On the road
Travelling alone for the first time: what actually needs preparing
Neither that hard nor that idyllic. How to choose the first destination, which safety routines are worth it and how to get through the odd moments.
Nerea Aguilar 6 min Photo by Nikolai Kolosov on Unsplash Travelling alone has less epic sweep and more logistics than the telling suggests. And it is one of the things people enjoy most as soon as four practical matters are settled.
Choosing the first destination well
- With easy public transport, which removes half the friction.
- Where you can manage with the language or with English.
- With a sociable accommodation scene, even if you do not sleep in a dorm: that is where you meet people.
- And with short distances, so you do not spend the trip on coaches.
A first solo trip is not the moment for a complex route through a difficult country. That trip works much better as your second.
The safety routines worth having
- Share your location with somebody you trust, even if only at night.
- Send a short message to the same person every day, at an agreed time.
- Keep copies of your documents in your email and the important numbers on paper.
- Arrive somewhere new in daylight whenever you can.
- And trust the odd feeling: it is the best security system there is.
None of this is dramatic and all of it works better with the connection sorted from the first minute.
The odd moments
Two uncomfortable moments are all but guaranteed: the first dinner alone and the afternoon you get bored. They pass more easily with a plan: a place chosen for that dinner, a downloaded book and the clear idea that it passes.
The hard part of travelling alone is not safety: it is the first dinner. And it passes.
Meeting people without forcing it
Short activities with others: a day trip, a cooking class, a free walking tour. They work far better than sitting in a common area waiting for something to happen.
And so people at home can relax without it costing a fortune: how to call from abroad.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a good first destination for solo travel?
One with easy transport, a manageable language, sociable accommodation and short distances. Complex routes work better as a second trip.
Which safety routines actually help?
Sharing your location with somebody, a daily message at an agreed time, copies of your documents and arriving somewhere new in daylight.
How do you meet people?
With short activities: a trip, a class, a tour. It works better than waiting in the common area of your accommodation.
Is it normal to be bored or feel odd?
Completely, especially at the first dinner and on some afternoon. It passes, and having a concrete plan for those moments helps.
