12 First-Time Solo Travel Tips I Wish I’d Known Sooner

Thinking about taking your first solo trip but feeling a little nervous? I get it. There’s a lot to figure out when you’re the one making all the decisions.

I started traveling solo in my mid-50s, and I’ve learned quite a bit along the way. Some things I planned for, and others I learned the hard way. Like paying way too much for a taxi in Indonesia or finding myself without cell service while trying to visit a castle in Switzerland.

And then there are the little things I hadn’t really thought about before traveling alone. Like how to try a bunch of different foods when there’s nobody to share with, or why it’s helpful to have something planned for each day.

These are the solo travel tips I actually use, along with a little advice I’d share with any woman getting ready for her first trip.

1. Pick an Easy Destination

For your first solo trip, choose somewhere that feels manageable. Somewhere you can communicate fairly easily, get around without too much trouble, and feel comfortable exploring on your own.

And you don’t have to travel internationally right away. A weekend away or even a day trip somewhere close to home is a perfectly good place to start.

You could also go somewhere you’ve already visited, just on your own this time. Knowing a little about the destination can make things easier.

So, start small. You can always venture farther outside your comfort zone once you’ve gotten a little experience traveling alone.

2. Practice Doing Things Alone Before Your Trip

This is one of the simplest solo travel tips that so many people don’t even think about, but it really helps!

Start doing little things on your own at home. Go out for lunch, see a movie, or spend an afternoon exploring a nearby town. If you’re used to doing these things with friends or family, it might feel a little strange at first.

But that’s exactly why you should practice. It gives you a chance to get comfortable with your own company before you’re halfway around the world.

And who knows? You might discover that you love having the freedom to do exactly what you want, when you want, without having to consider anyone else’s plans.

If eating alone is one of the things you’re nervous about, I’ve got some tips for eating alone while traveling that can help you feel more comfortable.

3. Prepare for Emergencies Before You Leave

As women, we’ve had safety drilled into us since we were young. Watch your surroundings. Be careful walking alone. Don’t leave your drink unattended.

I don’t particularly like that we’ve had to grow up thinking this way, but here we are.

The truth is, I don’t do much differently to stay safe when I’m traveling solo than I already do at home. I pay attention to what’s happening around me, trust my instincts, and use common sense.

What I do differently is make sure I’m prepared if something goes wrong when I’m far from home.

Before an international trip, I make sure I have:

– Local emergency numbers, since not every country uses 911.
– Contact information for the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
– My hotel’s address and phone number.
– Copies of my passport and visa, if one is required.
– My travel insurance information.

I also leave copies of my itinerary, hotel reservations, and important travel documents with a trusted family member or friend. That way, someone back home knows where I’m supposed to be and has the information they might need if there’s an emergency.

I keep digital copies of everything somewhere I can access them, too.

I’ve also put together a free What to Do When Travel Goes Sideways guide that walks you step by step through handling unexpected travel problems. Download your free copy now so you’ll have it ready if something goes wrong.

4. Download Your Travel Apps and Offline Maps

Before leaving home, download the apps you’ll need for your trip and make sure they’re working.

That includes airline and train apps, hotel booking apps, rideshare services, and anything else you’ll be using to get around.

And don’t forget Google Maps!

Download an offline map of your destination before you leave. I learned this one the hard way on my first solo trip to Switzerland.

I was trying to find Grapplang Castle and lost cell service. No map, no directions, nothing. I ended up relying on my memory and reading signs to find my way.

I also save my hotel’s location in Google Maps, along with its address and phone number. Some hotels have similar names or multiple locations, and you don’t want to end up at the wrong one.

If your hotel has a business card, grab one when you check in. It’s handy to show a taxi driver, especially somewhere you don’t speak the language.

5. Plan Your Arrival Before You Leave Home

One thing I always figure out ahead of time is how I’m getting from the airport or train station to my hotel.

Will I take a taxi, rideshare, shuttle, or public transportation? Where do I find it? How much should it cost?

These are things I don’t want to be figuring out while standing outside an unfamiliar airport with my luggage, especially after a long flight.

Check whether your hotel offers airport transportation or can recommend the easiest way to get there.

And here’s something else I’ve learned. This isn’t the time to worry about saving a few dollars. If paying a little more for a direct ride to my hotel means I can avoid hauling my luggage around, figuring out unfamiliar transportation, or making several connections when I’m exhausted, it’s worth every penny.

For more help getting everything organized before you leave, check out my guide to planning your first solo trip.

6. Try to Arrive During Daylight Hours

Whenever possible, I try to arrive at a new destination during the day.

It’s easier to find transportation, get your bearings, and see where you’re going.

I learned this lesson on my first solo trip to Indonesia.

