Solo travel can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life (it literally changed the course of my life!). It’s a journey of self-discovery, freedom, and adventure. But it also comes with challenges, like ensuring your safety, dealing with loneliness, and making friends on the road. From someone who has solo travelled to more than 40 countries, here’s how to prepare for travelling alone for the first time so you can make the most of your adventure.
Prioritize Safety First
The first and most important things to consider when planning a solo trip are safety and the logistics of travelling alone for the first time. While this is definitely not the sexiest part of travel, planning and researching before you go will make a world of difference to your experience.
Research your destination
Before you go, do your homework. Learn about your destination’s local customs, laws, and potential risks. Websites like the U.S. State Department’s travel advisories, the Australian Government website Smart Traveller or the UK’s Foreign Travel Advice provide up-to-date information on safety and security issues.
While looking up government advisories is always recommended, social media is another place where you can receive more first-hand subjective information on safety. For example, a quick search on TikTok or Instagram of “Thailand safety” will show you countless videos of people retelling how safe or unsafe they felt travelling in Thailand. While these are highly subjective opinions, it can be helpful to hear first-hand tips and advice from someone who has recently travelled to your destination of choice.
Secure your documents and valuables
Make copies of your important documents, such as your passport, visa, travel insurance, and emergency contacts. Keep digital copies in your email and carry physical copies in a separate bag from the originals. This will come in handy if your documents get lost or stolen.
Similarly, with bank or credit cards, bringing multiple cards (ideally 1 Visa and 1 Mastercard) is always a good idea. Before you go, contact your bank to advise them of your travel plans and find out the process for locking your card should you lose it or have it stolen. You generally will want to keep one card with you at all times to withdraw cash and pay for things, but the second card should be kept somewhere secure and separate from the first. If you get pick-pocketed or lose your card, you have a backup card handy.
Personally, I like to keep my passport, soft copies of all my important documents and my secondary bank card hidden deep within my larger luggage item (usually in an inner pocket, as opposed to an easily accessible outer pocket), which stays locked at the hostel.
Stay Connected
Everyone has different ways of travelling and preferences on how often they contact loved ones at home. Some travellers use apps like Life360 to share their location with friends and family at home constantly. Others will message when they’ve arrived safely in a new destination or keep everyone updated via social media posts and stories. Think about how you want to keep in contact and stay connected before you leave.
Regarding connectivity, it’s always a good idea to consider how you will access the internet and use your phone while travelling. Research before you go and decide whether you want to use an e-sim, a local SIM, or other contingencies to stay connected in case of emergencies. Personally, I always get a local SIM card so I can use Google Translate on the go, check map directions, and order a rideshare if I don’t feel safe walking home alone.
Are you looking for more tips on how to travel safely solo? Check out my full safety guide here.
Preparing for Loneliness
Travelling alone for the first time can be an amazing experience, and hostel culture makes it so easy to make friends, but you have to accept that there will be times when you’ll be alone. This is probably one of the most daunting elements of solo travel, and even seasoned solo travellers still get anxious about it.
Learn to embrace solitude
Before I travelled solo, the thought of being seen doing anything in public (like eating or shopping) filled me with dread. Solo travel forces you to confront loneliness and do things alone in public head-on. While loneliness can be daunting, it’s also an opportunity for personal growth. Use times when you are alone to reflect, journal, or engage in hobbies like reading or photography. Embrace solitude and enjoy the alone time, so when you are around people again, your social battery is fully charged and ready to make friends.
One of the best tangible tips you can practice before travelling alone for the first time to prepare you for loneliness and doing activities alone is taking yourself on solo dates. Start with something small, like a solo coffee date in a small cafe in your hometown. You could also try eating alone at a busy restaurant or going on a solo day trip to explore a public place in your hometown. This will prepare you for the inevitable time you have to do something solo when travelling. Personally, I love taking a book out to dinner when I’m eating alone, so I’m not awkwardly looking around the room or sitting on my phone waiting for my meal.
Stay busy
A great way to cope with loneliness while travelling is to keep busy so you don’t have time to stew on the fact that you’re alone. Plan your days with tours, hikes, or visits to museums and cultural sites. For awkward in-between times (like long bus rides), plan activities like catching up on Duolingo, listening to podcasts, reading, or watching a new Netflix series. Keeping busy helps ward off feelings of loneliness and makes your trip more enriching.
Contact Home
While travelling solo, maintaining connections with friends and family back home can help combat loneliness. Regular calls, video chats, or even sharing updates on social media can provide a sense of connection and support. This will also provide you with a social outlet, which can be important if you’ve spent a whole day solo, without speaking in depth to another soul.
Keeping things in perspective
Everyone will feel lonely at some stage in their solo travels. Just know that this, too, shall pass. Chances are you won’t be lonely forever. Sometimes, you may get unlucky with a hostel or not really vibe with anyone. If you don’t feel happy somewhere, you can always leave. But also, every new day brings the prospect of new people checking in who you might really bond with. Even if it doesn’t, there’s always the next destination to look forward to. Don’t let yourself get too caught up in your loneliness. Enjoy the alone time and try to view it as just a break from social interaction, which you need to refill your social battery before your next social hostel experience.
Making Friends on the Road
The most common concern first-time solo travellers have is, “How will I make friends?” Backpacking culture is so different from real life, and making friends on the road is a whole different kettle of fish.
Stay in Hostels
Hostels are havens for solo travellers. They provide a communal atmosphere where it’s easy to meet like-minded people. You can make friends by sitting in the common area or asking your bunkmate, “Do you know anywhere nearby to get food?”. Many hostels also organize social events like barbecues, walking tours, or pub crawls, making it easier to meet fellow travellers. Have you never stayed in a hostel before and are not sure what to expect? Check out my full hostel guide here.
Join Group Activities
Participate in group tours or activities. Whether it’s a cooking class, a city tour, or a hiking group, these activities are great ways to meet new people. While I would always recommend hostel activities as a first port of call (as usually you’re guaranteed other backpackers of a similar age on the tour), any tour or activity gives you the chance to make friends. Bonus points if the activities include meals: you’ll be forced to sit down and eat with other people, which is the perfect opportunity to chat and make friends. Websites like Meetup or Couchsurfing often have events that cater to travellers.
Be open and Approachable
A smile and a friendly attitude go a long way. Don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with strangers. Ask for recommendations, share your experiences, and be genuinely interested in others’ stories. Some of my strongest travel friendships started by me simply asking, “Do you mind if I sit here?” or “What’s the water pressure like in the shower?” or even “What time is the hostel bar happy hour?”
Use Travel Apps and Groups
There are several apps designed to connect solo travellers. Apps like Backpackr, Travello, and Bumble BFF can help you find travel buddies or meet locals interested in making new friends. There are also Facebook groups for travellers, whether it be solo female travel groups or destination-specific groups like South East Asia Backpackers. While it can seem daunting, many people post in these groups with their dates and locations, looking to meet up or make friends.
Want more tips on making friends while travelling? Check out my full guide, which includes tangible tips and stories, here.
Solo travel is a fantastic adventure that offers freedom, self-discovery, and countless new experiences. You can ensure your solo journey is enjoyable and memorable by prioritizing safety, preparing for potential loneliness, and being proactive about making friends. Embrace the unknown, stay open to new experiences, and, most importantly, enjoy every moment of your solo adventure.
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