A step-by-step guide for planning your first solo travel

Solo traveling is the new trend today, especially for young adults. Soul-searching, meeting new friends, or just want a break from everybody, no matter what is your reason for deciding to go alone, solo adventure is one of the best things that you can experience that you will never regret and forget especially if you planned it carefully. Planning a trip can be very tiring and stressful. Here’s a step by step guide for planning your first solo travel.

1. Decide where you want to go

Before booking your flight and hotel you have to decide where you want to go first. It doesn’t need to be too far away from home, since it’s your first solo trip you might want to pick a destination where you might feel comfortable visiting, like a place where you speak the same language, or you have friends in the area or family members nearby because going solo can be a little scary and overwhelming so, you have to do it little by little until you are comfortable to jump out of your comfort zone.

 2. Finding cheap and affordable flights

 After you finalize where you want to go, it’s time to book your flight. Flights can be a bit pricey so look for the best deal on flights. Check some apps for finding cheap flights, it can help you browse through all the deals and sorted them by price and flight duration.

 3. Book your accommodation

The next step is to book your accommodation. Look for some hotel booking sites for comparing prices to check some good deals. Some offer a discount if it’s your first time booking or for returning users. Book an accommodation where you will feel safe and have your privacy since you are traveling alone.

 4. Familiarize yourself with public transportation

Making research and familiarize yourself with their public transportation can be a great help on your trip. Check the availability of trains and buses or you can always rent a car if the places you want to go are unreachable by public transportation. You can also download some apps where they can tell you the best transportation and route for your destination.

5. Look for some travel and tours agencies

Some travel agencies are offering group tours and private tours. As a solo traveler, it might be a good idea to join a group tour if you are on a tight budget, especially if you want to see the place but it’s too expensive and can’t afford it on your own. It is also one way to meet and make some new friends while you’re on your trip.

6. Plan your travel budget

After checking the flights, accommodation, tours, and public transportation, you can now plan your budget for the whole trip. Your budget is depending on where are you going, where you stay, and if you’re going to avail group tour or private tour, plus some additional expenses for the transportation and food. Always bring cash because you’ll never know if ATMs are available in the area, you can also bring your cards but it is much better if you bring cash. Bring some extra cash also aside from your vacation money, it is intended for emergency purposes, just in case something happened.

7. Prepare your gears

 After booking everything, you already know what kind of trip you’ll be having, is it a mountain hiking trip? Beach trip? City trip? No matter what kind of trip, you have to prepare your gear, like gadgets, clothing, important documents such as passport, id, and money. Remember when you’re packing, you have to pack light, not only because you’re traveling alone, but also you can save money on the flight if you don’t have check-in luggage. Plan carefully the things that you’re going to bring.

After all the preparations and careful planning, all you have to do is go to the airport, catch your flight and start your first solo vacation. Enjoy!