How To Travel Alone For The First Time (5 Quick Tips)
“Jobs fill your pockets, adventures fill your soul.”
Jaime Lyn Beatty
Do you love travel? Are you afraid to travel alone? How to travel alone for the first time? Many of us aspire to visit the world and discover new cultures. This globe holds millions of mysteries to be discovered every day. The most courageous are those who dare to discover a little more with every day in their limited lives.
You may prefer to travel with a partner, in group or alone! In this article we will present you some valuable tips on how to travel alone for the first time. In addition to the best places to travel alone in Europe and USA.
Table of Contents
How To Travel Alone For The First Time With Confidence
1. Plan your trip
Before you begin to plan your trip, it’s essential to investigate your finances and figure out how much money you can afford to spend on your adventure. This will frame the future steps including where you can travel and for how long.
A. Choose your destination
Then you have to choose your destination. This step could be obvious for you, you might exactly know where you want to travel. If not, a research step is required! You might search for Instagram and google for inspiration. Go check some traveling websites and search exactly for what you inspire to see in your travels.
Check out our list at the end of the article for:
- Best places to travel alone in Europe
- Where to travel alone in USA
B. Book your trip
The moment you choose your destination, you’ll need to check if you need a visa. And now it’s time to book your train ticket or your flight. You’ll need to compare tickets on many sites to find the best deal that suits you the most. Skyscanner is one of the most known sites. The best time to book a flight is 2 to 3 months in advance of your trip.
C. Book your accommodation
Now that you have booked your ticket, it’s time to think of the accommodation. Depending on the duration of the trip you’ll need to book accommodation ahead of time or not at all. For example, if you’re planning to travel for a couple of weeks, it’s convenient to book your hotel or hostel online. You don’t want to risk that everything will be overbooked when you arrive thus pushing you to pay high fees to find a room in urgent.
D. Plan your activities
And now… the fun starts! You’ll love to discover what activities and adventures you can perform in a new destination. Many resources may help you:
– Bloggers: You might know some entrusted bloggers about travel. They usually give you real-life advice on how to travel alone for the first time. Also, check the comment sections. People usually offer good pieces of advice and experiences especially when you’re looking for what to avoid since this section is usually not sugar-coated and people often tell the truth about bad incidents.
– Travel websites could also be helpful such as Trip Advisor and Airbnb Experiences. You’ll find what tourists think about many tourist attractions and certain experiences. There may be some seriously proper advice on there!
2. Safety is the key!
A safe trip starts before you leave! Many tips could ensure your safety and thus provides you the best experience on your trip. The first thing to do is to check your government’s travel site. Usually, it’s very informative of the required travel documents as well as the possible warnings for your destination. Then, it’s crucial to buy travel insurance! Accidents could occur everywhere and you should constantly ensure your protection.
A crucial tip for solo travelers is to bring a backup credit card. When traveling, it’s normal to want to buy a lot of souvenirs and gifts. You might be the victim of an accident or you reach your card limit sometimes which can cause you some problems accessing your own money. Always carry an emergency credit card. If not, emergency cash can do the job. Of course, we hope that nothing bad happens to you but it’s important to be always prepared!
3. Act confident!
Don’t be afraid to travel alone! Confidence is a state of mind that is very useful while traveling and helps you deal with unexpected situations with ease. Even when you feel a little anxious about your trip, you can always boost your self-confidence with these few tips:
– Yes, you are amazing: Many people are fascinated with people traveling alone and think they are strong. You can simply believe that and it will appear naturally in your body language.
– Walk with confidence, head up: It’s always useful to scan their environments from time to time when in public spaces. It makes you avoid many problems. Pickpockets usually stay away from vigilant people. It’s preferable to not wear earbuds and to not get distracted by your phone or a map, especially in crowded areas.
4. Stay curious and visit local tourism offices!
Even if you have planned your trip based on bloggers’ suggestions, social media, and websites, the best informative source will always be the local tourism office. Ministries of tourism around the world put tremendous efforts in those offices to provide high-quality tourist information service and to guide them towards the tourist attractions.
5. Try new food!
Many common travelers enjoy exploring new cultures. One of the best traits of a foreign culture is its gastronomy. When asking for new food to try, it’s important to check for ingredients in case you suffer from some food allergies.
Nowadays, smartphones make us multilingual! Translation applications and sites are very useful in such cases. You can simply translate the sentence: “Please bring me your most recommended dish” for example! For a trip on a budget, most of the supermarkets have local cheap dishes! You may also enjoy street foods. In this case here’s a tip: When you see a queue for food, join it! If that food is popular among locals, it’s usually good.
