Planning your first trip as a solo traveler?
Maybe you’re thinking about it, but you’re scared to take the leap.
If either of those statements are true, then you’re going to love this article – where travel coach Jenni Potter shares 5 steps to prepare for solo travel.
This article was contributed by a member of the Travel Coach Network.
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About Solo Travel Expert, Jenni Potter
Who am I?
I’m a solo traveller on a mission to get other women initiated into this world of freedom and adventure. Whether you want to start off slowly, or dive in deep like me, I’ve got you covered.
I started my solo travels on a 2 month trip to South America, with no prior experience and not much more than a one-way flight booked.
It changed my life for the better and I want to help you get over your fears and embrace solo travel.
1. Prepare it – and Prepare Yourself!
The greatest hurdle you will have to face when solo travelling is getting over your fear of doing it. More often than not it will be misplaced, but remember that it’s also a handy self-preservation tool.
Preparing for different eventualities and keeping your safety in mind is key, but overthinking can cause a blockage when you really want to be getting excited.
Reading blog posts by other solo travellers who have taken the plunge and done it all before can help to calm your nerves. Paying too much attention to when things went wrong is not the tack to take though. Decide whether it would help you to find out loads of things about your destination, or whether you’d rather play it by ear.
The most important things to consider are:
- The culture.
If you’re coming from a western country like me, chances are that attitudes towards women may be slightly different than what you’re used to. This is nothing to worry about in most cases, but be aware that it might not be best to go wandering off alone in some areas. In my experience, getting to know a place takes time, though it does become easier to pick up on the vibe of a place. - Take a little charm, or perhaps a gift from a loved one.
Having something to focus on in times when you feel a little lost and far from home will work wonders. It will remind you of who you are and how much you mean to others. It can be easy to get a little lost and feel a bit insignificant when you realise just how big the world actually is. Having a focus to calm your nerves might just be the source of strength you need. My advice to you? Embrace the anonymity! Just how many times are you going to have this amount of freedom? - Remember who you are.
In the words of Mufasa from The Lion King, never forget how independent, capable and downright incredible you are! All these people and there’s only one of you! You matter more than you realise!
Top Tip: If you’re getting worked up about the unknown make a list of all your worries, then make a plan to counteract these fears. Facing your fears head on and knowing you are prepared will help soothe you worries and will ensure you’re protected should something happen. No fear is silly and knowing you’re covered will ease your mind (and perhaps your concerned loved ones’ minds too.
2. Plan Your Trip – But Don’t Plan TOO Much!
Planning and preparing your itinerary will help you sail smoothly through your trip, but information overload is no fun for anyone! Analysis paralysis will have you unable to make decisions, or you’ll end up rushing to cram everything in. Relax, the world isn’t going anywhere – you can always go back!
My favourite way to travel is to go with the flow. In my experience of solo travelling in South America, it’s the only way to go! Time is a different beast to the people there and if you’re heading off the beaten tourist trails you’ll soon discover that time is an illusion that no bus will stick to. If you miss that bus then c’est la vie! Grab some food, order a drink and hunker down to wait. What’s your hurry, honey?
Top Tip: If this is your first ever solo travel adventure, make sure you book at least your first night somewhere and make sure it includes breakfast! Travelling is tiring and you might not realise yet just how much energy it takes to navigate a different country in a foreign language. Learn the basics of the language and note down phrases to help you understand key words and to check in to the place you’re staying. You’ll pick the lingo up in no time when you’re immersed in a new culture!
3. Pack For Your Trip (But Don’t Overpack!)
I could definitely do with following my own advice here! My first ever solo travelling experience came from volunteering to film and photograph the 2nd Amazon Fruit Festival and thus I travelled to the continent kitted up and decked out.
My grand total was three big and heavy bags. The first time I ever picked all three up together was at Heathrow Airport just before I left. I can still clearly remember the feeling of “oh no, what have I done?” as I waved my parents goodbye and boarded my one-way flight to the unknown.
Well, I’m happy to report that I survived and came out the other side a LOT stronger than when I went in (physically and mentally – it takes a lot to lug that much gear through 3 countries!) Let me tell you that my packing skills are now unbeatable, especially since I had to fit in the souvenirs I bought during my travels as well!
While I didn’t really have a choice but to travel with a full film kit, I am here to ask you to save yourself.
You only need 2 bags maximum – a main travel backpack and a carry-on case. The carry-on case should be made to standard airline sizes, to save you a lot of hassle and worry. If you’re building up your kit from scratch look for deals and consider second hand. You’ll want to save money for your travels and there’s no need to mark yourself out as a rich tourist.
As for my itinerary? I had a one-way flight to Ecuador booked, return flights to the Galapagos for a couple of weeks later and a flight to Peru. That was it. I filled in the blanks and the rest of my route as I went. While I wouldn’t recommend leaving things to the very last second, allowing yourself the luxury of going where you want, when you want is a phenomenal feeling.
Top tip: check whether your destination country requires an exit route pre-booked. I was asked at Heathrow whether I had a ticket out of Ecuador and luckily had my flight to Peru. You can always book a cheap or refundable bus ride out of the country if you want a bit more freedom while you’re there. Just don’t out stay your visa!
4. Embrace the Journey and Keep a Journal!
I started blogging at the beginning of my travels as a way to keep friends and family up to date with my adventures. This quickly fell by the wayside when I realised I didn’t want to spend a large amount of my time on my iPad concocting thrilling and in depth articles.
Most of my blog posts are being written up a year after my travelling experience. The world is a much different place and I’m writing this during the UK’s third lockdown. A lot has happened since the freedom of my travels and without my extensive notes I would be totally lost and reliant on memory alone! While I do remember a lot, there’s nothing like rediscovering little details that would otherwise be lost to the mists of time.
Whether you prefer to take notes on paper or on your phone or tablet, do yourself a favour: back them up! Take photos of your paper notes and send them to yourself. Email a copy of electronic notes to yourself too. I was locked out of my iPad for many months when I forgot the passcode (turns out months of not using it will do that to you) and very narrowly escaped losing all my precious notes forever!
Remember that things go wrong, but preparing can save you from a world of trouble!
Top Tip: Pick 1 or 2 main things to do in a day. Getting to and from places takes up precious time but is usually an adventure in itself. You’ll want to give yourself enough time to take things in and enjoy yourself.
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5. Just Go!
Solo travel is a growing phenomenon, especially for women, and honestly there’s never been a better time to take the plunge and book that flight. After being cooped up in my hometown for so long now, I’m raring to get back on the road again.
If you don’t feel ready, don’t force it, but if you’re intrigued then the time is now! Nobody in my sphere of influence had ever solo travelled and there was a lot of worry from others that I was being reckless. Turns out those were just the fears of people who had never even thought to travel solo. I quickly discovered that a lot of people do actually travel by themselves and every single one of them loves it. Come and join the global tribe of solo travellers – you definitely won’t be lonely with us lot about!
After all, if you’re waiting for someone else to go on your dream trip with you, you might be waiting a lifetime!
Top Tip: Book that flight! Having something tangible will help you save – believe me I know! Researching all the amazing things you want to do when you get there is a great motivator to help you become thriftier with your spending habits.
More About the Author, Jenni Potter
Jenni is a solo traveller and adventurer who loves nothing more than heading off into the unknown. Based in the UK, she also enjoys solo hiking, photography and filmmaking.
Connect with her and hear all about her travels here:
- Solo Travel Blog – www.collectingcontinents.com
- Solo Hiking Blog – www.awomanwalks.com
- Instagram: @jennipotterphotography
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