Ingredients to a Successful Solo Trip

In October of 2022 I went on my first long-haul solo trip to Copenhagen, Denmark from Dallas, Texas. Not only did I learn so much about myself and how I like to experience travel, but it gave me the tools to use what I learned about myself to then propel my goal of moving abroad. Even if you don't have the dream of moving to another country full time, I believe solo travel is vital to self-discovery and self-actualization (you know, the top section of Maslow's hierarchy of needs). In this post I want to break down what I think are key components of a successful solo trip.

Note: this post will be operating under the assumption we are balling on a budget so these will be budget travel tips hehe

Start Small

Especially if you don't have a lot of travel experience, starting small is the key to success. You need to feel comfortable doing things on your own before you hop on a plane (or a long car ride) to a specific destination. Stay within your wheelhouse, and upgrade accordingly. Use your travel experience as a placement test of sorts. For example, if you haven't ever traveled out of your state, go have lunch by yourself at a new restaurant to get a feel for being on your own. Once you feel comfortable being on your own, try going to a nearby town or state for a long weekend! There are no parameters that condone what solo travel is or isn't. Traveling far from your home base by yourself is bound to come with uncomfortable moments, so being able to navigate those is going to come in handy.

Come Prepared

A lot of preparation goes into solo travel. From finding the best flight deals to planning what sights you want to see, if you're spending money to go to a destination be sure you know what you're getting yourself into. It all begins with choosing where to go, and THAT begins with deciding what kind of tourist you are. In my opinion, there are two types of tourists: a vacationer and a traveler. A vacationer is one who's ideal trip has lots of relaxing, seeing the popular tourist sites, and staying in a place with a great view where they can chill with a drink in the evenings. Maybe they wake up late and spend the day in a beach chair. They're not so concerned with experiencing a city like a local and use travel to escape from their day-to-day life! A traveler is one who maybe wants to get up at 7 or 8am to check out the hidden gems of a city and goes off the beaten path a bit. These tourists might prefer to stay in a hostel in the middle of a city so they can meet locals and feel apart of the culture. Typically, vacationers have more aesthetic traveling experiences while travelers want to absorb as much of their destination's culture as they can. Both travel types are valid and can exact the same amount of enjoyment from each tourist! Note: you can also be a mix of both, as a self-proclaimed traveler I do indulge in the vacationer's mindset now and again. Once you decide what kind of tourist you are, picking the destination is much easier!

The logistics of your first (or millionth) solo trip are vital to iron out well in advance of your trip. As someone who monitors flights religiously, I can tell you the best way to get the best deals on flights. First thing that I notice makes a difference is being open to going anywhere. If you're flying from a big city like London, there are hundreds of sub-£100 return flights leaving Gatwick airport on any given day. I use both Skyscanner and Google Flights to find cheap deals. (Pro-tip: searching for flights on a private web browser makes It so your search data cannot be tracked and prices will often be lower). When I went to Copenhagen, I went on Google Flights, chose my desired dates, clicked flights from DFW Airport to "Anywhere", and picked the cheapest flight! Just keep in mind that the cheapest flights come with sacrifices- my best option to Copenhagen left five hours after working three night shifts in a row! In the same strain, a lot of cheap flights have connections with long layovers. My advice is to pay a bit extra for the direct flight, not just for the ease of not having to stress about making a connection, but to be able to enjoy more time in your destination. My dad always says you either pay with time or with money, and only one of those comes back! Another thing about those cheap flights- baggage fees! Airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, or Wizz Air allow one backpack for free, so being able to consolidate packing is essential. I have this backpack and it holds so much, plus it has a lock on the big compartment which comes in handy when leaving it at a hostel baggage holding area before checkin. I also have this satchel which easily fits a pair of shoes/another outfit if needed (and don't tell EasyJet but it is easy to hide under a jacket when boarding). I am a serial over-packer, so having enough space is crucial for a smooth trip. Also, I have this universal converter which is a lifesaver to have on you at all times so you can recharge anywhere!

