Tips for Traveling Abroad Solo
Growing up, I’ve always been miss independent and as I’m sure you know by now, love traveling. But being from a big family, with more family scattered all over the country, I’ve never taken the opportunity to travel solo. I’ve traveled with friends, partners, and occasionally a random acquaintance. It just wasn’t something I thought about because I always had someone to go with me.
Traveling to Italy was on my bucket list for basically my entire life and last year when October rolled around and I realized I had declared in my journal that 2019 would be the year I’d go, I booked a solo backpacking trip since my husband had already allocated his vacation days to go on another trip with his dad and brother so I’d have to make the decision for myself if I wanted to make the trip happen. I was a little nervous, but so ready to just do it!
As it turned out, I only spent a couple of days of that trip traveling on my own as both my sister and best friend decided to join me for different weeks of the trip, but I learned a few key tips on those days, and then on my next other trips to Prague and Beijing where I spent 90% of each day traveling solo, that I thought would be worth sharing with someone else ready to head off on a solo adventure.
Here goes…
Do a little research. Now, I know this goes against the grain for those of you who are awesome at being spontaneous, but if it’s your first time traveling solo (especially to a foreign country), I recommend doing some research. Map out where you’ll stay in a safe area and get an idea of how you’ll get from place to place if you’re moving around. Yes, you can wing it - but having traveled abroad both with a partner you can bounce ideas off of and having traveled solo - it’s always better to do some research in advance in my experience.
Don’t be afraid to meet people! If you’re going to a non-English speaking country, get on Duolingo or borrow some audiobooks from the library and learn the basics of the language in advance. You’ll be able to connect so much better with the locals you run into if you know just a few basics and it will establish some cred when you’re asking for help.
Travel light. Nobody will be there to carry your bags for you when you get tired so choose your items intentionally. Pack breathable pieces you can rewear. Especially your shoes. I swear good walking shoes are crucial and you’ll rarely need more than 2 pairs.
Be aware, but don’t spend too much time being fearful of crime. Before Italy, I spent hours reading all the guides on being safe and bought myself an anti-theft purse, wallet, and backpack. Once I got to my destination, I realized maybe it was a bit overkill for most of the areas I was in, but I sure felt safe with them while in Rome and on public transit. Do what you need to do to feel safe, but don’t let fear consume you (because it will). Sure there are times in touristy areas when you know you’re being watched as a target like in any hot tourist trap, but it was so rare and definitely not something to stress over. Carry yourself with authority, be smart with your valuables, and stay aware of your surroundings - you’ll be fine!
Don’t hold back. Try all of the things you want to try when you want to try them. This was one of the best parts of traveling solo - I never had to ask someone else if they wanted to do the same thing as me. I’d stop in for a drink anywhere I wanted and sleep in on the days I needed it. The feeling of independence when you do this puts you into a mode of confidence that can’t be beaten.
Hostels aren’t as scary as the movies made them seem. I’ve always thought of hostels as the terrifying place where you just might get corned and assaulted at any given moment. I was laughably wrong after staying in a couple in Italy. Hostels are similar to hotels and are typically filled with super interesting people from around the world doing the same exact thing as you. If you’re like me and don’t want to share a room with a stranger, opt for one with a private room. It’s really not that different from a hotel. Go meet your new friends (and don’t forget ear plugs at night).
Make copies of your passport/ID, prescriptions, reservations and credit cards. You never know when you might need them and you won’t have someone there to get your bill for you if you lost your bank card.
Get out of your comfort zone. If you travel all the way across the world and sit in your room scared the entire time, what stories and memories will you bring back? Trust your intuition. It knew you had bravery deep down so honor it and let yourself try new foods, seek new trails and experience the unknown.
Don’t panic if things don’t go as planned. I got lost a few times and one of the time walked miles on a highway by myself, unable to find the castle that should have been easily obvious to find. My data was off so I was following some directions I downloaded at a coffee shop earlier. I started to get anxious, but was able to remind myself that getting lost isn’t the worst that could happen and if I kept walking, eventually I would find someone or something that would give me a clue, and if it started to get too dark to see - I could turn my phone data on and call someone to help. But, I trusted my ability to find my way and ended up making my way to the castle minutes before the guards closed guests away for the day. Trust your gut and don’t stress!
Finally, don’t forget to get photos with you in them! I used to come home from trips with a million snaps of everything I saw, did and ate, but would never have one with me in them. Now, I make a point to take a few awkward selfies, utilize the self-timer on my phone or ask a trustworthy looking stranger to take a photo of me.
If you’re traveling solo for the first time, I really just want to remind you to have fun! It’s such an empowering experience and I cannot wait to hear your travel stories!
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