Best places to travel alone in Europe
1. AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
Forget about Amsterdam’s reputation for stoner tourism and stag dos. Amsterdam ticks all the boxes for solo travelers looking for a city break in Europe as a cultured, safe, progressive, and friendly city.
Begin by exploring Amsterdam’s extensive canal network flanked with tiny, pleasingly wonky townhouses with gabled facades, a relic of the city’s 17th-century golden age. Alternatively, hop on two wheels and join the locals on the city’s extensive network of well-marked and off-road cycling trails.
2. SCILLY ISLES, TRESCO
The Scilly Isles quickly gains a reputation as a subtropical paradise with all the warmth of a village for island life without the expensive price tag and carbon footprint. It’s definitely one of the best places to travel alone in Europe.
Tresco is an especially good option, with inexpensive cottage rentals and the 16-room New Inn for pub fare with a pool. Apart from the stunning white sand beach, there is plenty to do on this island by yourself, most of which is best traveled by bike. The primary attraction is Tresco Abbey Garden, a horticultural treasure founded in the 1830s that presently holds over 20,000 exotic plants from all over the world.
3. SLOVENIA’S LAKE BLED
Lake Bled, a stunning azure lake adorned with a tiny island that, in turn, is elegantly embellished with a medieval castle, is one of the most attractive mountain resorts in the world.
With the Julian Alps and the Karavanke as background, it’s no surprise that Lake Bled is Slovenia’s most popular tourist destination. However, suppose you miss the busy peak months of July and August. In that case, Bled is a dream destination for solo adventurers, with a plethora of adrenaline-pumping sports such as kayaking, canyoning, skiing, mountain biking, climbing, and more.
4. PORTUGAL, ERICEIRA
Portugal has a well-known friendly surf environment that welcomes both pro and novice surfers. And Ericeira, a 35-kilometer drive from Lisbon, is regarded as the best site in the country by the majority of Portuguese wave-chasers. Book a room at the friendly and reasonably priced Magic Quiver, which surfers run for surfers, and you’ll find yourself part of a beach-bum crew right in the heart of Ericeira’s historic heart.
5. HUNGARY, BUDAPEST
Hungary’s Danube-straddling capital is majestic and edgy, with a fantastic menu of activities and goings-on to ensure the solo traveler is never truly alone.
Budapest and Berlin continue to compete for the title of Europe’s nightlife capital. Still, compared to their Berlin counterparts, Budapest’s beautifully disheveled ruin bars and come-as-you-are clubs offer a pleasantly friendly doors-wide-open approach.
6. GERMANY, MUNICH
Bavaria’s capital is famed for its stunning architecture, significant cultural clout, and centuries of heritage, as well as its youthful atmosphere and readily navigable city center. This results in a tourist-friendly city that never feels touristy, save at the yearly beer-swilling Oktoberfest. The Bayerischer Hof is the old grande dame hotel, while the Louis Hotel is the design-led upstart. Both are a short walk from the Altstadt’s heart, Marienplatz, historic churches, hipster pubs, and traditional eateries.
7. SPAIN, PALMA DE MALLORCA
Mallorca’s city, Palma, should be at the top of your list for a Mediterranean island trip that isn’t dominated by families or honeymooning couples. Yes, there are turquoise waters, sunshine, whitewashed buildings, and tapas, but the town is also a hotspot for Macbook-toting digital nomads, giving this island paradise an unexpectedly cosmopolitan, creative, and collaborative spirit. There are plenty of cheap Airbnbs, but Hotel Tres, a sleek 41-room boutique hotel among the ruins of a 16th-century royal palace, amps up the glitz with hot tubs overlooking the Gothic cathedral.
8.DENMARK, AARHUS
Copenhagen’s hip credentials are undeniable, yet the Danish metropolis may be a little intimidating for solo travelers. For many of them it’s one of the best places to travel alone in Europe. Aarhus, Denmark’s sophisticated, coast-cuddling, historic, yet young-at-heart second city, is a considerably better bet. The colorful Latin Quarter is the place to dine with locals through cobblestone alleyways; S’vineriet, nestled away down a graffiti-strewn alleyway, serves off New Nordic cuisine at its best.
9. GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
Glasgow is one of the friendliest cities in the UK, and the sharing tables culinary culture in Finnieston makes eating out a wonderfully communal experience for solo eaters. Finnieston was an unassuming residential neighborhood in the shadow of Glasgow University’s gothic spires a decade ago. It has become one of the world’s most fascinating gastronomic destinations. Glasgow’s West End is home to quirky booksellers, tiny tearooms, vintage businesses, and artists’ studios. It’s surely one of the best places to travel alone in Europe.