Toothpaste Counts as a Liquid

Travel is a science, and in science you are always making mistakes and revisions. Before going on a solo trip you need to come to the realization that something will inevitably go wrong. It's almost like a superstition for me at this point and I just wait for the shoe to drop when my trip begins. Based on the title of this section, you can probably guess where this is going. On my way to Austria I was putting my bag through the security belt and, of course, I got flagged and they went through my backpack. As many times as I go through security, I seem to always get flagged and forget something is in my bag when it shouldn't be. This time, it was my precious toothpaste I brought over from the States. Because the water in England isn't fluoridated, I make sure my dental products have some fluoride to prevent tooth decay. Well, I forgot toothpaste counts as a liquid and brought my large size toothpaste and it got binned! Another time I was on my way to Savannah, Georgia and brought a salon-sized hairspray bottle- rookie mistake. Basically what I am getting at is no matter how well prepared you are (and as a type-A traveler, I'm prepared beyond comprehension), something is going to go wrong and you just have to roll with it. Usually once I get my one mistake out of the way it's smooth sailing. Once, on my way to Budapest during Study Abroad, we were informed we booked the flight for the PREVIOUS day, so the spectrum of mistakes definitely vary. Accepting that your trip will NOT run smoothly 100% of the time adjusts your perspective when something inevitably goes wrong and allows you to recover quicker.

Find the Right Mix Between Planning and Winging It

As I have previously stated multiple times, I am a Type-A traveler. I like to know everything about the trip ahead. So much so that I will literally watch YouTube videos of people's POV of walking through various airports so I'll be familiar with where I am supposed to go. I've also been known to make day by day, even hour by hour schedules for my destination on google docs just for FUN. When traveling by yourself it can be easy to get lazy and not explore outside of the comfort of the popular tourist spots. I like to use all my resources to ensure I get an authentic experience of the city, such as Pinterest, travel blogs, and even TikTok! I also use Google Maps to download the city map of the area I will be in and save a bunch of places for sightseeing, food, and activities to use as a reference. However, anyone who has solo traveled or even stayed in a hostel will tell you that meeting people is the best part of traveling, so accepting that your plans might get derailed with some spur-of-the-moment activities allows you to fully surrender to the travel gods and have the best experience. Of course, this is your trip, so see what you want to see and check those items off the bucket list! But maybe don't schedule yourself hour by hour and let the day be what it is. I like to schedule a free walking tour so I can get the history of the city and learn about things I want to see later on. You can find free walking tours on GuruWalk.com, just be sure you bring cash for a tip! To prove how winging it can get you some of the best memories, I'll tell you about my most recent trip to Montenegro. When we arrived to Kotor, we ran into some people we met on the plane and invited them to hang out at our hostel. We ended up becoming really good friends, and crashed at their hotel most of the week! If I had stuck to a concrete itinerary, I would have said "let's stay at the hostel we paid for bla bla bla", but instead we had some of the best nights with our new "real life" friends!

It's All in the Details

When planning a trip, you obviously want to think about what to do in the city you're exploring, but it is crucial you think of the trip from beginning to end. Things like: how to get to the place you're staying from the airport, how much cash to bring, how to get phone data so you're not chained to cafes for their free wifi are so so important to think about. I always suggest having at least 3 ways of paying: credit card, debit card, and cash. Getting cash from an airport is going to be the most convenient move, but also the most expensive. You will save so much money getting cash out before you depart, be sure to check the exchange rates though! Bringing a debit card is vital because if you need more cash, ATMs will need a debit card. Bring your credit card to use for points/miles and big purchases (paying for hotel/hostel, etc). As far as having cell data, if your phone plan has an international data plan you can certainly use that, but it can be the much more expensive option. I use Airalo to purchase E-Sims for the trip, just be sure your phone is compatible with them. Also, check out bus timetables for the cheapest transport to and from airports. For Montenegro I literally went on google maps and looked at the photos section of the bus station to find the bus timetables beforehand. It helps me to basically go on the trip in my head before I have even left and think about it from the time I step out of my flat to the time I get back.

Overall, solo travel is a very personal event and I get so excited to see friends of mine asking questions about how to get more into travel! If you have any questions about my process, please hit me up on insta :)

Go Travel!,

- TRN