Solo Travel - Pack Your Passport And Dive In
A couple of the SPW team are taking their first solo holidays this Summer and after reaching out to our community we had some great suggestions, advice and tips we wanted to share around taking the plunge and diving into your first solo holiday.
“It is very empowering to travel solo - embrace doing what you like, when you want. Indulge being completely on your own agenda.”
If it’s your first trip it’s a good idea to start with somewhere familiar, either somewhere you can speak the language or somewhere you have visited before.
It’s worth spending some time researching logisitics before you go so you know the best way to get from the airport to your hotel and back again, especially if you are travelling at odd times. We do everything digitally these days, it’s a good idea to print off a map and address of your accommodation and transfer details or your route plan so if there’s an issue with your phone and data you can still find your way.
“Most travel anxiety centers around the 'what if's', so try and have an answer for each one”
Research and write a list of activities before you go and choose the day’s activity based on your mood if you can to be spontaneous.
Maybe spend a little time researching some cafes and restaurants you could visit, you don’t have to commit to them but it might be handy to have a short list if you need inspiration.
On what to pack:
“Take a journal, external phone battery charger, a water bottle and a swim suit in your cross body bag. £20-40 in your bra/sock in case”
On meeting and chatting with others:
“Ask interesting people to take your picture as a way to start a conversation”
”Stay at a Youth Hostel (YHA), loads of people travel alone and you’ll meet people from all over the world”.
If booking a solo holiday seems too much then don’t be afraid to do something similar more locally. Jump on a train to somewhere nearby and treat yourself to a cafe lunch or visit a gallery you haven’t been to before. It’s a great way to build up your confidence around travelling alone and hopefully you’ll enjoy the practice.
Resources
@flashpack and @gutsygirls are both great on instagram for trip ideas and inspiration and offer short and long trips for solo travellers.
Extreme Day Trips on Facebook inspire and share their 24-48 hour trips to Europe if time is short.
Rome2Rio is a fabulous website for planning routes all over the world.