Are you endlessly checking Google flights? Lurking on the Eurail website? Waiting for a friend to suddenly decide to join you? Reading as many blog posts as possible about people’s solo travel experiences? (read my favourite solo travel experiences here!)
If you’ve never tried solo travel before, the idea of heading out alone can be daunting. And sometimes it can be a struggle to commit to booking a solo travel trip.
If you have a particular thing holding you back, maybe one of these blog posts will help you out…
- What’s it like living out of a backpack during long term travel
- Tips for your first stay in a hostel
- Solo travel tips for introverts
- Solo travel tips for a shy traveller from a shy traveller!
- Reasons why you should solo travel
But if you’re simply waiting for the confidence to click “book”, hopefully, this post can get you there.
How to just go for it
A question I tried to tirelessly research before heading out on my own was… how to just go for it.
Along with, “Is solo travel really safe for females?”, “How do you eat alone?” (seriously), and “How to find the way out of (x) airport”, (super seriously).
I was looking for something to give me the push to just book! A blog post that would miraculously give me the courage and confidence to just go.
So if you need some sort of sign, here is that post…
Stop reading this blog post! And just do it!
If you don’t have a place in mind, find somewhere that intrigues you. It can be super local, or the other side of the world. If you have lots of ideas but can’t choose, pull a name out of a hat. If you do have a place in mind, choose how long to spend there. Then…
Book it.
Book that flight, train ticket, accommodation, return boat ticket. If you’re heading out for a long-term travel, just book a one-way ticket, instead of overthinking when (or if!) you might come back. Set up some time that you can dedicate to browsing times and prices and then cement it into reality. This is the most critical part.
Actually getting on and booking a trip is often the hardest part. You can plan and revise itineraries forever. But booking it gives you something to work towards. And there’s nothing as motivating as a deadline! Now…
Plan It
OK, you’re now officially going! You have butterflies dancing around inside you and a big smile. So it’s time to put together a plan for what you would like to experience or see while you’re there.
Use books, blogs, and YouTube videos, or ask supportive friends and family for tips. I say supportive because often the hesitance of friends or family members who feel nervous about you going can make you hesitant. It’s normal for the people who love you to worry about your safety. Take their advice and cautions, but don’t let their fears hold you back from doing what you want to do.
And remember, you don’t need a solid plan with exact times and an exhaustive list of every single thing to do. You can always just wing things when you get there. But I do recommend having at least your first few nights of accommodation booked. Half the fun of travel is discovering places for yourself.
And Finally…
Pack that day bag or pack that backpack, charge that camera! You’ll never really be fully prepared. But that’s OK. You are more capable than you think. You’ll work it out as you go. A quote I needed to hear while dithering over making the leap…
“Perfection is the enemy of finished.” Spending endless time making something perfect wastes time…
And something important to remember if you don’t feel like you’re the sort of person who can travel solo. Travel isn’t reserved for extroverted, talkative, thrill seekers. It’s for everyone, and you’ll meet like-minded, friendly people who are just like you.
OK seriously, stop reading now, and go, go, go!
Hello! I’m Hannah Sweet.
I write content for nature oriented brands and create blog posts for nature seekers, conscious creatives and solopreneurs.
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