Are you about to set off on your first solo trip to a destination that’s long been on your bucket list but no one else wants to visit with you? Then you’ve taken the first step towards truly enjoyable independence! Solo travel is a lovely thing for anyone to try out, and even if you come to the conclusion it’s not your thing, you’ll have quite the experience to come home with.
But before you ever get on the plane or set foot in a foreign airport by yourself, the nerves around travelling alone can stop your plans right in their tracks. All kinds of worries can crop up around what might happen, or how you’ll get from one place to another without someone you know to back you up, and you may eventually cancel the flight and refund the ticket and think no more of it.
But if you really want to give solo travel a try, we’ve got some tips that’ll stop the nerves from preventing you. Exploring the world at your own pace is a great way to spend your time, and you deserve to be able to give such a trip a go. You don’t have to give in to your heart’s fluttering or the butterflies that are zipping around your stomach!
What are You Really Worried About?
What is it that’s spooking you so much about travelling alone? If you work this out before you go, you’ll be much more effective at counteracting the nerves it brings up.
For example, many female solo travellers worry about how safe they’ll be whilst they’re away. This can be a valid concern, but it’s also not a good idea to consume a load of true crime shows about women going missing when they went abroad either!
Work out what’s worrying you, avoid things that make this worry seem all the more overwhelming, and do a bit of research into the reality. That’ll be a much more productive use of your time.
Book a Tourguide or Join a Tour Group
Solo travel, despite what the name suggests, doesn’t always mean you’re going to be alone. Indeed, many people book tour guides to take them round the whole time, or join a group that’s part of a tour and stay with them.
You won’t know anyone, which in itself can be a bit nerve wracking, but there’s a bit more safety and fun to be had in numbers. You’ll also have much more of an opportunity to connect with fellow travellers and even make some friends among them!
Head online to find reputable tour companies and guides you can work with. You can also join some solo travel facebook groups to get recommendations from people who have done it all before.
Get a Lift to the Airport or Book a Car Park Space
If the thing about solo travel that’s making you the most nervous is the uncertainty, remove that entirely from this side of your adventure. Whilst you’re still on home turf and you’re not even on the plane yet, make the start of your trip as comfortable and as sure as possible.
That means skipping public transport and either getting a lift to the airport or driving yourself. With services like Parking Up available at a variety of airports, you can book a space well in advance and be sure there’s a spot to swing your vehicle into.
That’ll let your trip start off as a dream, and you won’t be biting at your lip wondering if the train will be delayed or if the bus will be cancelled! Less hassle, less nerves, and more time for wondering what fun you’ll get up to.
Sleep Somewhere You Can Relax
Getting a good night’s sleep is essential when you’re a solo traveller. You need all the energy you can get to power through day after day, seeing as you won’t be out there with loved ones around to motivate you. That’s why you should always book yourself into accommodation you know is safe and secure. Somewhere you can really relax and get that good night’s sleep.
Otherwise you may get disturbed sleep from people coming and going all night, or you may feel too unsafe to even sleep in the first place. That’s a real no-no for your first solo trip, so make sure you’ve got yourself a booking in a well known hotel or a hostel renowned for the way it caters to solo travellers such as yourself.
Get a Couple of Coping Mechanisms That’ll Help in the Moment
OK, you’re ready to go on a solo trip and you know you can do it. However, you’re not sure if your body is going to cooperate in the moment. Whether you’re already in the airport or you’re about to leave to catch your connecting transport, you may have to deal with a racing heart rate or what feels like the inability to catch your breath.
You’re going to need a coping mechanism or two to keep your calm and help you carry on. Deep breathing is a good one for this. Take some deep breaths, make sure they’re slow and steady, and help yourself get into the ‘zen zone’.
A bit of meditation goes a long way as well. Get yourself a few mantras to go over and combine them with the breathing.
You can also take fidget toys along, if you know they’ve helped with nerves in the past. Keep them in your carry on within easy reach and grab them out to use whenever you feel the urge.
Going on a Solo Trip?
Take a few of these tips into account to keep your anxieties to a minimum. You won’t be able to get rid of them entirely, but once you’re home again on the other side of the trip, you’ll know exactly what you’re capable of. That’ll make booking your next solo excursion a lot easier and a lot more fulfilling!