be full of other travellers/holidaymakers, so you will feel more social. Being surrounded by people when travelling alone will help you fight your fear of being lonely. Both are great options, with hostels even offering private rooms sometimes, so you can find whatever fits your budget and preferences. As a first-time solo traveller, I would avoid Airbnbs because they can make you feel quite isolated and lonely at times. Unless, of course, you only book a room, but I feel like that can be a little too much of stepping outside of your comfort zone. I believe in doing that, but I also like a balance between pushing your limits all the time and feeling cozy and comfortable.

Solo coffee date in Galini Cafe, Santorini

4. Planning your activities

This is the part where you will probably most enjoy being alone! Do you want to have an early dinner? Walk all day until your feet are sore? Visit every single museum in sight? Well, you can choose how you spend your day because you don't have to justify or discuss your decisions with anyone. You can literally do this the way you want. And in my opinion, that is the most freeing part of solo travelling! I normally don't plan my days minute to minute; I just check one or two main things to do in a day and make sure that I leave enough time for myself to wander around, browse in local shops, or sit on a terrace with a book and coffee in hand. Not fully planning your whole trip is also beneficial if you are open to more socialising, like joining the walking tours organised by the place you stay in (a great way to meet friends) or going out for brunch with the girls you just met at the hostel.

5. Planning transportation

This is really important and can save you not only some money, but also some time and effort. While planning your day to day activities can be more like a "going with the flow" experience, when it comes to your transport options you do want to know what to expect. Make sure you do some research and know your options before you leave for your solo trip. I normally choose the public form of transport from airport to city, but you never know when you might need to call a taxi or its local equivalent such as Uber, Grab or Bolt. Make sure you do a quick search and download whatever app you need to get around easily and the cheapest. Knowing your options can give you a peace of mind.

In 2022 I moved to Valencia, Spain for 5 months alone and managed to explore not only the city but its nearby beauties like this waterfall, Cueva Del Turche, Bañol

6. Setting expectations

Solo travelling may or may not be what you need. As mentioned above, it is not for everyone, and you may find that while you enjoy certain parts of it, the cons list is much longer than the pros in your opinion. Some people love to share every experience with others, but I think it's important to give solo travelling a real shot if you are serious about it. It is such a self-development journey, and as such, it does have highs and lows. It is expected. Sometimes in movies, the heroine leaves everything behind to go on a solo adventure in a foreign country and suddenly she meets the most handsome man ever existed on the planet, finds friends straight away, and goes on fabulous shopping trips and wine tastings. I am not saying it can't happen, but I think it's important not to have really high expectations and more of an open mind as a first-time solo traveller. Being open to what could happen can lead to much better experiences than being so fixated on what we want exactly to happen, in my opinion.

7. Staying safe

This might be everyone's biggest concern when planning a solo trip. If you are new to solo travelling I would recommend going somewhere that is considered very safe for solo female travellers by official websites and advice. Also try to stick to locations that are well-known and are in public. Before visiting, make sure you do a quick research on whether there are any areas you should be avoiding due to safety issues. You want to be equally careful but also not let your fears ruin your trip. Just like when at home, try to stay cautious, like don't leave your drink unattended, try to avoid badly lit lanes and keep your belongings in a secure bag. Before taking photos or videos always look around if it is safe to do so, as it is becoming very common to have your phone stolen when unlocked and trying to take photos in public. In my opinion, if you want pictures on your solo travel trip, it is best to hang out with fellow solo travellers from your hostel or accommodation. Trust me they will be happy to take a few pictures for you (and will probably ask for the same favour).

Dubai Desert

I hope you found this guide to solo female travelling useful! I tried to summarise everything that you should know beforehand so that you can make the best decisions for yourself. Solo travelling is full of adventure and beauty, and I would like to encourage others to give it a go before they make up their mind about it. Hopefully this guide helped you to gain courage and start planning your first solo adventure.

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