10. ITALY, BOLOGNA
The bustling ancient city of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy has all the wealth of other Italian cities with fewer difficulties for food-obsessed solo travelers. Bologna, called “the Fat One” because of its culinary prowess, is more inexpensive and walkable than Florence or Rome, and its big university population keeps it grounded and free-spirited.
Where To Travel Alone In USA?
1. San Francisco, California
San Francisco, easily one of the gorgeous cities on the west coast, is a local and international favorite for many. Not only is the city and its attractions amazing, but the energy you receive from the people is also rather unique. The misty mornings, hills, and bay views from every aspect make you feel like you’re in a movie.
2. New York, New York
The concrete jungle is where aspirations are made and chased by people from all walks of life. The issue about traveling in New York is that you’re unlikely to do so alone because it’s such a densely populated city, so you’ll be surrounded by people everywhere you go.
3. Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta has that unique combination of urban charm and natural beauty. There are dozens of local museums to visit, parks to wander around, and a wide variety of restaurants to eat at. And no trip to Atlanta is complete without a stop at Mary Mac’s Tea Room for a taste of the southern hospitality for which the city is famous.
4. New Orleans, Louisiana
Continuing with my love of the south, no city is more inviting and enjoyable to explore on one’s own than New ‘Ahhlins.’ It’s a fascinating city, with the French Quarter teeming with stores, churches, museums, art, and street musicians to round out the experience.
5. Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas is more than simply a college town with an immensely passionate University of Kansas basketball crowd, despite being unfairly classified in the “flyover state” region. 10 minutes away from a beautiful city with its beauty for granted. It’s especially beautiful in the autumn when basketball season is approaching, the trees turn golden and orange, and the weather is still relatively warm at night.
6. Boulder, Colorado
It is a pedestrian and bike-friendly city with a fantastic feel downtown, with about 45,000 acres of easily accessible and wide-open beauty landscapes. Boulder’s famed Flatirons complete the postcard-perfect beauty, but it’s the city’s creative environment.
7. Austin, Texas
If you’re asking yourself where to travel alone in USA, perhaps Austin is the answer. There’s a reason Austin is frequently ranked as the best city in the United States for locals to live. Also’s not only great for single travelers, but it has a mood and personality that makes it appealing to everyone.
8. Portland, Oregon
Portland is an underappreciated treasure among the West Coast cities that get all the attention. The International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park should be your first destination because it has such natural beauty and lovely sceneries. There are plenty of funky cafés, pubs, and restaurants to keep you nourished, and it’s really easy to get around by automobile.
9. Washington, D.C.
This list would be incomplete without including the capital, one of the top vacation locations for independent and intelligent travelers. The downtown area, with its abundance of art, gardens, and museums to explore. The nightlife is fantastic, and the city’s history is fascinating.
10. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Aside from the vibrant markets, colorful street art, and Philly sandwiches, I believe it is a must-see for anyone who may be overwhelmed by a city like New York but would prefer a less-hectic version of it. The public transportation system is excellent, and it’s safe walking around late at night.
Afraid To Travel Alone?
If you still scared to travel alone, these tips can help you:
- Believe in yourself
- Avoid reading and watching the news if it makes you nervous.
- Getting excited about trying new foods in new countries.
We offered you many tips to ensure safe and joyful future trips! Planning your trips in advance allows you considerable savings and best experiences. Similarly, it’s crucial to ensure your safety by all the possible means. Stay confident and curious! The world is full of wonders for you to uncover. And now, it’s time to grab your passport and start planning your future trip since “the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page!
If you have any question on how to travel alone for the first time? Let us know in a comment below.
Great post: interesting and useful!
Great post! Loved your section about having confidence! Yes, Yes, Yes!!!! Thank you!
I am still unsure if I will ever go to a new country alone. Excellent tips.
Great article! So helpful and interesting.
Interesting post??
Awesome! I’ve been to several of the American cities, and can attest that they really are cool spots. Yes, even the small ones like Boulder! Would love to visit some of the European ones. Shukran jazilan!
Excellent, and so comprehensive!
There’s not enough of this category of information available on the internet. Thanks for this very informative outline!
Interesting! I traveled alone to Orlando for work, actually in Disneyworld. I stayed extra days and spent three days in the parks on my own. I wasn’t able to get someone to join me. No regrets! Quite a different experience doing only what I wanted all day long! And getting in the single rider line whenever possible. I read up on a few tips before I went. It was a fantastic experience ?
informative post, There is no doubt that this post will be beneficial for tourists.