Traveling solo has been a hot trend over the last few years. People no longer have the patience to wait for their friends to sync their schedules to have vacations together; they pick their destination and start planning their holidays alone. Solo travel has been on the rise since the pandemic, when people preferred to stay away from others and head on adventures alone.
Suppose you have big plans for your next trip with stops in several places around the world; you might research how to make the most of your first solo vacation. Luckily, this article provides the necessary information for the best experience possible. Let’s dig in!
Visualize how the ideal trip would look for you
Before looking for possible destinations, visualize how the perfect trip would look for you. Start thinking about the places you’d like to visit, and you’d feel safe traveling without a companion. What is the purpose of the vacation? Do you want to relax and unwind? Do you want to discover new places? Do you want to dive into a new culture? Research solo travel opportunities according to your needs and preferences.
This is also the best time to determine your travel style. Decide if you prefer a planned vacation or have no issue to go with the flow. When you know your travel style, you can make a list of possible destinations because not all fit your needs.
Suppose you don’t know your travel style; don’t worry, you’ll uncover it as you embark on adventures.
Establish how much you want to spend
Let’s talk about money. Setting a realistic budget is paramount for a stress-free vacation, so you must determine how much you can afford to spend on accommodation, transport, food, and activities. And keep in mind that if you travel abroad, you also need a Google fi esim because you need data and phone services to stay in touch with your loved ones while on the road. It’s best to get an esim before leaving home because you know exactly how much you pay for the phone plan and ensure you’re not getting expensive bills once you return home. All pennies saved on such expenses are pennies you can spend on buying local food or activities.
Make sure you also allocate a small portion of your budget for miscellaneous expenses like emergencies, souvenirs, or other similar ones.
Pick the destination
Now that you know what you expect from a vacation and set the budget, you can decide your destination. This should be the funniest part of the process because you start researching for potential places to visit. There are numerous solo traveler-friendly destinations, and you can easily find a list by searching on the Internet. The budget and choice of activities you want to have will help you narrow down the list of choices.
When you browse through destinations, safety should be the main consideration because you travel alone and there’s no one to safeguard you. Once you pick your destination, check the local government travel advisories, and if they don’t advise tourists traveling alone, search for another one.
Before booking plane tickets and accommodation, ensure you understand the potential risks, local customs and laws, and health and safety for the destination. Once you pick your destination, look at how much an esim card costs, so you can adjust your budget accordingly.
Book your flight
You’re one step closer to leaving home on your first solo trip. It’s time to book your flight, but before doing it make sure you consider some essential factors like airline reputation, ticket price, and layovers. It’s crucial to look for reviews before booking with an airline because you need to know what to expect from them.
Planning your trip a couple of months in advance can get great deals. If you’re flexible with your dates, you can also save some money on flight tickets, which you can use for other purposes.
Book accommodation
You know when you’re leaving home, for how long, and where you head. Now it’s time to figure out where you’re going to stay. The good thing is that you can choose from numerous options, regardless of your destination, so you won’t have a problem staying within your budget. If you value amenities like privacy, housekeeping, and room service, you should book a hotel room.
If you’re looking for unique places, browse for vacation rentals on websites like Airbnb. You’ll have a home-away-from-home feeling when staying in such a place. Depending on what kind of property you prefer, you might have to spend more on renting an apartment or villa. However, you must decide what kind of accommodation would fit your travel requirements.
Pack lightly
After picking your destination, it’s easy to list things to put in your luggage. But when you travel solo, less is more, especially if you plan to visit multiple places during the same trip. Don’t overpack like crazy and spend the entire holiday regretting your choice. You’ll find it challenging to keep track of your things as you switch accommodations, and most places don’t accommodate large luggage.
Your documents are the most important part of your luggage, so make sure you have the necessary travel documents. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your trip dates. Check if you need a visa or some required vaccinations you must get a prior visit.
Take health and safety precautions
Getting sick while traveling alone could be scary, so ensure that you prevent this at all costs possible. Take the necessary steps to stay healthy and strong during the vacation. Research local water and food guidelines to avoid health issues, pack any prescription medication you might need, and ensure you know where the hospitals and clinics are located.
Make room in the suitcase for some simple things like anti-nausea, painkillers, and other similar medicines.
And here you have it, the article that should help you make the most of your first solo trip.
