Planning a solo trip? Here are 10 tips to keep in mind

The dos and don’ts to staying safe but adventurous

Jason Derulo once wrote a song about Ridin Solo and while he definitely wasn’t talking about solo trip—at least not in the way you’d thunk—the vibe still holds true. After all, “Time to do the things I like / Going to the club, everything’s alright / No one to answer to / No one that’s gon’ argue” pretty much sums up for what it’s like when it’s just you on the road. Remember Bilbo Baggins? And how happy he was discovering Middle Earth alone? Of course, he did nick the One Ring to rule them all and put that same Middle Earth at risk, so maybe let’s not follow that particular trajectory.

All this is to just drive home the fact that solo tripping, in short, is exhilarating. You know that feeling when you finish the race and you’re winded but just so damn happy that you made it out alive? It’s that; just maybe a trifle less dramatic. And no, you don’t have to Eat, Pray, Love your way into discovering yourself. You just have to pack a bag, take a deep breath and go!

Before you do though, it would be prudent to keep a couple of time-tested tips in mind, just so you can max out on what’s sure to be a transcendental experience.

10 tips for solo travellers

1. Pre-book your lodgings

Spontaneous may be your middle name, but when you’re riding solo, you want to know where you’ll be holding up—way in advance. Remember, you’re not the only one travelling that time of year. Overbooked hotels, Airbnbs that just aren’t up to the mark, these are all very distinct possibilities. To be on the safe side, you also want to leave behind lodging details with someone back home.

The kind of place you settle on should be congruent to three things: your mood, the vibe of the trip and most importantly—the strength of your wallet. If you’re a woman travelling solo, the need for a safe space that isn’t too remote is paramount. Many solo travellers prefer to put up in well-maintained hostels because it gives them the chance to meet others travelling by themselves and make some terrific memories.

2. Have a ready-made itinerary

You know how annoying it is when you’re trying to sync itineraries? You may be a history nerd and scouring famous museums to run to while your best friend just wants to get down with a Dirty Martini. Going on a solo trip allows you to customise an itinerary that is only yours to play with, follow or even break. However, and we’re directing this, especially towards first time solo travellers: have a travel plan list on the ready. The world is your oyster, yes, but you don’t want to be ladened with Sophie’s choice when the time comes. It’s always better to have things chalked out.

3. Pack light

No, you don’t need to carry that shirt that you haven’t worn in two years because ‘just in case’. Or underwear worth six months. If you’re travelling solo, travel light. Say you want to canter off to a new spot you discovered while exploring the town. It would be a pain to relocate if you’re trudging around hefty suitcases and multiple what-nots. Don’t miss out on adventures simply because your bag of toiletries was taking up too much space!

4. Share your travel plans

Sure, solo trips are supposed to mark a break from the familiar and get you off the map, but you do have people back home worrying about you being eaten by a bear. Also, if you’re a sucker for offbeat travel, you may find yourself in spots that don’t cater to decent wifi or even basic mobile network. So, in a bid to not raise anyone’s BP, share your travel itinerary and lodging details with your loved ones. You’d breathe a lot better for it too.

5. Be open to meeting fellow travellers

Sometimes, the friendships you forge with a stranger over the orange blaze of a bonfire can last you a lifetime. When you’re travelling solo, you get to meet adventurers from across the world, wandering nomads who, like you, have taken a leap of faith and set out to make some solid memories. That alone presents a strong basis to cement a new bond, one you can carry back with you long after you part ways.

6. Respect the region-based guidelines

If there’s anything the pandemic has taught us, it’s to be cognizant of travel guidelines set in place, and to follow them to the T. Be it COVID-19-related regulations like mask mandates and pulling out vaccination certificates or state curfews and liquor laws—be respectful of the rules native to where you’re visiting.

7. Have a designated driver

And we’re not just talking about someone to get you back to your Airbnb after a binge-drink session. It’s always good to have the contact and goodwill of someone from the area, be it a manager from your lodgings or the one taxi driver who promised to play tour guide should you require one. Save their digits on your phone and also take their card in case your battery runs out. You don’t want to be left stranded!

8. Carry everything you need on your person

Unless you’re staying in a place which has a foolproof safe that even someone from the Oceans 8 ensemble can’t break into, carry your most important documents. This includes your passport and other IDs and documents that you may have to whisk out at a moment’s notice. Pro tip: Also, fashion yourself a mini first-aid kit of sorts to carry with you at all times. You never know when you might need it.

9. Imbibe the local culture

If you’re travelling solo to a place that you’re not a native of, you’re all kinds of lucky because you get the opportunity to learn something new: a language, a cuisine, a dance, history. The best way to do it? Speak to the locals; they are the gatekeepers to the region’s burgeoning culture and are certified authorities on how to maximise your travel experience.

10. Don’t spend all your time on your phone

Before you gasp in outrage, we’re not telling you to not ‘gram all your solo adventures! In fact, thanks to smartphones, you get to document every facet of your journey and re-live it, happily so, later. But in the process, you may find yourself experiencing things through the four corners of your screen, rather than taking it all in in real time. Don’t be so busy capturing the moment that you forget to actually live right in it.