Preparing for Your First Solo Trip!

Going on your first trip abroad may be overwhelming in itself, let along planning a trip to travel to an entirely foreign country by yourself.  Oftentimes we are in a struggle to gather our friends, coordinate schedules, and make weekly down payments for that group trip to Barbados.  But most of the time, 85% of your friends that originally agreed to go on this group trip will pull out and most likely you may end up going it alone.  Don’t fret! Having your travel plans altered to where you are the only person down for the trip is not the end of the world, but it definitely can be the beginning to another faction of your own personal growth.  In fact, I recently took a solo trip to Malaysia and have felt empowered in ways that somewhat feels foreign to a person who used think driving to Chicago on weekends by myself was a huge feat.  In the following, I will list a few tips as well as a few confidence boosters that will help you feel more than prepared for your first solo trip abroad:

Research the Country you are Traveling To

Before I travel anywhere, I make sure to research the country I am going to and most importantly focus on the cultural norms of the country.  You never want to travel anywhere without knowing about the customs, traditions, and legal requirements of the country you are traveling to—if you do not, you may be up for quite an unwanted welcome. For example, as many may already know, Singapore has quite a few seemingly obscure laws that require attention.  In Singapore, chewing gum of any form is not allowed. You aren’t even allowed to carry it on your person while exiting the baggage area (there is literally a sign that let’s you know that gum is prohibited.) Looking into this before arriving, I made sure to throw my entire gum packet away because I definitely did not want any problems! So, just be sure to know the general laws and culture of the country you are traveling to before actually landing.

Make sure to Consider Currency Exchange Well in Advance

I usually look into the currency that the country I am traveling to uses weeks before setting off for my trip.  Sometimes, depending on the country you are traveling to and the country you are departing from, it may take a while to get the required currency.  Most of the time, you can go to the bank to receive foreign bills or exchange bills at the airport if the bank isn’t really an option. But be aware, some locations have differing exchange rates and it would be beneficial to weigh your options before having to be forced with an option hours before you depart or land. Before leaving for South Korea, I forgot to even check whether my bank had Korean won for me to exchange and it took them three weeks to order and receive the currency.  Luckily, I was three weeks out from leaving but I don’t think I will ever cut it close like this again.  There’s always an option to exchange money when you arrive to your destination, but I always like to be prepared beforehand just in case.  Also, make sure the country you are traveling to accepts your credit card.  I only have one credit card with American Express and most of Southeast Asia does not accept Amex cards. Don’t be like me, and research this before you go!

Create A Travel Itinerary

Before going on any trip, abroad or within the country I’m staying in, I always make sure to create a general list of the things I want to do when I get there.  I list the days that I will be staying there and list by time the things I hope to accomplish each day, how to get to these locations, and important things to know regarding things such as entry prices. This helps to keep me organized and worry free on whether I am able to see all the things I would like to see while in the country. It sets me at ease so that when I finally get to my place of stay, all I have to do is think about the transportation and how to get to these locations rather than sleeping in hours and then trying to think about where I am going and how I will get there. 

Let Family and Loved Ones Know of your Plans

I always let my family and loved ones know that I am leaving the country and to where I will be traveling to.  This is more of a precaution just in case things don’t necessarily go as planned, and to overall ease my own spirit.  This is merely an option that depends on your relationship with your family and friends. 

Pack light and early

This tip is quite the most important tip for a traveler, solo or with a group.  It is so, so, so much more beneficial for your attention and body to travel light.  You definitely do not want to be dragging around luggage to your accommodation, by yourself. If it’s a trip that is less than a week, I usually travel only with a bookbag (see my article “How I use a Backpack to Travel for a Week” for more information on how I accomplish that!) However, if I travel for more than a week, I usually bring a light carryon luggage that I can easily navigate narrow streets and stairs with. 

If you get anything from these tips, I think the primary message here is to simply be prepared. As with anything you do in life alone, you always make sure you cross your t’s and dot your I’s. Once you get all of the details in order, you have an exact idea of what your vacation will look like and now you simply just have to follow your plans and enjoy yourself! The world isn’t nearly as scary as our minds make it to be.It’s beautiful and full of wonder and that beauty as well as personal growth is just beyond that arbitrary limit of comfort we sometimes place on ourselves.