Solo Travel 101: Tips to help plan your first solo trip

While exploring new destinations in groups can be fun, solo travelling can be exciting and freeing. It can impart a sense of empowerment and help you enhance your skills.

But, when going on a solo trip, you need to be careful with the planning. To make your trip fun and fulfilling, you must be realistic about your expectations and plans.

Here are a few tips you must keep in mind when planning your first solo trip for an unforgettable experience.

Plan every step:

When you are going on your first trip, you should plan everything extensively. It doesn’t mean you cannot be spontaneous and have to pre-decide everything down to the last step, but that you must have a basic outline. Here are a few things you should consider when planning:

Accommodation: Where will you be staying during your journey?

Tours: Consider getting a tour arranged with the help of local operators.

Airport pick-up: Schedule pick-up from the facility.

Research: Research the city’s attractions, including historical sites, eateries, cuisine, culture, and mobile network.

Travel budget:

While planning a solo vacation, you must decide your budget. Two primary expenses you incur when travelling solo are transportation and accommodation.

Transport is an easy part. While travelling, you will be moving around the city. You need to take into account the cost of the cabs, public transportation, and flight tickets to get this part right.

Since accommodation constitutes 50-80% of your total travel expenses, you should try to pick a hotel with low costs. However, make sure the accommodation you select is safe and comfortable. Compromising on these grounds is not advised.

Set clear goals:

Solo travelling for first-timers can be scary and make you feel overwhelmed. Since you are trying to navigate a new city and figuring out how to make the most of your time there, you should start with an intention setting.

You can use the trip as a chance to know yourself and learn if you have an adventurous soul. Or, you can use the opportunity to explore your interest in historical sites.

Once you know what you want out of your vacation, you can plan things accordingly. If you are there to fuel the historical buff, you can prioritise visiting the museums or trying some adventurous activities if you are there to force yourself out of your comfort zone.

Make bookings in advance:

When going on a trip, it is better to figure out the lodging and transportation in advance. If your route has a stopover, make sure to enquire if the airport has accommodation, or you will have to book an airport hotel nearby. In the latter case, you will also need to look into commuting to/from the hotel.

So, for example, if you have a stopover in Delhi, you can book the Holiday Inn at Delhi Airport. The stay allows international passengers travelling via T3 to book a room at the property. Since the lodging space is inside the facility, you do not need to inquire about transportation.

Similarly, for your destination, you should look into some cheap lodgings located near the attractions. For commuting, you can get a metrocard, so travel becomes easier.

While solo travelling is fun and exciting, the experience can be a little challenging for first-time visitors. Thus, planning and researching things in advance is recommended for a pleasant and safe experience.