Are you planning to go on your first solo trip? I will share some solo traveling tips that will make your solo travel more enjoyable and more manageable. I will talk about things that you must know if you're going on your first solo trip.
Don't like reading? Don't worry, I got you!
Pack only Essentials:
My first tip for you is to pack light and carry on the essentials. It is super important. You should remember you are the only one traveling and you will have to carry all your stuff alone.
When I went to Borneo, we were staying on an island and the only way to get back to the main land was by a boat and the dock was on the other side of the island. My bag was so heavy and we had to run (because we were late, standard Kesvi) from one side of the island to another side with my heavy backpack. I have never regretted the amount I packed more. So learn from my mistakes and only carry the essentials.
Learn from Your Mistake:
You can only be as prepared as your experience. If this is your first solo trip, you will make little mistakes. But don't be scared because you are inexperienced. You're going to learn and understand along the way.
You will understand what is needed and what is not needed. The best parts of solo travel are how much you learn to problem-solve and how much you learn to trust your instincts. I have made plenty of mistakes in my early journeys. Sometimes they turn into some of the best things in my life, and the other times I learned from them.
Trust Your Instinct:
Trusting your instinct is super important. Trust that you can look after yourself and that you will get through. If you feel something is not right, trust that feeling. Don't beat yourself up if you make a wrong decision. You can't always get it right. We all make mistakes, it's part of life.
When I was traveling to El Salvador, I missed my bus stop. I thought there would be another one, but there wasn't. I ended up in the wrong village. With my little Spanish knowledge and hand gesture, I was trying to make people understand. This security guard helped me and got me a taxi back into town. I trusted my instincts that this man was going help me and he did! .
Learn to Say NO:
Saying no can be something out of your comfort zone. But you need to learn to say no. You are already doing something out of your comfort zone. You are traveling by yourself. It's okay to say no if someone asks you to do something you don't want to do.
It's not something you are going to master right away. It took me a while to learn how to say no because I was not that person. I was the person who didn't want to be left out, and I was a person who really wanted to do everything that everyone else was doing. It took time, but I can now confidently say no to things that I am not interested in.
Another thing you need to learn is not to feel bad for saying no. Always remember, this is your trip, it's about you, what you want to do. Everyone else is on their trip. Let them do what they want to do. This is the best thing about solo traveling. You can choose what you want to do. If you don't want to wake up early, you don't have to. And that is up to you, not anyone else.
Hostels:
When you reach somewhere, stay in hostels. If you know me, you know I am a big fan of hostels. I have mentioned multiple times that if you are traveling alone, stay in hostels. You will not be lonely. You will meet a lot of people along the way. So, stay in hostels.
Have a Padlock:
Lock up your stuff. It's essential for the peace of your mind more than anything else. Usually, people are very unlikely to steal your stuff. I have kept my stuff unlocked at some hostels, and they have been absolutely fine. But I would suggest you take a padlock with you. Every hostel has lockers, whether it's big or small lockers. Lock your essential stuff like a passport in it. When you are going on a day trip, you do not need to carry all your things with you.
Spare Card and Cash:
Always keep a spare card like a bank card or some extra cash. This is so important; I cannot emphasis enough how important it is. You do not know when something like being pickpocketed or you losing your wallet will happen.
I lost my wallet once when I was in Antigua, Guatemala, with my friends. I was lucky I left my bank card and cash in the hostel. Otherwise, I wouldn't have any money. I'm not saying that everyone gets robbed or loses their stuff, but it is good to have that safety.
So take an extra bank card OR carry some US Dollars because USD($) are the most accessible cash to convert anywhere in the world. You will always find someone who will exchange it.
Act Confident:
My last tip for you is fake until you make it. I mean, act confident. Don't look around like you have no idea where you will go, even if you don't know where you are going.
You can ask people for help, but you don't have to act like you have no clue. If you don't want to ask someone find a café to sit in, and use google maps to find out where you are and where you want to go. Don't forget to order something small. Once you are ready, you can carry on with more confidence. It saved my butt many times. This is a small thing you can do to look confident instead of look like a lost puppy.
I hope this post was helpful for you. Don't forget to let me know if it helped you. You find me on Instagram (please add your Instagram link when you post the article). I share travel tips and tricks that will make your travel experience most enjoyable and more effortless. Subscribe to my newsletter to get regular updates.
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