After about 35 hours of traveling, I arrived in the dark, completely exhausted. I knew I was supposed to take a Bluebird Taxi from the airport, but I ended up getting into a different taxi and paying about three times what I should have.

Not exactly the welcome I was hoping for.

Now, if my flight arrives late at night after a long journey, I’ll sometimes stay at an airport hotel and continue to my destination the next morning.

Of course, arriving during the day isn’t always possible. Just make sure you know how you’re getting to your hotel before you land.

7. Pack Light Enough to Manage Your Own Bags

Just because you can squeeze everything into your suitcase doesn’t mean you should.

Bags get heavy. Quickly!

When you’re traveling solo, you’re the one getting your luggage on and off trains, up stairs, through airports, and into your hotel.

Can you lift your suitcase onto a luggage rack? Carry it up a flight of stairs if there’s no elevator?

I remember one trip I took with two bags and regretting it almost immediately. Lugging both bags on and off buses and trains was a nightmare.

And let’s not even talk about trying to fit two bags into an airport bathroom.

Never again.

Since then, I’ve become a big fan of traveling with carry-on luggage whenever possible. It’s made getting around so much easier.

8. Take It Easy on Your First Day

I don’t recommend scheduling a bunch of activities for your first day, especially if you’ve just come off a long flight. Between the travel, possible jet lag, and being somewhere unfamiliar, you might be more tired than you expect.

Give yourself time to settle in, unpack, shower, and get used to your surroundings.

One of the first things I like to do when I arrive somewhere new is go for a walk around my hotel. Nothing ambitious. Just a chance to see what’s nearby, find a café or restaurant, and get a feel for the neighborhood.

I find that even a short walk helps me feel more comfortable and a little less like I’ve just landed somewhere completely unfamiliar.

9. Take a Food Tour Early in Your Trip

One of my favorite solo travel tips is to take a food tour early in your trip.

Most food tours involve walking through different neighborhoods, so you get a good introduction to the city while trying local food. You also have a local guide right there to ask questions. Where should you eat? What’s worth visiting? Is there something nearby that tourists tend to miss?

Ask away!

But here’s what I really love about food tours as a solo traveler.

I want to try EVERYTHING.

The problem is, when you’re eating alone, there’s only so much food you can order. Sometimes I just want a taste of something, not an entire plate. And there’s nobody sitting across from me to share it with.

On a food tour, I get to try all sorts of dishes without having to order a full meal of each one.

And I get a little company, too.

I genuinely enjoy my alone time when I travel, but I also like a little “peopling” now and then. A food tour gives me a couple of hours to chat with other travelers, enjoy some food together, and then happily go back to doing my own thing.

10. Give Each Day a Focus

One thing I’ve learned from traveling solo is that it helps to have something in mind that you want to do each day.

That doesn’t mean you need to plan every hour. I actually prefer having plenty of free time to wander and see what catches my attention.

But I do like to give each day a focus.

Maybe it’s visiting a museum, taking a day trip, trying a particular café, going on a tour, or exploring a neighborhood I’ve been wanting to see.

Because when you’re traveling alone, there’s nobody else saying, “Hey, let’s go do this today!” It’s all up to you.

And without some sort of plan, it’s surprisingly easy to find yourself sitting in your hotel room thinking, “Okay, I’m here. Now what?”

Having one thing in mind for the day gives you somewhere to start. The rest of the day can go wherever it takes you.

11. Bring Something to Enjoy During Downtime

One of the things I enjoy most about solo travel is being able to spend time doing exactly what I want.

But there are also going to be moments when you’re waiting for a train, sitting in a restaurant, or relaxing at a café by yourself.

I like having a book or journal with me.

It’s something to enjoy while waiting for food, sitting in a park, or taking a break from sightseeing.

And here’s a little practical tip. If you’re dining alone and need to use the restroom, leaving your book on the table can help signal to the server that you’re coming back.

Of course, it doesn’t have to be a book. Maybe you’d rather listen to a podcast, write in a journal, or just sit and people-watch.

12. Give Yourself Grace

If this is your first time traveling solo, be kind to yourself.

There will probably be moments when you feel overwhelmed or wonder what you’ve gotten yourself into. Things won’t always go as planned, and you’ll make mistakes along the way.

It’s okay. It really is.

And if there’s one thing I hope you remember from all these solo travel tips, it’s that you don’t have to get everything right on your first trip.

You might get lost, miss a train, order something you don’t like, or spend an afternoon wondering why you thought traveling alone was such a good idea.

And then the next day, you might have one of the best experiences of your trip.

You don’t have to love every minute of traveling alone. Some days will be better than others, and that’s okay.

The more you travel solo, the more comfortable you’ll become with figuring things out on your own. And before you know it, things that once made you nervous won’t seem like such a big deal.

Who knows? You might even find yourself planning your next solo adventure before this one is over!