Ultimate Solo Travel Guide

Seven years ago I took my first solo travel trip. I was 18 years old and I'd just finished my first year at university. I needed money over the summer break and decided to work as a summer camp counsellor in Los Angeles for 6 weeks. It was so exciting yet daunting - no one in my family had been to university before, let alone solo travelled abroad. Being a female solo traveller, I've learned a few tips and tricks over the years to stay safe and make the most of your travels.

For those who are new, what's good? My name is Sarah Jane (but everyone calls me SJ) and I mainly write about all things travel. I'm from Manchester, in the UK and I've been travelling around the world since my first solo trip to America when I was 18 years old. Currently, I'm an English language teacher in Abu Dhabi and spend my spare time travelling and creating content for my Instagram, TikTok and Twitter, @sjonthemap. Make sure to give them a follow ;)

A tentative traveller - where do I start?

If you've always wanted to solo travel but you're feeling nervous and not sure where to start, then start small, much smaller than you think. I'm thinking go out for dinner in your hometown or grab a coffee by yourself. Or even solo travel somewhere in your own country. This way you know the rules, you have idea of where to go and it'll get you used to being in your own company - which is actually a skill. Even I haven't mastered it fully. It may seem awkward at first but you soon get used to it.

Plan Ahead

As a solo traveller, what gave me peace of mind was to plan my day trips ahead of time. I make sure to use credible companies like GetmyGuide, Viator, Air BnB and Klook to book these adventures and day trips. Not only does this give me something to look forward to, but I know my days are taken care of when I book with these companies. Personally, I also found these trips were the best way for me to meet people. Usually people say that hostels are great ways but I spent my first night in a hostel sitting at a communal table and hoping someone would come and talk to me :/ don't get me wrong, hostels are great ways to meet others BUT I found it much easier to talk to people when we were actively doing fun and adventurous activities together. The conversation flowed much more naturally for me.

Keep Family and Friends in the Know

Call me crazy, but I write my travel itinerary on a Google Doc and send it to my family and friends in case of any emergencies. In the doc I include where I'm staying, contact details of hostels or any day trips and *roughly* where I'll be each day.

Be Flexible

Although I said plan and create a Google Doc, it's also important to leave room to breathe. Trips never go 100% as planned. Like an elastic band, you need to be tight with planning but bounce back when things don't go your way. There's nothing worse than meeting a cool person and not being able to hang out because you've planned your trip too strictly. You might even want to stay in a place longer or leave a place sooner if it's not your vibe.

Try Hostels

So many people turn their noses up to hostels. But hostels are great ways to meet others. You can find really cheap ones where you share a room with others to expensive and luxurious ones. My favourite website to use is hostelworld.com . The site includes photos, lists of amenities and reviews from previous travellers.

TOP TIP: Make sure to use the common areas in the hostels, eat with others at meal times and even try going on trips organised by your hostel. I find these are the best ways to make friends.

Download Offline Maps

There's nothing worse than losing signal or not having enough data and being unable to get to where you want to go - OR WORSE... be unable to get back to the place you're staying. I 100% recommend downloading offline maps for your safety and peace of mind.

Do as the Locals Do

There is no better way to experience a city than by doing what the locals do. Whether this comes to transport, food, restaurants and experiencing local events such as festivals. Chances are these options are cheaper and it offers the most authentic culture!

Safety Tips

Invest in Insurance

Worst case scenario is you get an illness or injury on your travels. Get your travel insurance and cover yourself if anything bad happens on your trip.

Communication Tips

• As already said, make sure someone knows where you are at all times.

• Look into different SIM card and data plans for your chosen destination. This way you can always keep in contact with loved ones and call for help if needed.

• Be cautious when telling someone you are alone and we've all seen the film TAKEN. Make sure you don't tell anyone where you're staying.

Protecting your money

If you're taking lots of cash with you on holiday, make sure you don't take all of your money with you on your daily travels. There is nothing worse if you lose this money or if someone steals it from you. Leave some at the place you are staying at in extra safe spaces. You can put your money in a safe, roll it up in some lip balm, put it in the zip areas of your bags.

Solo Female Travel Safety

• Note down the emergency numbers for the places you are going to visit.

• Walk with purpose. Even if you're looking at your phone for directions, walking with purpose can fool others into think you're a local and know the ropes.

• Don't accept drinks from a stranger or watch the bartender pour your drink.

• Trust your instincts. If you are in an uncomfortable situation, remove yourself. Be assertive, have your wits about you and lie to get yourself out of uncomfortable situations.

Is Solo Female Travel Safe?

I wish I had a different answer. But unfortunately the world isn't safe for women whether this is in our own homes of travelling the world. As women it is much harder to solo travel, hence the safety tips earlier. But remember the world is your oyster, we deserve to see it as much as men and they are no reason to stop us.

Conclusion

These last few tips are not meant to scare you. Over the years I've learned it's better to be well-informed rather than under-prepared when it comes to solo travel. But the most important thing is that you have fun. There are amazing places to be seen and unfulfilled dreams to be experienced and you shouldn't hold yourself back.

Do the things you want to do on your own clock. Wake up as early and go to bed as late as you want to. The best thing about solo travel is that you get to make you a priority and do the things you want to do. When I first started solo travelling I found this really hard and I didn't really know what I liked or disliked to do. I just went to the beach because that's what you're supposed to do on holiday. I realised that baking in the sun for hours is really not me. I prefer taking a walking tour to get to know the place I'm in, a cooking class and even trying the local coffee shops.

Make yourself a priority and put yourself on the map. x